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Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:54 pm
by MoonWhisky
On this thread I will be posting pics of my Bubble Bowl Column Build. I absolutely love the idea of having a plated column and most importantly I want to see them in action! So what my build will consist of are 4 bubble bowls with bubble cap plates in each bowl. The first plate will have a 6" copper disc with 12 bubble caps. The other three I'm not sure yet but they will be similar. I will have a small dephlagmetor on it to flood the the plates and a shotgun condenser following that. The good thing about this build is I will be able to add or remove the amount of bubble bowls in a row. They will bolt together or possibly tri-clover assembly. The bowls only cost $1.97 a piece which is a heck of a lot cheaper than 4"-7" copper pipe.. I'm open to ideas & thoughts so let get going!

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:03 pm
by MoonWhisky
Made the first hole in a bowl
Made the first hole in a bowl
Silver brazed the 2" ferrule on. Wasn't as bad as I thought
Silver brazed the 2" ferrule on. Wasn't as bad as I thought
Will fit nicely
Will fit nicely
IMG_20140707_222715.jpg
I just stacked them up as I wanted to see how it looks
I just stacked them up as I wanted to see how it looks
Next to install sight glass assembly
Next to install sight glass assembly
More to follow as I'm waiting on more parts to arrive. :roll:

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:26 pm
by Halfbaked
Do you ever sleep? Wow! Here we go again. I think I am gonna like this one also. I am assuming that you will put ferrules on top and bottom of bowls? Will you be to posting prices and where you got your stuff and sizes so I can run out and get your salad bowl Moon Whiskey style. That would be amazing if you could find salad bowls that you could actually use triclamps on and an everlasting gasket.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:44 pm
by MoonWhisky
The outter rim of the bowls are 7-7/8 just under 8 inches and a 8" tri-clamp cost $36.00 and I haven't found a 7" tri-clamp yet. The cheaper alternative will be 8 stainless steel bolts around the rim to hold them together with a gasket in between. I can get all my nuts and bolts for the price of just half a one 8" tri-clamp so that will most likely be the way I go. Plus I don't even know If a 8" tri-clamp would work as there isn't enough lip on the bowls to squeeze them together.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:57 pm
by MoonWhisky
halfbaked wrote:Do you ever sleep? Wow! Here we go again. I think I am gonna like this one also. I am assuming that you will put ferrules on top and bottom of bowls?.
Not sure. That will get costly and will be very extensive with brazing as the bowls are only .012" thick on bottom. What I'm going to is braze the bowls together then cut out a 3" diameter hole the way the vapors won't get bottle necked, we'll see though

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:10 pm
by InglisHill
Wicked cool,

I am excited about this one!

I really like all that shiny stainless!

Silver soldering stainless to copper, I think you will find it pretty easy mate if you past build is anything to make such a judgement upon!

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:19 am
by Halfbaked
MoonWhisky wrote:
halfbaked wrote:Do you ever sleep? Wow! Here we go again. I think I am gonna like this one also. I am assuming that you will put ferrules on top and bottom of bowls?.
Not sure. That will get costly and will be very extensive with brazing as the bowls are only .012" thick on bottom. What I'm going to is braze the bowls together then cut out a 3" diameter hole the way the vapors won't get bottle necked, we'll see though
I like that even better. You are gonna save some money and some work by brazing/soldering the bowls together. :clap:

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:44 am
by thatguy1313
Damn! Every time I look at your builds I get a new idea! Always good to get the creative juices flowing! I'm starting to run out of money though!

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:28 pm
by MoonWhisky
My simple sight glass assembly
2" ferrule,  2" o-ring, 2" sight glass,  2" tri-clamp
2" ferrule, 2" o-ring, 2" sight glass, 2" tri-clamp
I wrapped teflon tape around the glass to cushion clamp pressure
Assembled
Assembled
IMG_20140707_223017.jpg

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:02 pm
by InglisHill
mint, where did you get your sight glasses? I am after some 4" ones, over here in NZ.

I was quoted far too much by a glass blower.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:06 pm
by MoonWhisky
Still Dragon sells 2", 3", and I believe 4"

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:16 pm
by Brutal
Me and you think a lot alike brother.
IMG_20140709_001234.jpg

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:28 pm
by MoonWhisky
Brutal wrote:Me and you think a lot alike brother.
IMG_20140709_001234.jpg
What's your plan?

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:36 am
by Brutal
The plan was to hopefully get huge triclamp ferrules and a huge clamp to put the two bowls together. Then a 2" on bottom to attach to a keg, and another on top for a pot still head. Probably another one for a window. Just a big bubble plate under a pot head. Gonna take some fancy ss welding. One too many projects for me right now.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:09 am
by MoonWhisky
More progress
Template for drilling holes
Template for drilling holes
Brazed the bowls together
Brazed the bowls together
All the sections
All the sections
Bolted together
Bolted together
IMG_20140709_003623.jpg
24" tall
24" tall

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:35 am
by jarheadshiner
Pretty sweet man!

Are you gonna "sandwich" the plates between the bowls or solder them in place in the bottom bowl half?

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 11:11 am
by MoonWhisky
The plates will just rest in the bottom bowl

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:14 pm
by MoonWhisky
Brutal wrote:The plan was to hopefully get huge triclamp ferrules and a huge clamp to put the two bowls together. Then a 2" on bottom to attach to a keg, and another on top for a pot still head. Probably another one for a window. Just a big bubble plate under a pot head. Gonna take some fancy ss welding. One too many projects for me right now.
Need to find bowls with lips that way you can bolt them together.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:20 pm
by bellybuster
That's wicked, I'd be tempted to run it straight thru as a pot still to see the outcome compared to a straight 2" pipe

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:36 pm
by Halfbaked
bellybuster wrote:That's wicked, I'd be tempted to run it straight thru as a pot still to see the outcome compared to a straight 2" pipe
Most def have to give that a try. Moonwhiskey where did you get your bowls and what they cost you?

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:54 pm
by MoonWhisky
Here's the link for the bowls - - - > http://www.webstaurantstore.com/1-1-2-q ... MXB15.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:00 pm
by MoonWhisky
bellybuster wrote:That's wicked, I'd be tempted to run it straight thru as a pot still to ser the outcome compared to a straight 2" pipe
The bowl column will have a 2" neck then open up to 7.5" at the widest point. Where the bowls are brazed together is 3.5" so I will be cutting a 3" hole in the bowls for the vapor path. Then it will be back to the 2" for condensing. Not sure yet how I want to condense the vapor. I want a shotgun condenser but not sure where to place it.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:09 pm
by googe
No stopping you is there :lol: , looks cool :thumbup: . Reminds me of maximus's cooling tower thingy!. What did you use t I Brazil the bowls together?. My first plated column was like that sort of, pain in the ads to build, yours will be much easier!. Good luck mate.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:21 pm
by MoonWhisky
googe wrote:What did you use t I Brazil the bowls together?. My first plated column was like that sort of, pain in the ads to build, yours will be much easier!. Good luck mate.
I used
IMG_7990__48141.1404684197.451.416.jpeg
and silver solder.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:39 pm
by MoonWhisky
I started on one of the plates today.
6" copper disc
6" copper disc
Template for drilling holes. The inner circles are 1/2 pipe and outter are 3/4 end caps. I will have 15 bubble caps & 1 drain on the plate
Template for drilling holes. The inner circles are 1/2 pipe and outter are 3/4 end caps. I will have 15 bubble caps & 1 drain on the plate
Marking the centers
Marking the centers
1/2" (.625) holes are drilled. Started with a small bit and worked my way up.
1/2" (.625) holes are drilled. Started with a small bit and worked my way up.
I ran out of 3/4 end caps. I bought all the store had do waiting on inventory.
I ran out of 3/4 end caps. I bought all the store had do waiting on inventory.
Think there spaced out enough. This is all new to me as i never made anything like is.
Think there spaced out enough. This is all new to me as i never made anything like is.
.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:52 pm
by Halfbaked
:clap: I'd love to see a little more detail on the bubble caps.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:09 pm
by MoonWhisky
Yeah they're not done yet, I believe what I'm going to is solder 1/2 pipe in the plate holes and let them stick up 1/2-5/8 then just let the 3/4 caps rest over the top put I will connect them all together by soldering 6 gauge copper wire over the tops so they don't move but I will be able to remove them for cleaning.
I've never made bubble caps and really have no idea what I'm doing. I'm just taking what I think should work in my head and bringing it to life haha.

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:54 am
by MoonWhisky
Getting high tech
Using the EDM to cut the 3.25" diameter hole in the bowls
Using the EDM to cut the 3.25" diameter hole in the bowls
IMG_20140710_121601.jpg

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:38 pm
by MoonWhisky
Holes are made I ended up making them larger to 3.5 diameter. So my perfect circles got ruin as I just used a grinding wheel to make them bigger
IMG_20140711_002636.jpg
Got my brazed joints cleaned up
Got my brazed joints cleaned up
Starting to become something
Starting to become something

Re: Bubble Bowl Column Build (BBC)

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:13 pm
by skow69
I love the look. It's like flying saucers having an orgy. Kinky basterds!