Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi AD'ers

Hoping that pot still/thumper users can educate me as much as possible.

All thumper users chime in please!

I've been doing stripping runs and spirit runs in my FSD pot still, boiler is concealed element T500 style. Flavour from strip run seems a lot better than flavour from final spirit run, I'd like to look into one run & done through a pot still and this can only be acheived via a thumper setup in my research :think: :think: .

I'm trying to get my head around how a thumper works and what design makes a better one than the last. I've been reading up on this and can basically work out that thumpers are sized around 20-25% of main boiler size? Can any of you advanced guy enlighten me on thumper vessel size, science behind how it works, specifics on best design/pipe sizings and how to go about building a good one? :think:

Thanks in advance

Cheers

I was going to do a similar post :laughing-rolling:
I just didn’t know how to word it as eloquently :-B
Yiu know my plans , let see how close I am

The Stig wrote:I was going to do a similar post :laughing-rolling:
I just didn’t know how to word it as eloquently :-B
Yiu know my plans , let see how close I am

Not sure it's worded very eloquently, but had to give the tree a shake to see what falls out! Thumpers = magic box/dark science!

Calling bluc, Arsey and all thumper kings............ :techie-typing: :whistle:

Cheers

Wash through Thumper =1.5 distillations. Thumper needs to be 1/3-1/2 size of boiler or needs to drain back to boiler.
You can put grain solids in thumper for more flavour and it wont scorch or add flavouring to it. You can make gin put all botanicals in thumper they wont scorch.

Unlike rest of our setups a thumper will add pressure to the system a prv on boiler and thumped a must. Manometer or prv /vacuum breaker are good.

What else you want to know?

I was looking at a bucket around the 9 or 10L mark to add to a 50L milk can .
Never even thought about a pressure release valve 8-}
I was going to have 3/4” in and out tubes

bluc wrote:Wash through Thumper =1.5 distillations. Thumper needs to be 1/3-1/2 size of boiler or needs to drain back to boiler.
You can put grain solids in thumper for more flavour and it wont scorch or add flavouring to it. You can make gin put all botanicals in thumper they wont scorch.

Unlike rest of our setups a thumper will add pressure to the system a prv on boiler and thumped a must. Manometer or prv /vacuum breaker are good.

Thanks bluc,

I was looking at making something like Maxxx and RC al, an all in one entry/exit with tri clover reducer/fittings. It would have a 3/4 down comer. I want to add it to pot on T500 boiler, so 8-10ltr vessel will sort me out. Only issue is full stainless keg in these sizes don’t have a TC connection. They’re threaded and around 31-33mm, I’ll need to make an adapter but with a 3/4 down comer I’m wondering if exit path would be too choked?

For you Stig, a 20ltr commercial keg would be perfect and an all in one entry/exit spear would be a lot easier to make as it has the 2” TC fitting already

Cheers

Oh I'm so interested in this thread.

If someone makes one or has pics of theirs and their thumper input/output. Please share for all to check out.

bluc wrote:What else you want to know?

Seems you asked :think:

In another thread you mentioned people use 1/2" pipe inside 3/4" pipe for the end of the down comer/spear, can you elaborate on the finer design details please? Even a sketch would be awesome.

I'm thinking either a domed/flat end cap with a dozen or so small holes drilled in it, or a T piece shortened to go through a 2" opening with a domed/flat cap on both ends and drill multiple holes across the bottom of T piece. Thoughts?

How much pressure builds up inside the boiler/thumper? A bit of research shows preset PRV's at 15 or 22PSI (103-151kPa), this seems rather a f^@kload of pressure!! There are more expensive PRV's available, they are adjustable (1-15PSI & 0.2-2.2BAR on the 2 I found), however it needs to be fairly idiot proof for the operator and obviously the safety aspect. I'm thinking a boiler/thumper split or failure would send a shitload of hot liquid a fair distance well before seat in PRV lifted??

Birdman85 wrote:Oh I'm so interested in this thread.

If someone makes one or has pics of theirs and their thumper input/output. Please share for all to check out.

Will do when and if I get it across the line :laughing-rolling:

Cheers

Less pressure the better 3psi is heaps. A manometer is an easy build and work well.

Stig lots of opportunity for blockage in a thumper especially when doing grain slop or fruit pulp.

bluc wrote:Less pressure the better 3psi is heaps. A manometer is an easy build and work well.

Stig lots of opportunity for blockage in a thumper especially when doing grain slop or fruit pulp.

:text-thankyoublue:

You've left me hanging......or are you sketching something up for us? :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Cheers

Grain blockage , fuck me , even more issues .
Moonshiners lied to me :laughing-rolling:

Stig would an inline thumper be an option?

No

There's no reason not to use another 50l aside from heat losses.

A drain back to the boiler would make me much less worried while running, ive filled a thumper using reflux above it.

A lovely fellow called Haggy on HD has come up with a calc to get you ball park on what's going to happen on a run, seems legit
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/htm/calc ... umper.html

I’ve always run a thumper with my pot, wouldn’t be without. Takes a bit longer to get the first product dripping as you have to heat the thumper charge but once it’s running no difference. I generally get in the 80s for starting abv and a good steady run. I run an 8, 8 1/2 gal boiler charge and just built a new 3 gal thumper with a 3” port on top for easy charging and cleaning.

Yonder wrote: 8, 8 1/2 gal boiler charge and just built a new 3 gal thumper with a 3” port on top for easy charging and cleaning.

Pics would be helpful :dance:

The Stig wrote:

Yonder wrote: 8, 8 1/2 gal boiler charge and just built a new 3 gal thumper with a 3” port on top for easy charging and cleaning.

Pics would be helpful :dance:

:text-+1:

Might be of some interest

https://youtu.be/GYZxNKoGYYA

And this one, watch from 9.05s for the infuser

https://youtu.be/VF4bQdUZdLs

That dude is pretty hard for me to watch.
The "infuser" is cool, nothing new, a ss ball or gate valve and an end cap is cheaper than the shown rig

"I cut the first jar and the last 5 jars and that's all my tails, leaving me 10 jars" I reckon this guy must think Jim Beam is the nectar of the gods... I had a quick skim of a couple others.... Mason jar thumpers, plastic everywhere... Please take phill off your feed before he makes you do and think stupid things :shock: :-D