3" ss/copper build

[rash]

Looking good :handgestures-thumbupleft:

What's with the drain from the parrot coming off half way down? :think:

Thanks Sam, not a drain, its just a support to hold the parrot up. It attaches to the side of the boiler.

[Sam.]

Ah that makes sense, I assumed because the other fitting weren't on then there was going to be something on the end of that bit 8-}

[db1979]

Well done mate! Get her plumbed up and running :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[bayshine]

That's just his bracket I think :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[hillzabilly]

3600wt is a bit on the high side for a 3inch spirit run ,but will heat up and strip pretty quick,have ya thought about a power control ta get the best of both worlds,or a second smaller element say 2000-2400wt is another option .Like the parrot support idear and the sight glass mounts your almost there,good luck with the maiden run.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[rash]

haha, yep, just a bracket..
thanks for the comments guys, has been a lot of fun to build!

3600wt is a bit on the high side for a 3inch spirit run ,but will heat up and strip pretty quick,have ya thought about a power control ta get the best of both worlds,or a second smaller element say 2000-2400wt is another option .Like the parrot support idear and the sight glass mounts your almost there,good luck with the maiden run.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

thanks hillz, yep 3600w is high, but i was wanting a fast heat up time. planning on running a power controller. I have a SCR voltage controller I was using on my last still to control 2200watts.... but cant remember what it was rated to. is there a way to test what it can handle? (without pulling 3600w through it and killing it :scared-eek: ) cant wait to get this thing running!
Ash

[db1979]

You could add another socket to your boiler and install your 2200 W element, once the wash has heated switch over to the 2200 W element and use your voltage controller without any worries. If you have a second circuit you could heat up with both and save even more heat up time :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Are you going to insulate your boiler?

[hillzabilly]

haha, yep, just a bracket..
thanks for the comments guys, has been a lot of fun to build!

3600wt is a bit on the high side for a 3inch spirit run ,but will heat up and strip pretty quick,have ya thought about a power control ta get the best of both worlds,or a second smaller element say 2000-2400wt is another option .Like the parrot support idear and the sight glass mounts your almost there,good luck with the maiden run.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

thanks hillz, yep 3600w is high, but i was wanting a fast heat up time. planning on running a power controller. I have a SCR voltage controller I was using on my last still to control 2200watts.... but cant remember what it was rated to. is there a way to test what it can handle? (without pulling 3600w through it and killing it :scared-eek: ) cant wait to get this thing running!
Ash

Yeh I would get a sparky ta test both controler and guard,electrickery is not my strong point and its not worth taking risks in that department,if ya had some pics of the controler components another member may be able to advise better than me.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

[rash]

You could add another socket to your boiler and install your 2200 W element, once the wash has heated switch over to the 2200 W element and use your voltage controller without any worries. If you have a second circuit you could heat up with both and save even more heat up time :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Are you going to insulate your boiler?

The 2200w element is not a rod type one. Its in a hot water urn converted to pot still boiler. But nice idea :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Yeah, would like to insulate it, but havnt looked into what to use yet.

[rash]

Yeh I would get a sparky ta test both controler and guard,electrickery is not my strong point and its not worth taking risks in that department,if ya had some pics of the controler components another member may be able to advise better than me.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

Yeah, will get my sparky mate to check it out for me. Found one on ebay that looks exactly the same as mine and its 3600w rated. Not sure if they make it in different sizes though. Thanks,
Ash

[db1979]

My go-to mate for electrical assistance says whatever they're rated at is usually only for short durations and to be on the safe side they only cope with half the wattage over long durations. I don't know if this applies to all circuit types but if there's some truth in what he says, you'll want one that can at least handle 7200 W.

My voltage controller is rated at 5000 W and I only run 2000 W through it.

[Fishleg]

Sweet build!!! What filler did you use to TIG the copper?

[rash]

My go-to mate for electrical assistance says whatever they're rated at is usually only for short durations and to be on the safe side they only cope with half the wattage over long durations. I don't know if this applies to all circuit types but if there's some truth in what he says, you'll want one that can at least handle 7200 W.

My voltage controller is rated at 5000 W and I only run 2000 W through it.

Sounds like a good idea to go bigger than needed. Might just get another one..

Sweet build!!! What filler did you use to TIG the copper?

Thanks mate, i just stripped the plastic off some copper electrical wire and twisted some strands together. Worked well :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Ash

[Fishleg]

Like your resourceful ways mate. All the gathered bits for your still, run out of solder? Ah fuck it I'll hit it with the TIG and see what happens. Very well done ^:)^

[rash]

Like your resourceful ways mate. All the gathered bits for your still, run out of solder? Ah fuck it I'll hit it with the TIG and see what happens. Very well done ^:)^

Aw thanks mate, always like to have a go at things myself, whether they work or not, alwYs learning :D
Ash

[rash]

So, this rig is good to go!
got it all plumbed up..

plumbing.jpg

then I gave it all a good citric acid bath..

clean.jpg

stuck it all back together...

setup.jpg

ran a vinegar run through it and found only 1 leak on the weld around the bottom tri clamp ferrule. I pulled it all down as I realized I had forgot to drill a weep hole on each of the plates also... :doh: . I TIG'd up the leak, drilled some 1.5mm weep holes, stuck it all back together and overtightened the bottom sight glass bolts..... smashed it.... :doh: . quickly cut a copper SG replacement and filled the boiler with about 8ltrs of BWKO heads and tails feints from a couple of yrs ago and a heap of water.
Gets up to temp pretty quick!
My power controller has not turned up yet so had to keep the whole 3600w into it for the whole run. Top plate was the only one I could view and it only flooded once through the whole run. Just turned power off for a few seconds to let it unload.
Running it flat out, my RC had no chance of getting anywhere near full reflux, but still made obvious changes to the output stream. PC kept up no problem :handgestures-thumbupleft: . ended up pushing about 2.5ltrs through sitting on a steady 90-91%. it then started dropping down to around 88% so I closed off the RC gate and ran it fast down to about 30%. Smelled so good! (yes its getting tipped out :handgestures-thumbupleft: )
Cleaning runs over, very happy with the outcome. Got a vid, just gotta work out how to put it up....
Thanks everyone for your input! Now have a Rum wash ready to go, and will be hopefully running it next weekend. Just gotta get the power controller wired in and I will order another SGlass.
Ash

[Doubleuj]

:dance: :clap: well done, once you get that controller there's nothing stopping you, except a new sight glass :laughing-rolling:

[rash]

:dance: :clap: well done, once you get that controller there's nothing stopping you, except a new sight glass :laughing-rolling:

Thanks mate, broken glass wont be holding me back! Haha, but should get an order in tonight. My controller turned up today, so can wire it in now :D
Forgot how nice these rum washes make your whole house smell! Cant wait to run it!

[Fishleg]

Looks the biz mate!! Well done :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[hillzabilly]

Thats a sweet bit of kit mate ,I am sure she will make your effort worth while once ya get a feel for her and dial in on ya power control,happy stillin.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft: