Home Distiller

I'm bored. Time to build something.
Think I'll build an agitator, that fits the 3" fill port on my 16 gallon wash boiler
For simplicity and cheapness, figure to use a small drill to spin the stirrer.

This'll be good

Go your hardest Shady

Great idea for distilling thick fruit pulp washes for brandy, I have been thinking about having one custom built for a while.
You would still need to be running Gas however to avoid scorching on elements.

My little wash boiler has electric immersion heaters
Even with an agitator, It couldn't handle a thick fruit pulp
For distilling pulp, I'd recommend direct steam injection and/or a steam heated Baine Marie

Here's how I plan to attach and seal the agitator
I found a SS compression coupling in the junk box, hopefully I can convert it into a shaft seal

Any suggestions, links or oppinions are welcome

This didn't go very well.
Next pic's will have to wait.
Burned fingers, part and camera got wet

Is that a valve lapping attachment on that Dremel?

Dry off the lens, we want pics!

I've used valve lapping compound to better seat poorly seated glass stoppers for decanters.

Geoff

MichiganCornhusker wrote:Is that a valve lapping attachment on that Dremel?

It's a homemade attachment for lapping in the valves on my flux capacitor
It also works good for trimming my toenails

As for the motor: a friend used the motor of a windshieldwiper. Alternating movement already build in.

Because you have immersion heater elements, you want something small like a fast propeller, right?
A windshield viper is way too slow for this. And in any case I would use a front one. the alternate movement of the rear wipers is a huge disadvantage (I tried boht) and the front ones are stronger.

For the seal you could copy my version, where the shaft bushing goes into he mash. then it doesn't need a seal. See the link in my signature.

der wo thanks for the link
I'll probably use a 100mm propeller.
I was planning to use a homemade PTFE seal with buna-n orings backing it up.
After seeing your agitator I may do it your way

Thanks to der wo the seal part of the build is done
Now I'm waiting for the 1/4" SS shaft to arrive

I got a little bit more done on the agitator
Now I need to make the bracket that holds the drill

Is there a screwhole (is this a proper English word?) on your drill. For example to fix a handle?
This can be used to screw the machine on/in/up a solid construction.

I recently copied such a construction from a youtube-film and fixed my angled grinder on my vice. So I had both hands free to make a small component for my still.

Something like this

Hi Shady, here's my take on a variable speed agitatator.
I have a drywall compound paddle attached.

Works like a charm!
Harbor freight sells it for around $100

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=64980&start=60#p7468602

Looks very functional shady but for safety sake them open brush motors could be a bad day if a leak shows up unexpectedly running high ABV . I got a pneumatic I might try if I can slow it down. Doing a pot still stripping run for low wines looks good. To me.

BTW I noticed the sight glass on your column. Have you experimented with moving it around?
I have mine at the top currently and am going to try it mid column next.

acfixer69 wrote: for safety sake them open brush motors could be a bad day if a leak shows up unexpectedly running high ABV .

Your right, The sparks from the motor brushes could ignite flammable liquids and vapors.

Fart Vader wrote:BTW I noticed the sight glass on your column. Have you experimented with moving it around?
I have mine at the top currently and am going to try it mid column next.

I think the sight glass gives the most valuable info when it's between the boiler and column.
The sight glass makes it possible to look into the boiler and the lower part of the column
Plus it makes a great place for some copper mesh

Here's a future modification, I'll try using a stepper motor and driver to spin the agitator
https://www.amazon.com/Stepper-Motor-42 ... per+motors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

https://www.amazon.com/MYSWEETY-TB6600- ... QJQCQCP62M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Nice work Shady...Just a note - With the highly flammable vapors, most agitators used in distilling are pneumatic driven (EX rated) from a safety standpoint.

You could consider using a pneumatic powered tool for the mod. You want to have very low rpm though.

Looking at your propeller, I hardly recommend either to rotate it against the clock or to rebuild the wings into the other direction. the rotation must cause pressure to the seal. the rotation has to suck the propeller into the boiler.

der wo wrote:Looking at your propeller, I hardly recommend either to rotate it against the clock or to rebuild the wings into the other direction. the rotation must cause pressure to the seal. the rotation has to suck the propeller into the boiler.

For the seal, I'm now using a ptfe packing gland and extending the bushing tube below the liquid level.
Kinda like wearing a belt and suspenders to hold up my pants.
Having the prop rotation so that it blows liguid downwards, seems to work best for this application

Plan B
Found this old DA sander in the junk box.
Maybe it's air motor can be used.

Here's the latest agitator design. It works better than I thought it would

My hero!

I love it.