Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Vapor, Liquid or Cooling Management. Flutes, plates, etc.

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Deplorable
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Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Post by Deplorable »

I've got an itch for a four plate flute, and I've been doing some reading, but damned near everyone on here running plates are running 4". the few folks I've talked to running a 3" are satisfied. But one is running perf plates and the other is running bubble caps.

My question is more specific to bubble plates, not perfs if that make a difference. I feel like for the size of my runs, 4" would be overkill.

What's the downside of going with 3" other than the additional speed of 4"?
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Saltbush Bill
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Re: Whare aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by Saltbush Bill »

To damn slow , that simple......you will regret it I think.
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Deplorable
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Re: Why aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by Deplorable »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:25 pm To damn slow , that simple......you will regret it I think.
This doesn't seem that much slower Salty, can you elaborate more? I know this isnt a great sample size, but 2l/hr is only .5 to 1L slower than a 3" from the info Haggy was able to collect.
image.png
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Re: Whare aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by kiwi Bruce »

Deplorable wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:21 pm I've got an itch for a four plate flute, and I've been doing some reading, but damned near everyone on here running plates are running 4".
You have the freedom to make your still plates any size you want. Especially in this hobby and on this forum. It will only depend on your skill level, the materials you can lay your hands on and how much wash you want to run though the sucker. As Saltbush is saying, time can be a concern to a lot of us, as can hiding the sucker, if you live in an area where L.E.Os frown on our hobby!
Here is my advice...go ahead and build it - your way - if you don't like it later rebuild it - again, your way. Feel free to ask LOTS of question, there truly are NO dumb questions on this forum. Share what you learn, this is very important. What we share with one another only makes this forum and our hobby stronger and better...so just DO IT...and take some picks while your at it, and keep f##g good notes, both of your builds and your washes and run. Above all, have fun...Kiwi
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Saltbush Bill
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Re: Whare aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by Saltbush Bill »

I don't go by graphs and figures, I go by what the booze smells and tastes like.
Could be a large variation in flavour/ quality there.
Just telling you what I think from experience alone
2LPH is my standard speed, with 4 inch perfplates, nothing under, and rarely over 2.5LPH.
Some will say that's slow, but it's whats gives me the best and consistent results over the years.
My experience with 3 inch plate columns is limited......I just wouldn't want a still that's was slower.....that's why I built a 6.
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Re: Why aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by Deplorable »

Makes Sense. especially if you're running 15-20 gallon charges.
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Re: Why aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by BrewinBrian44 »

I’ve never experienced running a 4”, only my 3”, but for me, it doesn’t seem painfully slow with a keg boiler charge. I’ve made some very nice spirits with this rig.

I exclusively make whiskey with my flute and have done spirit runs with both low wines and wash. These days, I typically run cleared wash for spirit runs and really like the results. Very flavorful stuff with enough separation of fractions for a clean enough final product.

I can’t remember if I’ve kept track of liters per hour, but when I’m doing a sprit run with wash, I let the distillate come out as a very thin stream on the verge of breaking into drips. I run a little faster with low wines.
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Re: Why aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by shadylane »

Deplorable wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:21 pm I've got an itch for a four plate flute, and I've been doing some reading, but damned near everyone on here running plates are running 4". the few folks I've talked to running a 3" are satisfied. But one is running perf plates and the other is running bubble caps.

My question is more specific to bubble plates, not perfs if that make a difference. I feel like for the size of my runs, 4" would be overkill.

What's the downside of going with 3" other than the additional speed of 4"?
Bubble caps like to run at a slow sizzle, it driven harder than that entrainment begins to be a problem.
Given the choice between 3" and 4" plates I'd build a 5"

One downside to 3" is there's limited space.
The downcomer inlet needs to be far enough from the caps for the liquid to calm down.
Plan B is a weir type downcomer, but that's a different subject. :lol:
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Re: Why aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by bluc »

Deplorable wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 5:04 pm Makes Sense. especially if you're running 15-20 gallon charges.
Especially when that 20gl is lw's
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Re: Why aren't more folks her running 3" flutes?

Post by Setsumi »

I helped building a 3" flute for a friend. It runs fine and make a good drop. BUT before you start building cut a 3" circle and a 4" circle from cardboard to compare.

If you are set on 3" rather consider perfs.

What Shady said.

Edit for spelling.
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higgins
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Re: Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Post by higgins »

Deplorable,

When I decided to look into building a flute I started by making sure I understood what I could use it for. Understanding Plated Columns before I build

Once I understood I decided to go ahead and create a build topic (link in my sig). It was very easy to build (~10 hours), low cost (~$250), it's easy to add or remove a plate section, and is pretty easy to operate.

I've used it most to run low wines on 2 plates for most whiskies and rums, and I'm very happy with it. I've used it with both a 3500W and 5500W element and the only difference is heat up time.

But I still use the pot still for my single malts.

I recently fermented 9 gallons of mashed peaches, stripped that and got about 1.5 gallons of 15% low wines. I don't want to spend 6-8 hours stilling it to net a quart of Peach Brandy, so I think I'll add about 8 gallons of fermented fresh pressed apple juice and run it thru my flute with 2 plates. I should get closer to a gallon of "Apple-Peach Brandy". It will be interesting to see the result.
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Re: Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Post by BoilerMaker »

I've been running 3" plates from oakstills, 4 caps per plate. Looking at my notes from a while back when doing one-n-done: 2 plates and 8% beer the hearts take-off rate was 1.5 L/hr to 1.8 L/hr at mid-80's ABV, down to 0.6-0.7 L/hr at mid to low 70's ABV. 1.8 L/hr was less common and was maybe pushing it. On the other hand maybe what I thought was the sweet spot of 1.5 L/hr was actually too slow. Electric heat was between 2500-3000 watts. Overall I'm happy with the 3". More recently I started running 2 strips + beer, which is faster take off of course. Not sure time-wise how it compares overall, but if you get a puke on a one-n-done shutting down and cleaning caps is a PITA. I changed the flute config to a side column which gives more options, and would probably swap in 2 x 6" plates next if I run out of things to do.
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Re: Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Post by Deplorable »

Thanks BoilerMaker. That's helpful insight. The 3 inch stuff from Oak stills is what I was eyeballing.
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Re: Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Post by Yummyrum »

I dunno , Deplorable .
Flutes are Sexy and all … hell can’t argue with the view .

But at the end of the day , my flute stands lonely in the corner of my shed these days and the Pot and Thumper gets the job done . :thumbup:

Had to go there .

But old school does the job . :ewink:
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Re: Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Post by Deplorable »

There's also that. Lord knows I have a lot of lonely toys. 🙁
My distilling stuff is what keeps me busy and dry through our wet PNW winter.
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Re: Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes?

Post by shadylane »

Yummyrum wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 4:10 am I dunno , Deplorable .
Flutes are Sexy and all … hell can’t argue with the view .

But at the end of the day , my flute stands lonely in the corner of my shed these days and the Pot and Thumper gets the job done . :thumbup:

Had to go there .

But old school does the job . :ewink:
Back in the days some folks thought flutes could run at potstill speeds and do multiple distillations.
It was fun watching the action, but the takeoff speed had to be sslowww.
The majority of the plates I've built are getting lonely from lack of use.
It was fun building and running them, but there's simpler and most of the time better ways.
I started with a 2.5" then built a 2" and found going smaller was a step in the wrong direction.
Next, I tried 4" with multiple different plate designs. Great learning experience.
Then a friend wanted a single plate that was 6" dia. Bigger was definitely better.
Turned out to be a good match for a keg sized still.
The plate could handle everything the boiler could produce before a rum wash puked.

"Why aren't more folks here running 3" flutes"
4" looks sexier and bigger sight glasses can be used before the ugly glasses effect.
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