Butterfly valve for reflux still?

[toil]

I bought a new 2" butterfly valve on amazon to replace a crappy ebay gate valve that leaks when fully closed on my 3" vm still. The new one was only $40 US (and the same again for delivery). I didn't really look too closely but saw it had an epdm seal and was reduced from $360 US and just pulled the trigger. Anyway, i got it today and it looks great. My question is this safe? (Yeah, i know, i should have asked before i bought it.)

Dixon B5101E200CC-C Stainless Steel 316L Butterfly Valve with Trigger Handle and EPDM Seal, 2" Tube OD

41QHjB2J3PL._SY400_.jpg

[toil]

OK so maybe I am a bit of a tool for not asking the above question before buying but I am an impulsive bastard. Does anyone have any thoughts about this valve being exposed gaseous ethanol for the take off of a VM still? From what I know EPDM is better then silicone in terms of resistance to ethanol but not as good as PTFE. The advantage of EPDM over PTFE is that it is more flexible. I couldn't get much info from the manufacturers website.

[Zak Griffin]

It should be fine, mate, as far as being alcohol safe.

I'm not sure you'll have fine enough control with a butterfly valve though?

[woodduck]

Sorry mate i don't know much about the tap but i do know that epdm is fine with alc so you should be all good :handgestures-thumbupleft:

It's a flash looking tap btw, hope it works well for ya.

[toil]

Thanks for the relies guys - good to get you thoughts about safety to put my mind at ease.

Yeah woodduck the valve is flash as. Really well machined and polished.

Zak, I was wondering about the fine control also. I am going to convert my still from vm to vm/lm so I wasn't too worried but interestingly it has a sprocket a number of positions. The "most closed" one only has about a millimeter gap around the edge. I wonder how many drops per second that would end up letting through - might be OK to take off the heads (cause I will take forever to convert the still to vm/lm). There is a video of the valve from the manufacturer linked below (to be honest I have seen more interesting vids on the internet but for those with a stainless fetish it might be OK).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFJWTAn ... e=youtu.be

[Mrs Mac]

Hi Toil

Once you use this valve you will find that it will after a few uses fully close, 99% of butterfly valves are like this to start with because of the tight fit to the seal.
Unfortunately because of the spring loaded handle and the positions it has notched for its holding positions it is not very good for or recommended for flow control. Your best option for flow control is a gate valve as this is there sole designed purpose. Bunnings, your local hardware store or plumbing store will be your best bet for the gate valve.


Cheers
Mrs Mac
@};-

[andybear]

Your butterfly valve looks like the type used in the dairy industry. Very cool, but unfortunately not good for controlling flow. Even ball valves aren't that good, although many people here use them with success. Needle valves are the best and next would be globe valves, but these are very hard to come by.

[MacStill]

A stainless gate valve will be your best option for fine control on a VM still :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[toil]

Thanks for all your feedback. I may have bought the wrong thing it seems. Wondering if I build a VM/LM head and use the LM to drain off the fores and the heads and then open up the butterfly valve to let out the hearts - wishful thinking? (I need to stop drinking and online shopping)