Parrot for airstill

[Corps012588]

Hi all.
I don't suppose anyone here knows of a very talented
Solderer who would be willing to make a parrot for me to purchase do they?
I know it's cheating but I have neither the time nor the equipment

[YHB]

but I have neither the time nor the equipment

Time ; It will take less time than it takes you to do a single spirit run.

Tools; Junior hacksaw and a file, borrow a blow lamp.

Consumables, flux and if you buy end feed fittings then some lead free solder.

Even if you spend an hour and 5 pounds it will time and money well spent, learning the skills and gathering the equipment that you will need when you build your next still.

[Corps012588]

You know what?
Your comment is why I absolutely love this forum.
Positive positive positive
Thank you

[Myles]

Sorry about this but I think a parrot for an airstill is a bad idea.

Let me explain: My concerns are nothing to do with the still itself, simply the volume it produces and the volume held within the parrot.

Unless you can find a very small hydrometer you might find that a parrot actually reduces your quality by smearing your product run together.

Use a hydrometer to check your still charge and to help dilute your hearts container after you have made the cuts by taste and smell.

A hydrometer is accurate for measuring a specific sample, but when used as a continuous monitor it becomes less valuable. More valuable with larger product volumes that flush out the parrot reservoir.

In some applications - like during a strip run - it does not matter about smearing as all the product is combined anyway and then re diluted.

[vino-tinto]

I second that Myles, what Corps needs is a parakeet.

[Corps012588]

Hahaha I have 2 parakeets. Would you recommend the yellow and grey or the grey and white?

[vino-tinto]

I had a grey parakeet when I lived in Central America, I called him Nelson. He loved to eat chips and drink Amstel.
Unfortunately he walked into a 3 foot cooling fan duct one day and came out in bits, I hope he was pissed at the time.

[Almanac]

I ran my Airstill for a number of years with a parrot but only for the stripping runs when I'd be collecting upwards of 1300ml of low wines from each 4lt charge

I made a stand that held the parrot under the Airstill and the output tube feeding into a DJ. This saved me loads of hassle and fuss when stripping multiple batches of wash.

As Myles suggests, on spirit runs it would be completely useless because of the small volumes in each cut or fraction.

Here's a pdf of the parts list for a basic parrot..

Parrot Parts List.pdf

...and this is a soldering guide for the parts...

Parrot Soldering Draw.pdf

Believe me, if I made this anyone can as I had zero experience soldering anything when I built my first one

AM

[Corps012588]

Thank you aidanmac.
Did you just use a regular soldering iron?

[Easydrinker]

I have in the past sat large pieces of copper on top of a gas kitchen hob to get them hot enough to solder with a regular electric soldering iron,almost negates the need for the iron,but touch and go on the solder running away.
A gas torch is the the way to go.
Robert

[vino-tinto]

I have just constructed an articulated parrot, and I don't mean one that talks posh.
It swivels around the main upright and twists on it's own axis, as well as sliding up and down.
I can place anything under the outlet from a 50ml beaker to a 5 gal DJ without a problem, it even unclips to empty and clean.

[Almanac]

Thank you aidanmac.
Did you just use a regular soldering iron?

No, I used a MAPP Gas Torch, the disposable kind, and lead free soft solder

I got mine here http://www.gasproducts.ie/acatalog/GoSy ... Torch.html
...and they sell the MAPP Gas canisters too http://www.gasproducts.ie/cgi-bin/sh000 ... 961#aHA961

AM

[Magnu420]

I have just constructed an articulated parrot, and I don't mean one that talks posh.
It swivels around the main upright and twists on it's own axis, as well as sliding up and down.
I can place anything under the outlet from a 50ml beaker to a 5 gal DJ without a problem, it even unclips to empty and clean.

That's quite good that vinto you have to post the details of what size plpe you used

[Corps012588]

Wow vinto. Thats awesome.

[vino-tinto]

Sizes ?, it's just a variation on the plan that aidanmac posted above using 22mm pipe clips and a piece of hardwood.
The 3mm base was from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C101-Genuine- ... 0140831048