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Well it all started when I found a 300mm length of 100mm (4'') copper pipe in a pawn shop. over the next few months I collected various spun copper plates from different pawn shops. The problem was the length of the copper pipe and time. Then I found a 340mm length of stainless steel pipe with close the same inside diameter of the copper pipe. And in October I had 2 weeks of Sundays and access to my brothers workshop...

First pic the ss pipe on a beer keg top that I scored from a brewer. The pipe was welded to the keg top. After welding the excess was trimmed an cleaned. Maybe I will try to copper plate it one day. Then I started on the plates, first plate was cit with a bi metal hole saw. Then we realised there should be an easier way. A metal snip. Stack the plates and form with grinder an flap disc. The forming is easier not in the drill press. Then I decided to do perf plates. All discussions read suggested holes of around 1.6mm. There is no way I could see a 1.6mm drill bit in the press, that bit is needle thin. So I opted for 2mm holes on around a 6mm grid pattern. I have stacked the plates punched the top and drilled all 142 holes through all 5 plates in just more than an hour. Broke 4 bits. The open area works out to 5.6%. Plates drilled - will get 22mm (3/4") downcommers 22mm above plates. Will finish the rest of the pics later.

Setsumi wrote:Well it all started when I found a 300mm length of 100mm (4'') copper pipe in a pawn shop. over the next few months I collected various spun copper plates from different pawn shops..

Ha ....easy how we get sucked in with a wee bit to start us off ....LOL got me that way too

Setsumi wrote: Then we realised there should be an easier way. A metal snip.

Love that ....nice

Keep up the good work

True craftmanship leaves me in awe. Excellent work.

Going to be Nice

Here is the rest.

The plates have 22mm downcomers that extent 22mm above the plate and end in a 35mm cap below for vapour lock. A note here, I will shorten the extention to 18mm as I think the 22mm is too much. The plates are on a ss rod hanger 110mm between them. Bottom plate is 50mm from bottom. Top cap with 76mm slip coupler for reflux condensor. Cap seals with teflop tape at this time. Well here is the newborn. Still dirty and her one eye is still closed. Cleaning run with vinegar. The alcohol run. Here she still have a Liebig that is too long. Will post pics of her shotgun pc later. Reflux is ccvm at this time. I will comment later on small issues and solutions. But she works a treat

Hell yeah .
She’s a rare type of still but I reckon a good’n
I just recently converted my plated still to VM as I was sick of the bullshit that goes with CM reflux and it proved to be a winner in my mind . So I think you will be very happy going CCVM .... good onya

Thanks Yummy. Yes I understand the CCVM well, been running on a packed column a while. It is so simple.

So full specs of my flute. The 4" column is just shy of 600mm tall. She has 5 perf plates spaced 110mm appart on a ss rod, fist issue.

The only sight glass sits level with the top plate, 1.3m from ground.. even that I am short I have to bend a bit to see. The reflux condenser is ccvm, top is 1.75 from ground level. This is the biggest plus for me. I do not have to climb anything to control the still.

She runs on propane. Burner is rated for 0.39 kg/h. Specs say it is about 5.6kWh. second issue.

I just finished a run, the downcomer on the top plate is much higher than the fluid on the plate. Third issue, but related to the others.

So although the still will run happy at 1.8l/h at 93% temp corrected it there is a marked difference in taste from 1.6l/h.

With this I can live but. The plates does not load good enough, although I can only see the top plate. The individual plates fit tight in the column but the ss rod that keeps the spacing creates torque that mess with the plate to column fit. I will put legs on the plates so that they can be placed individually in the column.

The second issue is that I have to run full power on the burner. This is related to the first issue on the seal to column wall. Any change in burner flame will let the top plate dump. Can only imagine how sensitive the others are. Flyingduchtman had a thread on plate efficiency, the theory says optimal is just above dumping. I believe the burner is ample for my still but I have to fix the weeping to gain contol of heat input.

That will take care of the third issue of the fluid level not reaching the downcomer, although I will shorten the downcomers to 18mm.

I changed the pc to a shotgun condeser. 3x15mm pipes in a 42mm shell. Cooling length is 470mm.

The end plates I had to do by hand. I flared the tubes for the top, used a 8mm rod to start the flare and then peened it on a tube. The end plates was sandwiched with slip couplers to keep in place while soldering. .

Well after a few runs with the CCVM RC, I decided that is how she will stay. When I started the build I knew I would not build a dephlag and just repurposed my 3" columns coil. But I lucked into some 9.3mm copper pipe. The condenser is single coil with a extra inside loop of pipe to act as cold finger. CCVM she will stay, thanks DAD!

I like this, bit outside the norm for platers. great job

Swedish Pride wrote:I like this, bit outside the norm for platers. great job

Thanks, lately there are quite a few threads discussing VM take offs for platers/ flutes.

Wow, not that I know anything about what you doing....yet, newbie status and still reading. But craftsmanship is top shelf.

Thanks, Deon. The build was a bit of scratch and search but in Africa it is a way of life, hey? All the info to start your journey and to become proficient you will find here. Strongs and enjoy.

Setsumi , curious how many meters or feet of copper is in your coil ?

Yummy half a pancake, around 7 meters. but you dont need that much. only reason I use the 7m is it helps with positioning the coil for take off. 1 to 2 coils out the top for drips on fores and 3 to 4 for hearts. a ss eating knive in the coils keep it nicely in place.

love the work, mass props! d-(^^,)

Thanks.