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I'm sure I can figure out a way to monkey this altogether, but I thought I'd put it out there to see what others have done.

I just acquired a new wooden barrel to use as my thumper. For those who are running this sort of set up, how have you secured your pipes into and out of the top of the thumper?

Some ideas I have running about my head are:

1. Use a copper companion flange and drill it out to the O.D. of the pipe I'm using, solder the pipe to the flange and literally bolt it to the top of the barrel. I'd use a gasket of sorts if needed.

2. Drilling tight holes through the top of the barrel and slipping the pipe through and then epoxying in place on the exterior side (assuming epoxy will bond to copper - haven't looked into it yet)

I'm just trying to figure out a solid way to attach the inbound and outbound piping. They'll only need to stub out a few inches out the top where I plan to use copper unions to make the connections from the boiler and to the condenser.


Thanks
JJ

Here's my 10ltr..
Bout got everything I need to run a liebig off it.

Any reason that you cant thread a fitting into the wood of the head of the barrel using a large thread tap.
Thats how a lot of taps are fitted to kegs.

Moonbreath - Sweet...

Were those custom flanges you had made up to attach to the barrel?
Did you use a gasket between the flange and the barrel?
What's the purpose of those two bulged expansion pieces on the outbound side of your thumper?


Earlier today I was over at the metal shop where I got my copper from. They have a waterjet cutting machine. I was talking to them about cutting me some custom flanges. Might be the ticket for me.


Saltbush - I'm sure threading a hole into the top of the barrel could work. I just don't have those tools to make it work for me.



JJ

They're brass washers I found then fitted and soldered to both thump posts.
Used NSF 61 food grade sealer, then stainless cap screws to mount.
Bee's wax for leaks and peanut oil once or twice for maintainence.

Thanks for the info.

What are the pipe bulges for?

Bushing and coupler reducers matched together for stacked (double) expansion...Slower, longer distillation for some added proof.
Old-school trick.

Sweet!