Finally got around to completing my dual keg to shotgun rig...

[Chauncey]

Height adjustable, refillable for long strips via the tee above the little expansion torpedo chamber...

Gonna insulate the long arm between the kegs, probably keep the thumper above the main keg(upward lyne rise toward thump) if its a heavy charge. Have my 1/6bbl ill switch out for the thump for spirit runs instead of the big keg.

This started with a non modular setup here:

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=73476

Now its fully modular and versatile with a shotty instead of a liebig after a slow series of mods...

[Chauncey]

Oh, and the little copper extension going toward the 90 and PC is also a modular part of a gin head im building for my CM flute. And its the extension for the flute in ccvm above the takeoff tee. Whoever figured out to use triclover fittings for stills deserves all the oral stimulation, recognition, regalia, and a friggin entourage. Modular owns all.

[Twisted Brick]

I like it. Especially working in the copper segments. Looks really functional.

[Chauncey]

Im very satisfied with the result. Thanks for the good words.

I really used what i had around and only purchased a few parts. and i have a good bit of 2" copper left from the first incarnation being chopped up so ill make myself some spools and stuff with my extra ferrules. And some copper 90s. Those large copper fittings were not cheap when i bought them 2 years ago.

Of course it couldnt be done without all the stuff i learned here on HD. Props to talented fellas like yourself for leading the way.

My next project will be redoing the plates for my 3 inch flute, i like the one big bubble cap idea more than the 3 capa with a 4th cap upside down as the downcomer.

Im drunk now too. Cleaning run after i nap this off haha

[Beerswimmer]

Time to start buying barrels!

[Chauncey]

Id love a 30 gallon barrel boiler w a 30 gallon thump. I feel like electrical power would be req.

I also like the idea of wood firing a stripping still.

As for fermenters i have 4x 32 gallon brutes. Will hold me for now. I also have 5 carboys and various buckets for wash storage. I definitely want some 55gal blue barrels to ferment.

And for againg barrels, ill just make badmos

Or maybe buy Gibbs

[Beerswimmer]

Buy the barrels!!

[Chauncey]

So all od the above

[RedwoodHillBilly]

Id love a 30 gallon barrel boiler w a 30 gallon thump. I feel like electrical power would be req.

As long as you are dreaming, go with a 55 gal thumper. That way you can mash and ferment in it as well. A 30 gal stripping boiler pairs perfectly with a 55 gal mash tun/fermenter/thumper. Just the right amount of low wines (10 - 13 gal) for a 15 gal spirit boiler.

[Yummyrum]

Dreaming about it is fine , but as far as the forum is concerned , 30gal is the maximum size . This goes for Thumpers as well as boilers .

BTW , Chauncey ,well done on your new rig . Top job

[jonnys_spirit]

Hi Yummy, Rule #10 specifically mentions a limit on boiler size to 30 gallon. It doesn’t mention whether a thumper or additional retort add to that boiler size or whether they are considered in the boiler size limit.

Cheers,
Jonny

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

I will agree with what the moderator team has already discussed with this issue in the back room. There's no reason to discuss a thumper over 30 gallons, as a thumper doesn't need to be larger than the boiler for efficiency. Most recommend 1/2 or even a 1/3, but any larger than the boiler and your really just making an alcohol steam generator for your thumper. 80 gallons of potential wash in one system, and we're to believe that's not trying to skirt our rules?

As discussed in a pm, we're not doing home visitations to measure your boiler or thumper size. What we're asking is that people respect the reasons we have these policies, and to keep your trap shut about it on this forum if you choose to go other ways. We normally glass over the math of a thumper- boiler setup, but when someone comes out and discusses any vessel over 30 gallons besides ferments, it is hard to ignore. As pointed out in PM's to us, there are other forums and I encourage any one that has a problem with our rules to explore those options. Everyone of us agreed to the rules when we signed up. Moderators discuss every direction we take and speak with one voice. Thumper size and combo volume have been discussed and intentionally left out of the rules, but that can be easily changed. It was our view that it isn't a commonly brought up issue, and that if it were, surely the members would respect a polite nudge from a moderator.

[jonnys_spirit]

Appreciate the clarification ShineonCrazyDiamond. In my mind a keg boiler with a keg thumper is by capacity a 30 gallon system capacity but also depends on how you use it so there is some gray area and interpretation. Glad this has been discussed behind the shed.

Cheers!
-jonny

[Yummyrum]

The rule was made a while ago so there was a line in the sand . It was assumed that a boiler is filled with fermented wash /mash and distilled .Beyond this size boiler , you are really hard pressed to say you are doing this as a home distiller .

Now more and more , folk are using a boiler as a steam generator to strip a Secondary Boiler (thumper) full of fermented wash/mash .

The fact remains that you are still stripping a max of 30 gals .... whether it is by direct heat or via an external steam boiler .

And the word “boiler “ does not suddenly make an exemption to the rule . Don’t think you can steam strip as much as you can so long as you are only boiling 30 gal of water .

Edit : ShineonCrazyDiamond said it better than me but this was what I had to say on the matter .

[Chauncey]

Back to the topic at hand, once the heat and rain break tmmrw ima be a runnin

[Yummyrum]

Amen to that Chauncey .. look forward to how it runs
Sorry my comments derailed your topic

[Chauncey]

Its fine, good information for everyone to know regarding the rules. Raining again today but im hoping this evening i can rock and roll.

[jonnys_spirit]

Run it like you stole it!

Cheers,
jonny

[Chauncey]

Finallllllly doing my cleaning, use a 1/6bbl as the thumper for my cleaning runs

[Chauncey]

[Dewstiller]

Looks like you threw a sightlglass or plate in there.

[seabass]

Looks like you threw a sightlglass or plate in there.

That will help prevent pukes with AG.

[Chauncey]

Looks like you threw a sightlglass or plate in there.

Sure did

Just the glass for watching for pukes on a strip

[Chauncey]

And yeah there was a weak soldered point so yes theres flour paste in the one spot till i fix it.

[jonnys_spirit]

Nice Chauncy! I've got a second milk can in my setup that I'd love to use for stripping runs on-grain. Wouldn't look forward to emptying 10 gallons or so of hot mash after a run so interested in how you or any other folks do that..

Cheers,
jonny

[Chauncey]

My buddy and i just let the riser/arm cool a little and we both put on gloves, remove whats connected and turn the keg upside down atop the drain.

Most people just put drain valves on fheir kegs these days.

[jonnys_spirit]

Oh cool. I'm thinking more in an AG (bourbon/corn/wheat/barley mash) Mash/Ferment/Strip on the grain kinda situation where the thumper is charged with the mash/grain and the boiler gets the cleared wash... I wouldn't want to dump that thick gooey mess down my drain and it would probably clog up a thumper drain port unless it was a good 2"... Just thinking out loud..

Cheers!
-jonny

[seabass]

Oh cool. I'm thinking more in an AG (bourbon/corn/wheat/barley mash) Mash/Ferment/Strip on the grain kinda situation where the thumper is charged with the mash/grain and the boiler gets the cleared wash... I wouldn't want to dump that thick gooey mess down my drain and it would probably clog up a thumper drain port unless it was a good 2"... Just thinking out loud..

Cheers!
-jonny

I still haven't done an on grain strip with the thumper setup. I am also curious about how people are emptying them. I have some eye hooks on my basement rafters and a game hoist for lifting full kegs. I'm thinking I'll hoist it on a table and tip it over to dump in a bucket. I'm not sure how willing the slop will be to drain from the 2 inch hole though.

[Chauncey]

Jonny:

My buddy and i just let the riser/arm cool a little and we both put on gloves, remove whats connected and turn the keg upside down atop the drain.

Most people just put drain valves on fheir kegs these days but thatll come next

[Deplorable]

Oh cool. I'm thinking more in an AG (bourbon/corn/wheat/barley mash) Mash/Ferment/Strip on the grain kinda situation where the thumper is charged with the mash/grain and the boiler gets the cleared wash... I wouldn't want to dump that thick gooey mess down my drain and it would probably clog up a thumper drain port unless it was a good 2"... Just thinking out loud..

Cheers!
-jonny

I still haven't done an on grain strip with the thumper setup. I am also curious about how people are emptying them. I have some eye hooks on my basement rafters and a game hoist for lifting full kegs. I'm thinking I'll hoist it on a table and tip it over to dump in a bucket. I'm not sure how willing the slop will be to drain from the 2 inch hole though.

Run a length of 3/8 pipe into the hole so the thick slop wont vapor lock maybe? If you use a racking cane, the bend in the neck will stay out of the drain path of the sludge and allow air into the keg while the sludge finds its way out. Just a thought...