StillSmart

Easydrinker wrote:Just think of the money that you will save, the fun that you will have, the whole copper fluxey finger thing.
Winning a lottery probably comes close to the feeling that you get from building a column or still.
And once you have built it, then you just don't need the lottery win...
Robert.

Money saving...that's ok, fun...love fun me.. but is that the "fickle fluxey finger fing" try saying that after a dram or three

Capt-Cudellez wrote:Wow - nice build.

Just to forewarn you, when I ran a column much shorter than that on a T500 boiler, just after heat up you get column oscillation - vibration from the boiling liquid starts the column moving and it amplifies till the column is going round in a small circle.

You might have to brace that column - or it may be so big it's immune to the phenomenon

Now that is new to me Capt.. I've not has yet ever read about this phenomenon. Thanks for the heads up..the column is 1000mm then the head, but I have plenty of head room in the out house.. so if needs be I will be able to brace it..cheers matey.

My still/boiler may moan and groan while throwing copper boil pieces around during a run, but I have to admit to not understanding what the Cap. means here by just after heat up you get column oscillation - vibration from the boiling liquid starts the column moving and it amplifies till the column is going round in a small circle.

My column is clamped and can't rotate, maybe I miss-understand what CC is saying?

Robert.

If the column does start to dance I'll video it for all to see.

If you can stabilise it to the ceiling joists, try chain and turn buckles (yachting screws). I used them previously and will do so again.



http://www.gsproducts.co.uk/stainless-steel-mini-rigging-screws/

Are we moving into the realms of BDSM?
Although joking side, I am looking at ways of holding my new column more rigidly, I may have sorted it today.

Robert.

BDSM Robert???? What's that??.....Better Drinking Spirits Mate?

On with todays work...Started off running a strip on a 25lts sugar/kale wash.

With the strip in the background I got started on making the reflux return..easier than I thought it was going to be. Soldering the elbow onto the upright 15mm first...then fitting the elbow onto the 15mm that enters into the 54mm T section. This 15mm will be cut when I know where the return from the PC will fit into it.



The 15mm pipe will be cut when I've sorted out the length of the outer tube....



Update on the photos...



Now that's more like it...



This length of 54mm is 5" so with another on t'other side that will make the PC 14.5" long...should I cut it down to 12"???




The finished length is 10" adding this to a 3' column..fixed to the 3"x2" reducer, then fixed to my short length converter on the T500 lid...from the base of the boiler to the top of the column will be around......7'

Not as high as I thought it maybe at the start..

Slightly confused although that would work.

After the reduction why did you expand back to the bigger tube? The reduction increases vapour speed, so that when it hits the vapour splitting T it splits more effectively.

Thank you Myles I'm not looking at your photos... yes your correct, I've jumped the gun, the 2nd 54mm reducer is for the PC...I'll correct that tomorrow...thank goodness I only got around to soldering the return.
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I couldn't wait until tomorrow I had to correct my mistake..

Its no big deal, I have taken down and rebuilt gear lots of times.

Except for when i brazed som 54 mm bends togerther. Have never managed yo get ghem apart.

Day off today so thought I'd get on with the new column build...



All soldered up nice & clean..


I hope to get it finished in the next couple of weeks...can't wait to run the first wash.

Looks nice. I am biased because this is my favoured head design.

Cheers mate...I should say mentor...

Time for an update....free day today from work so I thought lets get on with the build.

I've got the 3" ferrule fixed to the bottom of the column....



Then the 76mm x 54mm reducer was fixed at the top..



Next came the "head"..."THE ICE-BOT" lives...explode into maniacal laughter.



This shows the one side of the PC...






I must admit I'm not looking forward to starting on the PC... all that soldering.

I do like the photo of the Golden syrup waiting patiently in the wings.

DO you have to solder it all? I saw a good idea where some major larger joints where sleeved with rubber tube. I thought at the time very neat idea. Made cleaning easier and storage.

That's the last two GS...done another today...will have to order some more soon.

All the joints are soldered...