2" stainless pot still

[Sponge]

Hello everyone

Just a few questions on the pot still I am constructing.

It's going to be a 2" Column about 700 mm high with a shotgun cooler about 650 mm long.

First the shot gun cooler is 2" tube with 7 by 10 mm tubes 550 mm long is this overkill or is this too short?

Second the takeoff from the column to the condenser I was thinking 19 mm tube as that's what I got should it be bigger/ smaller?

Third is there a rule of thumb wether the takeoff point should be out the top or out the side?

It will be mounted to a keg with a tri-clamp fitting.

Thank you in advance for the feedback.
Sponge

[Sponge]

A couple of pics of the parts so far

[Sponge]

A pic of the shotgun parts

[Sponge]

Shot gun again

[zombie]

Nice work on the end caps for the shotgun. The length is determined by power input but long story short 550mm is a good size. You should be able to run just a trickle of water and have good cooling.
I recently put a 24" (610mm) on an 18 gallon pot set with 3800 watts, and it runs water at about the same rate as the product out put.

I am also a firm believer in running from the top of the cap or out put from the boiler. My reason is there will be no trapped vapors dragging thru the entire run.
In all fairness it may really have no effect. Just the way I like to see it done.

Nice build. Stainless has a beauty all its own.

[Sponge]

Thank you very much zombie
great feed back it makes sense in my head :angry-banghead: now you explained why you do it from the top have you got any input to the size of the draw off tube?

Cheers sponge

[zombie]

I see no reason you couldn't stay at 2" tubing the whole way. perhaps a 2" 90 degree elbow attached to a 45 degree at the top of the boiler out. a short length of 2" (maybe 10cm long) to a coupler, and right on to your shotgun.
It would make a graceful kind of line, and be a real simple build.

[7evan]

Something like this?????
Looks great tho dude. Keep it up. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[zombie]

Exactly like that!!! Draw it, and they will come... ;-)

[Sponge]

Thank you zombie and thank you easy mac
I like that idea :handgestures-thumbupleft: I shall continue with 2" the whole way thanks for the feedback guys very much appreciated :text-thankyoublue:

Cheers sponge

[bt1]

I am also a firm believer in running from the top of the cap or out put from the boiler. My reason is there will be no trapped vapors dragging thru the entire run.

What's does this mean in English?

bt1

[zombie]

I am also a firm believer in running from the top of the cap or out put from the boiler. My reason is there will be no trapped vapors dragging thru the entire run.

What's does this mean in English?

bt1

I often don't explain my thoughts very well.
What I mean is maintaining a direct flow path for vapor extraction with no areas that will hold vapor or prevent it flowing straight out.
My thought is any lighter vapor (as in keytones ect.) can be trapped in a high spot in the pipe or cap essentially smearing thru the run. Think of a lower case "t". The top of that t will hold the lightest vapor where as a straight line will allow immediate removal of those light vapors.

I am only basing this on Pot still designs where there is no need for a side take off point. The best old school Scotch/Whiskey stills all have straight run thru caps vs some of the classic "hillbilly" cap, and Lyne arm designs that just cant make as good a product.
My thought is it has everything to do with holding lighter vapors that would be better off removed.
Not a certain fact.(that I am aware of) Just my opinion.

[halfbaked]

Sponge where did you get the stainless stuff for your shotgun? What part of the world are you from? I like it.

[Sponge]

I got my stainless through work mate up in the Northern Territory where I work the parts for the shotgun was a length of old instrument tubing in the electricians parts rack and the ends I made from a piece of scrap stainless sheet from the fabrication workshop and the stainless tube for the outer casing is from a contract group on site that had it left over from a previous job I will get it all tigged up at work then I will bring it home to perth when It is done

[halfbaked]

You will have something to be proud of when you get it finished. I like it.

[zombie]

:text-+1:

[Klown]

sweet and easy design to make, might have to steal it :P

just a few questions though, with the shotgun cooler, is it a sealed unit and u run water on the outside of the internal pipes kinda like a radiator. Then after the cooler do u just go to what i think is a U shaped condenser ( parrot i think ). Or am i missing something? Im geting quite confused, with all this info im having to take in.

[Zak Griffin]

You're onto it Klown. The shotgun is as you say, sealed with water outside the internal tubes.

The parrot isn't a condenser, it's just a handy tool to sit your alcometer in, to take real time ABV% measurements :)

[Klown]

ok cool thanks for the info. would this setup be good for flavoured washes? or are u better off building a copper setup?