MR-E's Modular Build

by **MR-E** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:31 pm

Hey guys, here's some pics of my new build.
I've wanted to build one of these since I saw some pics posted by a lovely bloke named Big D ;-) over at H.D
Have to thank Mac for sharing his knowledge on soft soldering S/S to copper :handgestures-thumbupleft:
home_brewer for his help & drinks :handgestures-thumbupleft:
8-Ball for sharing his idea of making a modular build using expanded copper & lending home_brewer his tools :handgestures-thumbupleft:
WineGlass for his advice & tips on my first build :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Enjoy :D

The modules cut & flared by home_brewer & the first s/s ferrule soldered on (that will be the bottom & will have a 4"x2" reducer)

Sight glass flanges & mock up

One of the plates test fitted

Sight glass flanges soldered on & holes cut (that rattled some teeth)

A mock up for you pervy types :teasing-neener:

by **Urrazeb** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:20 am

Man I wish to achieve that level of skill one day... Well done that looks nice

by **Aussiedownunder01** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:30 am

Looks good
How did you expand the copper !

by **8-ball** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:44 am

It's expanded with a ridged 32-100mm pipe expander

by **crow** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:58 am

Yep looked like a tree expander job ;-)

by **MacStill** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:05 am

Looks great for a dash copy :teasing-neener: :teasing-neener: :teasing-neener:

What plates are you going to use mate ?

by **crow** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:31 am

Umm doesn't look like semi stainless exaust pipe :laughing-rolling:

by **MR-E** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:40 pm

McStill wrote:Looks great for a dash copy :teasing-neener: :teasing-neener: :teasing-neener:

What plates are you going to use mate ?

Seems perf plates are the rage at the mo, think I'll follow the mob :teasing-neener:

by **MacStill** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:31 pm

Perf plates are a good choice, and with the modular design it allows for you to have the ability to change them out in no time with very little fuss.

Why not make a few sets of plates to try out :D

by **Urrazeb** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:19 pm

croweater wrote:Umm doesn't look like semi stainless exaust pipe :laughing-rolling:

:laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

by **MR-E** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:12 am

McStill wrote:Perf plates are a good choice, and with the modular design it allows for you to have the ability to change them out in no time with very little fuss.

Why not make a few sets of plates to try out :D

That's what I love about your design, I've been thinking about doing a set of bubble cap plates in the future.
This build has been in my mind for a while, I just didn't have the skill or contacts I have now to make it happen.
My plan is to have the 6 modules set up & run the number of plates I desire for a run :handgestures-thumbupleft:
And thanks for the advice you have given, I finally found the gate valves at Bunnings 8-}

by **MR-E** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:14 am

Urrazeb wrote:
croweater wrote:Umm doesn't look like semi stainless exaust pipe :laughing-rolling:

:laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Um :snooty: , its copper porn

by **bluess57** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:08 am

Nice build,
how do you make those sight glass flanges ? and those scalloped cuts

by **googe** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:19 am

Looking good Mr :handgestures-thumbupleft: Lots of fun there.

by **poompy** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:38 am

dayummm. not much else to say other then I am slightly jealous haha :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **MR-E** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:38 am

Thanks guy's :handgestures-thumbupleft:

bluess57 wrote:Nice build,
how do you make those sight glass flanges ? and those scalloped cuts

I'll be posting how I make easy flanges in the Tips From The Workbench section shortly, you can check out Macs Easy Easy Flange in the same section &
I recon his method is a lot less fucken around.
For the scalloped cuts I made a jig & used a 4" hole saw in a drill press :handgestures-thumbupleft:

McStill wrote:Perf plates are a good choice, and with the modular design it allows for you to have the ability to change them out in no time with very little fuss.

Why not make a few sets of plates to try out :D

I've been reading about the bubble cap plates & will try the following.
3/4" caps
1/2" upcommers or whatever they are called.
3/4" downcommers with 1" caps
I'm still a bit confused about the height of the upcommers & the downcommers, I have read the upcommers should be higher than the downcommers, but then
I read about builds that use adjustable downcommers to adjust the liquid level :think:
I would appreciate any advice on the matter :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **MacStill** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:45 am

After mucking around with adjustable DC's I've found it's not really worth the extra hassle, on our scale of stills it doesn't seem to effect the outcome much at all.

The proven design of the riser being higher than the DC works, I don't see any benefit that can be gained by messing with it.

A tray bath of around 25mm deep works great for me :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **Cane Toad** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:16 pm

Great looking job MR E :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft: I wish I had the time to do something like that with all this junk laying around in the backyard

by **crow** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:19 pm

Cupcake wrote:Great looking job MR E :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft: I wish I had the time to do something like that with all this junk laying around in the backyard

hope ya refering to that cheap arse reel as junk

by **MacStill** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:19 pm

I wish I had those expanders :D