Bending a 54mm elbow?

[John51]

Not sure if this can be done but it would give me an easy build if it can.

Using these long radius 54mm elbows

http://www.jtmplumbing.co.uk/end-feed-f ... w-7237.htm

I'd like to bend them a little. One to a tad more than 90 degrees so the lyne arm points upwards and the other a bit less than 90 degrees to have a pot still leibig pointing downwards.

Possible?

[Normski]

Hi John

Sorry I cant answer your question, But thanks for the link to Jtm Plumbing.
They are very cheap. I've just ordered enough copper parts for two Parrots, less than £20 delivered.
Cheers Norm

[Almanac]

I really don't think it can be done because there is nothing for a pipe bender to grip. You should be able to get 45o bends which might solve your problem.

AM

[John51]

To use a 45 degree elbow, I'll have to seriously shorten the column from 1650mm.

That measurement comes from Heffers rig which I am hoping to copy:

http://forum.moderndistiller.com/viewto ... f=43&t=447

Maybe I could get a slight bend done in 54mm pipe and then cut it to suit?

[Almanac]

With you now. When you said pot still I thought short stubby riser and standard pot head. Heffer's rig is reflux still almost a VM without the valve.

I reckon the only way to get that kind of angle on the lyne arm is likely to be by soldering it together like Heffer has.

Let us know how you get on with it anyway - interesting design

AN

[John51]

Not just interesting, I can understand how it works!

Have now realised that I don't need to bend an elbow for the pot still part, easy enough to put a slight bend in the 15mm pipe that is the core of the leibeg.

Quote from Heffers:

Really is nice and easy to drive and acheives great results (95.something). The only thing I don't like is that the product comes out fairly warm, which could be fixed with a number of different solutions but it doesn't phase me that much.

I'm planning on using the pot still head to catch the product coming out of the lyne arm so it will be cooled by the leibig.

With the elbow, I'm going to insert 2 lengths of pipe for leverage, have 2 of us heat up the elbow (2 torches) and then see if I'm strong enough to stretch the elbow a bit.

[John51]

I really don't think it can be done because there is nothing for a pipe bender to grip. You should be able to get 45o bends which might solve your problem.

AM

It did solve the problem Aidan, 2 x 45 degree elbows and I can have the lyne arm at any angle I want.

Normski, I forgot to ask earlier, what parts did you order for the 2 parrots?

[Almanac]

Nicely done John. Don't forget plenty of pics as you build

AM

[John51]

All the 54mm pipe has been cut, using an adjustable cutter rated 1 star on Amazon. Always a gamble with Sh*tline products. So much slop on the sliding ratchet that it needed an 0.2mm (8 thou) feeler gauge inserted to keep it from cutting spirals.

Was lucky in that bits didn't fall off unlike some reviewers. What I did find surprising was that none of the reviewers figured it was the slop that caused the spirals. You'd think that people wanting to cut large pipe could think their way round a diy problem.

I doubt I'll ever need it again so it works out about 2 quid a cut, a bargain compared to me hack-sawing and then filing the pipe.

64mm hole in the lid next. Deep joy.

[Almanac]

These are the fun bits and you'll be bored when you don't have any more to do and you'll start a new "improved" build

Been-there-done-that and it's not always pretty

AM