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Posted: **Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:56 am**

I dont need the thumper when running a stripping run or the forshots of the spirit run, right? What if I put a ball valve between the in and out of the thumper to bypass it. then after my forshots I can turn it on and not waist what in inside on the forshot? Just a thought! The picture is hard to see but I drew in a ball valve that would bypass the thumper.

Thanks for all the help!

Posted: **Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:09 am**

Auctualy, I think I would have to do the bypass and then put small ball valves on the thunper in and out, but you get my point?

Posted: **Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:08 am**

Eliminate the thumper entirely. Connect the flake stand (worm condenser) to the potstill lyne arm directly. Waste not … want not. Besides, all the copper in the thumper will act as a heat sink and that will affect heat up time and operation stability. Simply take the thumper out of the circuit … you’ll be glad you did.
ss

p.s. - if you were to put bypass valves in the path of the thumper, it would increase the risk to explosion if by mistake you forgot to open a valve. Don’t think about it and don’t do it!

Posted: **Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:25 am**

still_stirrin wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:08 am Eliminate the thumper entirely... Simply take the thumper out of the circuit … you’ll be glad you did.
ss

+1

There is always a curve to learning how a thumper rig will operate and the time/materials you save could go to making a great double-distilled spirit sooner than later.

Posted: **Sat Mar 23, 2024 3:14 pm**

Fiveoclock
I’m guessing you just posted that pic for clarity . In your other topic , you show a Vevor still .

viewtopic.php?p=7779766#p7779766

If I am correct , they sell it as a thumper but it does not have a tube inside that goes to the bottom . It is in fact a Slobber box designed to catch foam and puke .

I’d leave it out .

Posted: **Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:45 pm**

Thumper bypass valves = a still that can become a bomb

That said, I dislike disassembling my still as well and run the thumper as close to empty as my drain valve can get. Takes a little longer to heat up but not a bad trade off

Posted: **Tue Apr 23, 2024 9:43 pm**

I couldn't disagree with the idea that a thumper is a waste or just a heat sink more. While it is a very old technology, there is nothing that can do a better job installing flavor or making for a very flavorable spirit. When used right thumpers are damn near perfect esterification chambers.

I'm a fan of the the 3 way valves for bypassing fores and high heads BUT you need to be smart about it and have PRV for safety to prevent some sort of catastrophic accident should one forget to turn a valve or the valve mechanically fail.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2024 1:20 pm**

It can be done. I built a thumper bypass right into a thumper head using a 3 way ball valve. It worked, but I don’t use it any longer.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:06 pm**

Just a warning about 3 way valves in the pic above from Otis .
They come in two styles , L port and T port .

Only ever use T port valves as above as they can never be shut off .Safe and no bomb potential in any if the three positions .

L port valves however, can be closed off in one of the three positions creating a bomb .

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:12 pm**

OtisT wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 1:20 pm It can be done. I built a thumper bypass right into a thumper head using a 3 way ball valve. It worked, but I don’t use it any longer.

All I know,is that's some nice work right there. That's copper porn at it's finest

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:20 pm**

The 3 ways are nice

Bypass position

To thumper

The ones I have have arrows... kinda idiot proof if you're paying attention.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:51 pm**

Bolverk wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:20 pm kinda idiot proof if you're paying attention.

I think that’s the antithesis of idiot proof, Bolverk!

My father used to live to say that the problem with making something foolproof is that fools are so damn clever.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2024 3:30 pm**

FiveoClock wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:09 am Auctualy, I think I would have to do the bypass and then put small ball valves on the thunper in and out, but you get my point?

One valve as drawn would work.
But more than one valve or the wrong style of 3-way is an invitation for a Big Badda Boom.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2024 4:15 pm**

A few years back there was a news video of a Master Distiller taking a hot shower before his holiday in the Burns Unit. In the video you could see a three way valve pointed the wrong way.

Posted: **Tue Dec 10, 2024 5:17 pm**

That’s what I did.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2024 2:13 pm**

I'm with Yummy on the type of 3 way,they are damn useful. Especially if you add another port to your thumper so you could charge it with more flavorful things or alcohol. Dump some berries in half way thru your hearts help keep away that imitation type of flavor. I would include a vacuum breaker on thumper and a 5 psi prv on the boiler. And never leave it while it's working.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:13 am**

y not this instead?

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:40 am**

squigglefunk wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:13 am y not this instead?

Because there are benefits to running a thumper with a bypass. Namely so you can bypass your heads

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 3:34 pm**

Stags wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:45 pm Thumper bypass valves = a still that can become a bomb

I wondered if anyone else caught this. BOMB!

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:00 pm**

I have a question. Isn't a thumper away to strip a rye mash? I'm longing to make a rye whiskey but I've had too many failures and figured this was a way to eliminate scorching. Filling my My main boiler with water and using steam to strip in the thumper? Would this not work?

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:10 pm**

Bushman wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 3:34 pm
Stags wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:45 pm Thumper bypass valves = a still that can become a bomb
I wondered if anyone else caught this. BOMB!

Everything we do can be dangerous if you're not paying attention. I honestly dont think this is any different.

Pay attention, use a safety...

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:11 pm**

Bradster68 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:00 pm I have a question. Isn't a thumper away to strip a rye mash? I'm longing to make a rye whiskey but I've had too many failures and figured this was a way to eliminate scorching. Filling my My main boiler with water and using steam to strip in the thumper? Would this not work?

Yes, works very well

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:59 pm**

Bolverk wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:11 pm
Bradster68 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:00 pm I have a question. Isn't a thumper away to strip a rye mash? I'm longing to make a rye whiskey but I've had too many failures and figured this was a way to eliminate scorching. Filling my My main boiler with water and using steam to strip in the thumper? Would this not work?
Yes, works very well

Ahhh. From my research I figured it would. And I'm about to come into a bunch of free gifts in the near future as far as distilling. And I can't wait to get all this working and hooked up

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:10 pm**

Bolverk wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:40 am
squigglefunk wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:13 am y not this instead?
Because there are benefits to running a thumper with a bypass. Namely so you can bypass your heads

I see the logic but without a bypass, wouldn't the heads collect in the thumper and then boil off first again? I'm thinking a thumper works best as a tails trap. Forshots and heads pass through the rig to be collected and cut. The tails stay behind on each additional distillation.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 6:03 pm**

shadylane wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:10 pm
I see the logic but without a bypass, wouldn't the heads collect in the thumper and then boil off first again? I'm thinking a thumper works best as a tails trap. Forshots and heads pass through the rig to be collected and cut. The tails stay behind on each additional distillation.

Yes, but they end up taking the most volatile aroma compounds out of your thumper with them, so by bypassing you keep those for your hearts.

Similar concept as shooting your thumper after your heads have come off

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2024 6:12 pm**

Bradster68 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:59 pm
Ahhh. From my research I figured it would. And I'm about to come into a bunch of free gifts in the near future as far as distilling. And I can't wait to get all this working and hooked up

It's well worth the effort in my opinion.

Posted: **Sun Dec 22, 2024 12:08 am**

A few points to be made here (sorry for the late circle back). I’m tickled to death that some of the greats enjoyed my bomb comment

I also love and use my thumper extensively. It can be a great tool if used correctly. Incorrectly, well it can be a pain. I personally prefer to do stripping runs with the thump and then do a spirit run using ~50% low wines and ~50% wash for a total abv of 20-30%, generally my blends are 70-80%, and I can proof to a proof of my pleasure. I also like to put raw mash or wash in the thump to get best flavor.

In my experience everything comes out of the thump in the same order as the primary given you aren’t using too much heat and smearing to high hell

I also don’t use it as a tails trap although it can be. I like to collect well past tails into what I call “corn water” and use that to dilute for proof. Much more flavor that way.

If you are worried about flavor being carried away in fores and heads, to bolverks point, shooting it works best. I know they aren’t favored here but NG stills has a pretty neat attachment to shoot flavor into the thump for hearts

Posted: **Sun Dec 22, 2024 4:33 pm**

Good question, TS!
I wonder about the same. The nasties are driven out rather quick at low ABV's, but after passing a thumper (or two) they come out accompagnied by higher ABV''s. So I too thought about connecting the boiler directly to my condensor and than, after the heads, putting in a thumper to get higher outputs.
More or less like Bolverks remarks.
I have no 3-way valves, but can easily rearrange the pipes. Or make a scheme with several one-way valves. (Yes: I will mind the danger, I am not stupid and have no death wish!)
The most interesting question is though: is it useful? Does it save energy and/or product?
Reading Bolverks remarks I think it very well might be. Easier getting rid of nasties at lower ABV's, so more clean product.

But the proof is in the testing. I think the designs of OtisT and Fiveoclock are nice. Mind you Fiveoclock: you might want an extra vacuumbreaking valve or pressure safety in the line between boiler and thumper, to prevent vacuum after stopping!

So: the best thing you can do, Fiveoclock, is building your proposed setup and run two or more comparisons. And please tell us about the results.

Posted: **Sun Feb 02, 2025 11:51 am**

Kareltje wrote: ↑Sun Dec 22, 2024 4:33 pm Good question, TS!
I wonder about the same. The nasties are driven out rather quick at low ABV's, but after passing a thumper (or two) they come out accompagnied by higher ABV''s. So I too thought about connecting the boiler directly to my condensor and than, after the heads, putting in a thumper to get higher outputs.
More or less like Bolverks remarks.
I have no 3-way valves, but can easily rearrange the pipes. Or make a scheme with several one-way valves. (Yes: I will mind the danger, I am not stupid and have no death wish!)
The most interesting question is though: is it useful? Does it save energy and/or product?
Reading Bolverks remarks I think it very well might be. Easier getting rid of nasties at lower ABV's, so more clean product.

But the proof is in the testing. I think the designs of OtisT and Fiveoclock are nice. Mind you Fiveoclock: you might want an extra vacuumbreaking valve or pressure safety in the line between boiler and thumper, to prevent vacuum after stopping!

So: the best thing you can do, Fiveoclock, is building your proposed setup and run two or more comparisons. And please tell us about the results.

I would pay the 26 bucks for a tri-clamp 2" 3 way valve rather then add some balls valves that will do the same.
Distractions are so costly.

Posted: **Tue Feb 11, 2025 12:36 pm**

Point is: I do not have a tri-clamp system, but work with copper 15 mm pipes. And I have not yet seen 3-way valves in that system.
But I think only one valve in a pipe surpassing the thumper will suffice. When it is open, the vapour will be blocked by the contents of the thumper and go directly to the condensor and when it is closed the vapour will go to the thumper and after that to the condensor. No risk of explosion then.

Lately I tried a system with a boiler and a thumper. Filled the thumper with water and fired it too. Hoping the first bits of vapour would condense in the water and then soon evaporate again before the alcohol % would rise too much. I was thinking the non-polar nasties would be driven out while the more polar ethanol would linger in the water. After a while I stopped the fire under the thumper and let the % rise.
It worked as expected. I.e. the temperature lowered and the % rose. But I could not check about the nasties.

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