Parrot

[optic]

Im trying to build a parrot using a plastic trial jar,pipe and small funnel,the funnel and tube are a good tight push fit so that part is ok,what i have done with the trial jar is drill a hole near the bottom of the jar the same size as the plastic pipe and the plan was to use my soldering iron to melt the plastic around the pipe/jar to make it water (alcohol)tight,which i have found impossible,so plan B is to try and glue it together,problem is trying to source a glue that is food/beverage safe,anyone got any ideas on that one?

The ideal thing would be to build it all out of copper but to buy it from the DIY stores would cost a fortune,pity i dont know a plumber i could scrounge a few off cuts from..lol.

chers optic

[Opus 27]

Assuming the spirit passing through will initialy have quite a high ABV% is plastic suitable or could you be leeching out undesirable stuff out of the plastic?

The one I\'ve been thinking about was made entirely from copper tube and solder.
Opus

[optic]

Hi Opus27

that was a concern about the plastic,like you say copper is the way to go think i will have to find somewhere to scrounge a few off cuts from because its a bit pricey to buy new and you end up with yards of the stuff when all thats needed is a few inches,it should be a fairlly easy build with copper,it would be a good bit of kit to have because i dont know about you but what i do at the moment on a spirit run is to use 2 colection jugs marked to 100mls and keep swapping them and checking the abv of each 100mls.

Optic

[Opus 27]

Yep I do exactly that my son bought me a good selection of Lab Glass when I started this hobby and it's proved it's worth. Theres an article on the "Home Distillers" site with photographs for a parrot made from copper tube, it's included in a general article on distilling I did myself a hard copy but unfortunately I didn't save the link.
Opus

[optic]

Hi Opus

try looking under related hardware and appurtenances subjects on home distiller forum and its a post by Rumlover it was only posted on the 27th Dec,i know the post you mean this one looks a far easier build IMO,ive put out a few feelers to scrounge an off cut of pipe,wonder if i can get away with going into B&Q with a hacksaw and sawing a little bit off...lol

Optic

[Andy]

Sorry to do this but, whats a Parrot (I guess its not a bird)

[Opus 27]

Hi Andy,

It\'s a device that you put your hydrometer in that has a continuous flow running through it so that you can monitor your alcohol %. I assume the name comes from it\'s appearance.
Opus

[Bottleofrum]

one question. Is it worth all the effort? I understand what it does but

what advantages does it have? ok thats two questions lol

[Opus 27]

It allows continuous monitoring of abv% as it flows from the still.
Opus27

[goinbroke2]

Don\'t know if you seen the beast I built on another thread here;

http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic ... 215&page=2

[hoppinmad]

Don\'t know if you seen the beast I built on another thread here;

and a fine beast it is goinbroke2, would build one myself but am proper strugglin to find a steel keg at the mo\'
hoppin