Bubbler Chat

[MacStill]

G'day all,

I've been getting a fair few PM's from members regarding bubbler builds recently, it's good to know my passion in this hobby has some interest and thought this type of still design deserves it's own catagory.

Instead of answering everyones questions multiple times I though a topic where you guys could discuss your intentions and ask each other questions would be good, of course I will answer anything I can in this area, but it should save me answering those same questions numerous times via PM :)

While I dont pretend to know it all, or build the best out there, I do have a good understanding of this design and can now say I've refined it enough to keep these things reasonably cheap to build without all the hype of the unnecessary extras people are going on about elsewhere.

So here it is... :mrgreen:

[8-ball]

well ive officially started my build on sunday while stripping a rum wash just cut some 4 inch and marked out my plates starting working on my drop in condenser ect need to sell that 4m of 4inch to help fund it

[MacStill]

I'm pretty sure there's about 3 members building these now, well about to start at least.... thank you for your confession :text-lol:

Care to expand on any details yet or are you making decisions as you go?

Go oversize down comers, I use 3/4 for mine now... reason being that 1/2 inch tend to flood then puke through the product condenser with 90% ABV and I'm not the only one who's had a fucken big fire from following/using another design elsewhere ;)

[SBB]

Ive notice that most of these builds have very different plates.
Question 1: What works best and why???
Question 2 :Obviously the perforated plate is going to be easiest to build and cheapest.....how does it compare to the others performance wise???

P4111420.jpg

[MacStill]

That bubble cap plate was a failure SBB, it either needs to be soldered to the column walls or have a weir around it... I put a weir around those because I wanted the plate tree removeable and it worked great.

I've read a lot about different plate setups and tried a few different kinds, to be honest I've found the differences to be not worth worrying about and went back to perforated plates for a while.

I'm using bubble caps on my newest build but this build is a whole new ball game, but for 4" rigs perforated plates are just as good as any ;)

On my last couple of builds I've drilled holes every 5mm in a grid pattern, hole size was 1.5mm and works awesome.... out of all the plate trees I've built the last two work best, Big Don has one and I have the other.

All trees have performed the same as in ABV% but the last two have had better take off rates, but I think that's only because I can really throw some heat at it without flooding because of the over sized down comers, and I've not noticed any difference in flavor from any type of plate design.

I've built 3, 4 & 5 plated columns in 3" and 4" and the best of the lot for flavor while still getting 90% + ABV is the 4 perforated plate I'm using now, this rig is the best I've built yet and I'm totally happy with it in every way.

Cheers.

[8-ball]

ima making it up as i go depending on funds at the time its going to be a slow careful build, im going the perferated plate with 3/4 downcomers as you suggested, 4plates thinking about removable depending if i go straight 4in connection to the keg or just keep the 2in and use a reducer

i may upload pics and start a build thread once i have something to show

[SBB]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Mac, extremely helpfull.......which one is it that your using now :laughing-rolling: .....you build so many Ive lost track :(
Edit:......Ok this one isnt it ??? http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=549

[MacStill]

Good move 8 ball, you wont regret the larger down comers on perforated plates & 4 plates is great. I've also started thinking that removing the plate tree is not really needed, I've never bothered to change the number of plates so why bother building around it is where I'm heading ;)

SBB, the one I'm using now is this one ;)

http://www.aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=549

[Kimbo]

Oye! how come i cant see the attached pics? :cry:

[MacStill]

Oye! how come i cant see the attached pics? :cry:

He has this little editing problem :text-lol:

[SBB]

Oye! how come i cant see the attached pics? :cry:

And I thought it was just me :(

[The Stig]

Oye! how come i cant see the attached pics? :cry:

Check at the top of the page to see if your logged in.
Does it say "you dont have permission to view the attachment" or some such?

[SBB]

Thanks Stig.....Im logged in on this page....hit the link to the other page and Im not logged in :o :think: :think:

[The Stig]

I thought so, working on it.
Just click login again.

[R-sole]

Commercial Interest Declaration

Not to splash my ads all over the board, but it looks like Artisan Copper Works is getting very close to production boroscillate glass lenses for you bubble guys. ATM they are working on 50mm and 40mm glass lenses with silicon 'O' ring seals. Testing is still going on to find a way to seal these direct to a ferrule without a backing ferrule atm.

It's looking good so far and i'm hoping we'll be introducing larger size lenses and 'O' rings. 8-)

I wil post in the ad downstairs when they arrive in the country. Will be a few weeks yet :hand:

[MacStill]

That is good news 5Star, it would be great to be able to buy the whole unit from one place.

It would be even better if they were done with the copper ferule ;)

[R-sole]

stainlessbubble1.JPG

I was actually asked this morning if there would be any interest in these with a bubble plate and a sightglass installed...

Could work out to be around the $200-250 mark landed. 8-)

Lot cheaper than the copper balls.

[SBB]

A quick question before I grind to much of the plates Im making.
What is the maximum amount of clearance you can have between the plates and the pipe wall. Is a couple of thou ok or do they have to be a perfect fit.

[MacStill]

Yeah a couple of though is fine, the closer the better but no need to be perfect

[SBB]

G'day Mac, before I start marking out and drilling a gazzilon tiny holes I want to check on something else.
The photo below which is of your current stills plates shows 5 holes either side of the mounting rod in the centre row. In other words there are ten holes in the longest row excluding the center hole that the 6 ml rod goes through.
Using the measurements that you've given for a 5ml grid patten Im going to end up with 7 holes each side of the threaded rod, or 14 holes in the longest row. Hope this makes sense...dont want to drill a heap of holes and find out Ive stuffed up. Im presuming that the 5 ml grid is correct and for some reason you did that one differently.