Will this mess up my cuts???

[chuckwagon2004]

If you look at the outlet coming off the tee at the thumper there is a void space I am worried about above the outlet up to the reducer. I am concerned this will create a spot for nasties to hang out and make cuts tough to get right and string everything out. Any questions, suggestions or opinions are appreciated.

[chuckwagon2004]

I have attached a picture with some comments if you can read them. Might have to click on the attachment to make it larger. I didnt really think about this void area until I really started reading on cuts and I allreay had the tee installed I would hate to have to tear it back down and redue all the stuff I have done since I am anxious but will if I need to. I am going to put a union in between the thumper and the pot so I can run it with out the thumper. Also cant wait to get back home from work in a week or two and install one of mulekickers element kits onto this thang... Anyway any comments are appreciated.

[jholmz]

imo that space would allow vapor to cool and fall back to the thumper im not positive on that it might just follow the path of least resistance and go out to your condenser

[chuckwagon2004]

Thanks for the reply.. Maybe it wont cause too much smearing. I'm going to run it without the thumper for a while (serveral runs) Then hook the thumper up. I might refab this since I am a bit OCD when it comes to projects I build... LOL

[Richard7]

IMO, the space you are pointing out is a vapor space not a liquid space. I think you will be fine.

[chuckwagon2004]

Richard7 yeah what has me worried is some of the foreshots and heads getting up in that vapor space and haunting me throughout a run... Maybe I am worried about it too much though... I wont have any other design to test it against since it is my first build LOL Maybe I will have to find me another thumper to rig up a conventional style without the void and test them against each other in the future

[Richard7]

foreshots and heads getting up in that vapor space and haunting me throughout a run...

I feel at this point in your distillation any foreshots should be in liquid form, they have a lower boiling point than the heads, which is next to come out. Usually smearing happens in liquid form, from pooling in the path of the distillate. If anyone know any better please chime in.

[rad14701]

Due to the fact that you do get some reflux within the thumper itself any smearing would be minimal... Plus that's where some of the flavor comes from...

[chuckwagon2004]

rad & richard7 thanks for the comments!!! I will leave as is for now and try it out after I get several runs under my belt without the thumper. I cant wait

[DangitBuck]

Just curious, what kind of connection did you use to put the pipe to the keg? "
Thanks!

[chuckwagon2004]

Dangitbuck,
It is a 2" tri-clamp connection on both kegs. If you do some searching on this forum about keg builds you will be able to find a bunch of builds with this connection. Also you can find them online at several different stores, brewhaus.com and hillbillystills etc. These are by far the easiest connections to hook up... The pony keg has the 3/4" running through the 2" down to 1 inch from bottom. I have not ran it yet but will be within the next month for cleaning etc. Then the first good batches I will be using just the pot still without the thumper..

[smitty7775]

I'm just thinking out loud here, but maybe a exterior wrap
of 3/8 coil from an inch or 2 above the take off up to the
reduced pipe, hooked up to your condenser flow would
knock that vapor down...If your worried about it.

Edit : still thinking out loud, it may cool the inlet too much
and keep the thumper from heating up...thoughts on that
from the more experienced would help.

Smitty,