Howdy,
I have the Pure Distilling HBS reflux column.
I am happy with the output I am getting but frustrated about my lack of control on the takeoff speed.
It "did" have a 1/4 inch female/female ball valve on it, I have found this to be a pain to control, I have been drawing off anywhere between 12 and 20 minutes for 200ml lots, and struggling to get the exact flow rate I want.
I was at one of the big hardware shops today ( buying Rat Sak, bastard rats in my shed !!! :angry-banghead: :angry-banghead: :angry-banghead: ) and I found one of these.
http://www.blackwoods.com.au/PartDetail.aspx?part_no=08097316
I was not sure of the thread size but took a guess and got it right. :-D
It looked to be all brass, but I pulled it apart at home and found it had a nitrile ( ??? ) o'ring seal on the shaft just above the valve seat / needle inside the valve, I took it off and put it back together again and could not blow air through it so I've left it like that. ( I think it was there because these are rated for high pressure ??? )
Then I took it back apart again and found one more of the same type of seal is also installed up in the top of the tap to seal the thread, it is only exposed when the tap thread is wound all the way down and this was only possible when I screwed the top off the tap. I have left this one installed as I think it needs to be there, and I think it won't be exposed to high ABV??? :?
Does anyone have any thoughts on this???
Cheers
GTH