New improved copper reflux condenser still collumn
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 พ.ย. 2013
- This is a basic description of what you need to build yourself a copper reflux condenser still collumn and how to pack the collumn with copper mesh and ceramic saddles.The collumn's is a 800mm and 600
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BEAUTIFUL!! There is nothing like polished copper. Love the wooden case as well. I am so happy to hear that you are an "alcoholic" too. I don't feel so lonely any more! Love watching your videos. Keep up the good work. LEKKER MAN!
I think what you have created is excellent, love the fine detail, it has inspired me to move on from my current device Thanks
Sir, I like the way you explained all this essential information by your experience of engineering in very simple talk, it was great experience, mind blowing 👌👌👌👍.
Good Job well done , this is amazing , everything is perfectly done looks amazing an that case it sits in.
I wish I had seen this video before I bought an over seas still for several thousand dollars , lots of great info
Well done champ. Good pipe bending skills.
I use 2 or 3 wraps of yellow teflon tape to seal the top 65mm cap at the top of the cooling coil.
Good show mate. Myself I used smash beer bottles instead of the ceramic for the fractional column, works great.The condenser is pretty cool, but I opted for a open coil system with some fans-- fare amount cheaper. Good show thought!
Awesome Job! taught me heaps! thanks
Thank you very much for sharing your "mad" skills with us. Now I am going to read all the 44 comments because I love how TH-camrs hate on everything they don't appreciate. This is a DIY project I can't wait to attempt. Has any one asked what sort of polish you used to bring about that beautiful shine? Did I just say "shine" sorry......my sense of humor interferes with everything I do. Have a great day, "mate" and best wishes from the soon to be freezing northern states in the USA while you enjoy your spring. Peace!
i like this video, and this type of idea i really appreciate it, and thanks a lot for this track....,
4" copper seamless downspout (for house gutters) is less to buy and works great, the key is having a GREAT condenser or two condensers better yet!
I have purchased a 7 meters roll over eBay witch is 6mm od and is soft copper witch is easy-to-use and to bend , it was from a UK seller , i used 3.5meters for the 600mm collumn and 3.5 meters for the 800mm collumn , cheers.:-)
This is 2.5" collums i designed my self thru a lot of research and built it myself with mainly copper components and minimal brass fittings welded with silver solder and used food safe silicone to seal the top cap of the reflux condenser , cheers
but brass isnt safe to distill with. shouldnt be anywhere on your still. shit leaches toxins. stainless steel and copper only
I have purchased the sink fitting from Masters witch was a 50mm brass one that was chromed plated , just big enough lip on it so you could weld your 2.5 inch copper collumn pipe on it , i used a 2 percent silver solder rod same as what most plumbers use with oxygen and acetelyne. Make sure u grind the chrome plating off before you weld the copper to the brass , cheers
danssv8 Can you advise the part number or full name of the sink fitting the way they sell it at Masters or Bunnings? I am on their websites and can't seem to find it. Thank you.
I used 1500 wet and dry waterpaper with a little bit of dishwashing liquid and lots of water and sanded it , then I used a fine steel wool and after that i used a buffer pad on my drilling machine with metal polish on it and just kept buffing it like that
thanks for this very interesting ...
The grommet goes right at the top of the collumn above the reflux condenser to measure the boil of vapours as alcohol boils of at 78 degrees Celsius , hope this answer your question , the thermometer probe goes through it , cheers
I've seen a clip posted by a guy who lives here in New Zealand who used this same concept but a stainless steel version. If you know anything about distilling it's easy to understand how this works.
Nice case
Hey Dan, YOU are The Man !
That's the best you tube video I've seen. Not only are you extremely talented at designing and making things, but your camera-handling and video editing skills are also faultless ! So many moonshine still constructors are slurred or can't handle a camera, that it's sad how pathetic their video attempts are. What a laid-back (love your bare feet) informative and professional you-tube video you have published.
I raise my hat to you sir!
I'll definitely be copying your first -class condenser plans as well as I am able. Also love the beautiful wooden box you've made for your shiny condensers. You are a true artist.
Just one question - do you varnish the condensers to keep them so shiny? If so, what do you use?
Kind regards, Neal, Kent, UK.
Nice work, great ideas. Your device looks like it likely has a pinched bend , SEE @ 09:05. Heating/ Annealing the tube before before making this harder bend. OR cut and use a 90* elbow?( or a swage joint)
I’m surprised to find your 2013 video in 2020. Nice work.
That large diameter copper is expensive.
You can regulate the flow if you put a inline micro tap in , cheers
Looks like more time in building box and polishing exterior of reflux then actual time to build the colum.
Excellent work by the way, on the stills and the video's very informative. Thanks for your time and sharing trial and error.
Is there any reason that you don't run straight from the parrot to the bottle anymore? Is it just for measuring purposes?
The reason that the reflux condenser is below the alcohol vapours escape route is so that the reflux condenser serve it's purpose and that is to condense any other vapours or steam water to recondens back to a liquid thats higher than 78.5 degrees celcius as this is the boiling point of alcohol ethanol , it also gives you a higher yield of 95abv and their for a shorter running time of distillation . For the plate at thebottom it's not a hassle and the copper wires can be removed within seconds and you will only have to remove them after 5 runs just to clean the copper and ceramics , all other parts on top have been welded with silver solder and the only way is putting thecopper mesh and ceramics in from the button end of the collumn no hassle , all other time i flushes it out with running water thru everything , collumn , down vapour pipe connected to the collumn and the main condenser , cheers :-)
Yes you can make any spirits , this is my reflux still
Ceramics was purchased from my local home brew supply shop ,:-)
Copper pipes and reducers were bought from Reece plumbing , and other fittings and taps , pvc pipes i've bought from Bunnings and Masters , cheers
Great video, thanks for posting. You system seems well built. The case is an interesting idea.
I didn't think you needed that much ceramic saddles - thoughts foot or so was good....?
seems to be a lot of confusion as to the purpose of your reflux condenser, as I understand it the water outlet temperature should be monitored and ideally should be around 80c ish letting only the vapours with a lower boiling point to pass through ie the ethanol........... I guess you monitor the column temp above the condenser for this purpose......... the vapours that then escape the column are then directed to another condenser to liquify the alcohol for collection, I think this is what appears to be confusing most people passing ridiculous comments on here! As for brass not being safe , Iv'e been to a couple of scottish distilleries and their stills are all copper and brass!, so I'd guess its safe..... great video mate, please post another showing your actual condenser and how you made that too
What is the purpose of the ceramic stones ?
Excellent video.
Thank you.
Mate .. question
in my mind the water in let and out let ,
by having a larger inlet and a smaller return .or outlet it would hold the water a few seconds longer .allowing the cold water to do its job and not melt the Ice as fast if your pumping from a 5 or 10 gal bucket whats your thought !
No it was ceramic saddles bought from my local brew shop , cheers
Hey mate, I was just wondering where you et all of your larger copper pipes, and reducers and such
Cheers
The sink part can be purchased at any plumbing or hardware store
This is GREAT JOB ..one question ..how often do you have to change the mesh and saddles??
Great job how did you get that copper to polish up like that what did you use??
Hey great job once again, I have 1 more? Which colum has the condenser coil with the holes drilled in the plate? The 800mm or 600mm.
Very nice build but I'd piss those ceramic saddles or rachi rings off and use stainless steel (non soap filled) pot scrubbers / scourers..
Heaps more surface area and better heat transfer between the rising vapors and the falling condensate.
I also agree with the other commenter's, rubber and brass aren't preferred materials for use in a still. Lead is used in the making of the brass and nasty flavours come from the rubber get into the product.
You are a true craftsman. Very nice work and neatly finished. Could you please tell me where did you purchase the ceramic pieces? cheers Raymond
I know Milehidistilling has a good deal on right now. Not sure where you're from but they're in the states and they do ship to Canada
what are your thought's on the brass fittings? Are they safe as is, do they need to be (pickled) ? Or are any concerns just minor? I do like the thought of using shark bite fitting's if they are safe as they can be taken apart easy. all other fitting's can be substituted easily if needed.
How did this build work and hold up? What was your proof reading start to finish and mash amount that you used?
Please read replies from other comments first before asking dum questions. This is how it works , any liquid travels upwards is also a sort of a gas and like water can evaporate from 0 degrees to 101 degrees celsius or up to 212 degrees fahrenheit . Thus the purpose of the reflux condenser is to turn any other vapours that's below the boiling point of alcohol witch is 78.5 degrees celsius back to the boiler when it hits the coil of the reflux condenser , condensing it back to a liquid , that's why the probe is at the top of the collumn to measure the temperature of the vapours coming of the rising gasses or steam at 78.5 degrees celsius and keep it constantly regulated with the reflux condenser water flow witch is about always 10 degrees Celsius cooler than 78.5 degrees Celsius , cheers
almost. The idea is to boil off the alcohol at 79 degrees without boiling the water it's in at 100 degrees. the reflux column lets the mixed vapours go up and down the column so there's more opportunity for the alcohol to boil out. you want the condenser to cool the water, but it has to be over 79 degrees or it will condense the alcohol too, and send it back down.
Great Build. Got me excited to build my 3rd one now. If anyone here needs a hand or have any issues with understanding how it works, hit me up, happy to share. Great Work danssv8!
hi mate where are you from ?
im starting to build one any help would be appreciated
+Evan Simpson Hey mate, Im in Brisbane. Happy to assist via email if you like?
+James Laurie ok im in Sydney that would be great ...appreciated
+Evan Simpson cool. james.laurie87@gmail.com
Wot was the price to make? Cheaper than buying one? Great video mate
Why not use a canning jar funnel to load that collumn?
when packing your column would it hurt to have a fixed bottom and pack from the top and just fill the ceramics up to the bottom of your coil. and fill the coil with copper mesh, this would allow dis assembly for cleaning from the top. The reason for this is my column base has a clamp that fits the keg top and needs to be rigid.
Great vids. BTW it is sink not zink.. just saying.. You can take a South African out of..... But still you are a real craftsman. I enjoy seeing your work and wish that I was as handy as you. Ex JHB...
G'day again danssv8,
Just saw one of your parrots on one of Louwrens van de Merwe's vids. Now that is one sweet looking device. I have not studied parrots yet, but would like to ask, how do you cool the condensate so that the hydrometer reads at the right temperature? Do you have a vid relating to your parrot(s)?
Cheers
Hey Dan, Are you from RSA? I am from Durban. I am just motivated to make the moonshine since Lock-down. Did you get your copper reducers, pipe and stuff from Builders or ON TAP?
I have a couple questions. I'm wondering how your vapors will escape out the top of your column if you have a reflux coil below it. Unless you don't run your reflux coil all the time. Also how do you remove the nut from the bottom to attach it to your cook pot if you have copper wire going through the holes you have drilled? Why not just put the plate in from the top and let it sit on the lip like the original drain plate sat?
I think he is in family with David Coppefield - true magic hahaha
Won't the brass leach lead into ur alcohol
Thank you for video. Can you pack a column to full, or tight to were the vapors can't get out. I know the vapors are going to come out some were. Is it going to build up to much pressure? Just asking. thank you from Iowa U.S.A.
Got reflux ..homemade .. Boka still ... getting 96 % out of it . On top of column I have opening 1/2 '' for any pressure to go out . No temp gauges .. they are to impress you . When temp goes high on top of column I turn it to 750 W ( full power 1500W) ... l have had good spirits since Oct. 19 .... no delays ...
If your reflux coil cant cool enough some steam will go out ....
Hi. Why two different lengths? Is one better, or are they for different purposes or flavours?
I am curious. Do you use lead free brass or regular. Do you worry about lead leaching into you product.
Mate i use 1500 wet and dry sandpaper with water and a tad bit dishwashing detergent followed by fine steelwool and then a good polish on the copper pipe and a buff on a drill to buff it to a shine , once it's buffed then it's easygoing , cheers. If you need advice send me your e-mail and i'll get back to you. Most of my work is already posted on my channel so just subscribe to view them all , happy moonshine maker :-)
One more? Where did you prchase the 3" copper colums? I can't find anybody around here that sells them.
A 2" 120mm collumn would produce the almost the same abv as my 2.5" 800mm collumn , cheers :-)
hi,i made a collumn like this!but with water open,when steam go in contact with condenser the fluid return back in the packing,don't reach the out pipe!alchool don t come out to the pipe!when close water,steam come out to the pipe!why this?thx
where to get pipes and fittings in south africa?
sir, what is the brand of sink drain. can i buy it online?
How did you make the coil
I'm a South African living in Australia Len from Cape town
very effective video. we can learn something from here. panlarko amazing reflux planner
Long before I saw the wood cutout map of Africa in your workshop recognised an Afrikaans man speaking English with an Austrialian accent. Well done on your video. Sending love from South Africa. Good on ya mate.
you have a fortune in these 2 reflux units
Use a dephagamator as stage 1 condenser then tube type as final condenser, vapor cannot make it past that without turning into the nectar of the gods!
What did you put in that pipe , which ingredients did you use , and are those ingredients still stay in pipe while it was distilling
İsmail
Why pack the column if the can control reflux with your water?
me gusta mucho tu destilador (condensador . tienes que hacer otro vidio como se enrolla el el tubo ,que no es facir felicitaciones .tan tanvien se ve deliciosa esa cerveza.
Are you originally from SA?
For the sharkbite fittings witch is brass is no problem , I have not died yet or poison myself yet , so i don't intend to kill myself lol , All your t joints and elbows in previously plumbing was all brass and no one was ever killed , happy distilling 😃
Hey dnsss*, I'm a chemical engineer (who likes his booze). If you sent me your design I might be able to give you some tips on your next oe (e.i getting more booze for your buck). One thing I've been working on is optimum refux rate + preheating
i could use some tips
douglasnagel6@gmail.com
was it just garden stones you put in the pipe?
Thanks
+therearnonamesleft Ceramic saddles I heard him say.From his local brewing shop, at $28.50/kg.
Hi this is Len from Cape town I have down loaded your video and have watched it a hundred times,excuse my ignorance but are you an Aussie or a Zealander, I am so pissed at this moment that I cant decide for myself.
I bought a STILL SPIRITS ALEMBIC distiller ,that why I am pissed now never drank before ,maybe a tot now and then ,so I just want to say that I am going big now got me a 50 lt beer keg and am going to put your pipe on it ,will have to be stainless steel cause copper here is so fffff expensive and there is no off cuts any ware available, and all this in my kitchen cause I don't have a garage lol. Thanks for making it so easy to get to the next level of being BLIND DRUNK, Best Regards, LEN
sterkte
len mail my douglasnagel6@gmail.com
Hi Lee, i'm also ex SAFFA but living in UK .... do you have a TH-cam video of the rest of your moonshine set up ? Boiler, parrot, etc etc
not lee mate Dan
Da return of da rubba grommet....
Hey Newzi let us know how that doesn't work out for you. Or you could change your design.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zink
Where did you Park your car?! Haha crack up!!
Would you sale this Unassembled with the box?
I can use this type of Reflux Condenser to make Whiskey Correct?
+Thomas McCray No. you dont use a reflux still to make whiskey. That would be a Pot Stil
You can run whisky on a reflux still. However, the classic method is to run it twice thru a pot still. The classic Irish method is to run it three times, though.
The first run has to be a stripping run, throw the foreshots and collect everything else. The second run you throw the foreshots (yes, again) and make the cuts for heads,hearts, and tails.
Kalle Klæp
I know all that
mattzx77 Good for you. A lot of people don't know a whole lot before they start. So naturally they are in doubt of which still to buy or build and how to run it.
Great build, but just one question. Where do the vapours come out? Just kidding mate.
Jay Crossland I was wondering where the temp probe goes at?
@danssv8 hi mate just wondering where abouts in Australia you are ?
could do with some help lol
Shoot me a email , live in Central QLD , cheers Dan
dvanhengel36@gmail.com is my email . if you wish I can phone you once you emailed me , cheers Dan
Please look how reflux works on TH-cam or just Google it to work it out how a reflux condenser works and what it's purpose is . It's like a valve in your gut that shut close when you swallow your food , and if you're valve doesn't seal off properly you will end up with what the quack or doctor calls refluxing and that is why you get heartburn lol
also ill add though that you cant really trust youtube at all go to homedistiller.org
Its an ok job mate but I think you spent extra money unnecessarily on the water fittings made of brass. Why not just run your condenser coil pipe just straight out the top through the cap and solder then use a flaring tool to flare them for the water hose to slip on and just use hose clamps. Seems to me to be more practical. Same with your steam pipe just run it through and solder on a copper 90deg Elbow to then run it into a doubler section or a worm box. Even easier is to just run it through and bend it to those locations Cancelling out need for extra soldering. If your doing it to make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye then I personally think I would go a 100% copper still, If your making a still with product in mind a priority then keep it simple. Making a heavy 2.5mm thick stainless or 3mm copper lid for your boiler so the condenser to be mounted otherwise may be another option to avoid using brass. This could be don't buy pre mounting the copper cap to the lid with stainless rivets, Blots or soldier. I personally don't care about what you use but just saying for the trouble and effort why not go all the way. As for using brass well who cares I bet they haven't seen how prison hooch is made and prisoners are not all falling over from poisoning, I think there is enough self appointed professionals having a go at your project and I agree with you on your take of the situation. I've seen still makers add a lot more crap to there still as well like eye glasses to the condenser, Why? What are they going to look at another tube inside a tube? Dam they must get board, Way to much time on there hands. Anything for a sale I guess, or is it the better your still looks the better the product and the better a moonshiner they are? All ego if you ask me. At the end of the day it should be all about the product and not how many parts on can attach to it. If you got to pick up and run the less shit you have to carry the better right?. If you have to hide it then the more compact and simple the design is will make that easier right? Everyone wants to be a Popcorn. I think the most important thing about a still is simply keeping the temp right. Another thing is always throw your first 100 ml out of your run once you reach temp. No you don't you keep it and add it to the next batch that way over 10 runs you will only loose 100 ml and not a litre, Who stupid are these pro's?. So what, Do it your way and Happy moonshining mate. Opinions are just like assholes everyone has one.
Zink ???
Hello sir!
Olá tem e-mail
i agree with waldolost but to say bad design cooling coils are in rong part of setup
subtitles please
ill be to old to make moonshine after watching this vedio
Hey if you need advice just send me your e-mail adress and i will guide you thru the steps as i design and weld all my things self and also putting it to the test , cheers for now :-)
we get it water in water out lol
Sorry I hear the price $250 that a good price as its all copper.
G'day danssv8. I have watched to vid to the end now. Your process seems unnecessarily complicated. Adding to my previous comments: Stainless or copper scrubbers have far more surface area than saddles therefore they are far better at the refluxing process. Why braze a plate on the top coil of the condensor when the plate is almost only holes anyway? Why polish the columns when far better efficiency is gained by insulating the column - thereby hiding the beautiful shine? Also meant to add in my previous comment that if vapours escape past the condenser, your water flow may be too slow - getting too hot. Also while the ethanol is boiling off at 78.5 degrees, there cannot be vapours that are hotter (more hot?), traveling up the column. Your thermometer should also be immersed in the hottest part of the vapour away from the bottom of your condenser - out of the way of any condensation coming back down the column. google the "Nixon Stone" reflux column design for a perfect homebrew still. It can produce 3.5 to 4 ltrs of 95% abv from a 25 ltr dextrose wash in about 4 hours. Cheers.
Don Roberts i will help you where i can , just e-mail me or leave a comment with your Gmail adress and i will help you where i can. Pls subscribe to see some of the rest of my latest uploads about stills , cheers :-)
Zinc and Brass are two big no no's
U2 playing in the back ground - whats the difference between Bono and God? God doesn't think he is Bono. Aside from that not a bad setup.
sorry Dan
A complicated build by any standard.
No info about the advantages of the copper mesh in particular.