Randy, I know I am going to be the only one to say please re-think using Glass Mason Jars. 1. Mason Jars are known to explode, split, crack from temperature changes. 2. Mason Jars are way undersized. Thumpers should be the same size, 1/2 size or 1/3 size of the boiler. 3. Mason Jars and propane fired burners are a hand grenade waiting to happen. Additional safety gear would be to add a pressure relief valve, or a manometer to the boiler. A PRV would be as simple as adding a copper T in the path out of the boiler (before the thumper) with a Wine bottle Cork in the open part of the Tee. It would prevent a catastrophic event if the thumper path becomes "clogged". The cork would pop off instead of a explosion. A manometer would be a column a water you can watch as pressure builds in the boiler. If too much pressure builds the water is pushed out and a vent to atmosphere is opened and prevents an explosion. If heat to the boiler is shutdown accidentally. Water would get sucked back into the boiler and opens a vent to the open atmosphere. When you shut down a boiler, the heat dissipates incredibly fast and the boiler MAY COLLAPSE if the thumper has a lot of liquid in it, or tries to suck up any solids in the thumper clogging the vapor path. Your 3 way valve would prevent boiler collapse after shut down. But watch what happens to the thumpers. The closest thumper to the 3 way valve MAY* suck up liquid from the next thumper as it cools. * I only run 1 thumper which is the same size as my boiler. I have not run multiple thumps before. Would be interesting to hear what would happen. Proceed with caution Randy! Cheers Buddy!
Howdy fellas, I watched part of a video the other day about thumper barrels, but the comment section was shut down so I didn't watch, I wanted to comment on thumper barrels, moonshiners learned that by passing the steam through a thumper, it doubled the alcohol content of the beer in the thumper and they didn't have to run their whiskey through the still twice to get high proof liquor.
I just finished my thumper jar build today, that is a close design of yours. I have a few things to finish up and I will clean and flush this week end. I didn't use the three way valve but I designed the piping arrangement so the chance of any condensed liquid from running back into the second jar. I will try and take pictures of the setup when I get it running.
Not gonna lie....I thought he was setting us up when he drew the first two circles ...I thought...never mind..IAM BAKED AND ENJOYING THE NEW EPISODE RANDY!
Dangit Randy. Are you peekin in my shed? I also run a 2 half gal jar setup and was wondering how to make a bypass. Just a tweek to your tubes going into your jars. Just send em straight down about and 1/8" from the bottom and cut a small 1/8th " V or slot in the bottom of the pipe. That allows more of the "steam" to travel through whatever you have in the jars. As always, great video! Cheers
Innovation, great video Randy. Thinking of innovation, when we're using quite a bit of water in a 2 HR run, as anyone tried a lone water vessel with a 6 head aquarium fan to cool water. There cheap as chips on Amazon 🤔
I use a 48 gallon coleman cooler with a 5000 btu window air conditioner that I carefully inverted the evaporator downward so it sits in the cooler. as the a/c runs the water is cooled by the evaporator then i use a small water pump to recirculate the water thru my still. works great but, i recommend to find a cheap used a/c unless you fail in your attempt to invert the evaporator without kinking the refrigerant line. You also need to remove the plastic fan so it does not blow air.,
There is no way the vapor will go into the second jar without overcoming atmospheric pressure, the vapor couldn't even make it halfway down the tube towards the jar. The pressure inside the jar creates a dam.
Hi With the 3 way valve in bypass vapor will not back up to second jar because it would have to build pressure it will take the path of least resistance
I'm gonna guess that if you are using a thumper for flavor you will run slow at lower temperatures, that should ease the chance of the failure. I personally would still use a PRV or even a 3rd thumper of copper before the glass jars to slow the vapor down
@5:27 you drew the one way bypass valve wrong ,it should be after the bypass line not before ,the way you have it if you closed that valve its not gonna bypass its only gonna block the whole system , best is to just have 2 x 3way valve one at the intake and other at the outake but that bypass line is always gonna need cleaning if you use it, heck whole complicated thing needs to be cleaned of liquid every time after use even if you steam clean it
@@marconantel7735 I thought there was some other reason besides lead? Just something I’ve heard. Maybe it was because people thought there was lead still in brass.
@@webcrawler3332 I’m no expert, and you may be correct! Until semi-recently, say 10-15 years ago, brass fittings did contain lead, there was a fear of it leaching into ethanol
It’s not going to work !, If you run thru the first jar and then thru the second jar and out the top, where is the flow going ? It will go two differentways. Need a shutoff valve so it won,t back feed to the first jar again!!!
great question the flow can not go back to jar 1 because that is a three way valve inlet port a can only connect to outlet b or c not both so flow only go jar path or bypass path I want a path always open cheers
Hey Randy, mate can you stop using OK, OK all the time. It is just so annoying & might be why your YouTub has stalled with new people? I do love what you are giving the brewing community. Cheers: from OZ
Should have used a second ball valve in place of the T on top of the second jar?
Randy, I know I am going to be the only one to say please re-think using Glass Mason Jars.
1. Mason Jars are known to explode, split, crack from temperature changes.
2. Mason Jars are way undersized. Thumpers should be the same size, 1/2 size or 1/3 size of the boiler.
3. Mason Jars and propane fired burners are a hand grenade waiting to happen.
Additional safety gear would be to add a pressure relief valve, or a manometer to the boiler.
A PRV would be as simple as adding a copper T in the path out of the boiler (before the thumper) with a Wine bottle Cork in the open part of the Tee. It would prevent a catastrophic event if the thumper path becomes "clogged". The cork would pop off instead of a explosion.
A manometer would be a column a water you can watch as pressure builds in the boiler.
If too much pressure builds the water is pushed out and a vent to atmosphere is opened and prevents an explosion.
If heat to the boiler is shutdown accidentally. Water would get sucked back into the boiler and opens a vent to the open atmosphere.
When you shut down a boiler, the heat dissipates incredibly fast and the boiler MAY COLLAPSE if the thumper has a lot of liquid in it, or tries to suck up any solids in the thumper clogging the vapor path.
Your 3 way valve would prevent boiler collapse after shut down. But watch what happens to the thumpers. The closest thumper to the 3 way valve MAY* suck up liquid from the next thumper as it cools.
* I only run 1 thumper which is the same size as my boiler. I have not run multiple thumps before. Would be interesting to hear what would happen.
Proceed with caution Randy!
Cheers Buddy!
Now that's thinking outside the box!! Good stuff Randy, looking forward to seeing it in action
Thanks my friend
I've seen lots of glass thumper set ups but I've also seen them explode while canning. Be careful.
cheers!!
Looks very interesting,keen to see how it runs 👍
Howdy fellas, I watched part of a video the other day about thumper barrels, but the comment section was shut down so I didn't watch, I wanted to comment on thumper barrels, moonshiners learned that by passing the steam through a thumper, it doubled the alcohol content of the beer in the thumper and they didn't have to run their whiskey through the still twice to get high proof liquor.
Clear cranberry orange cobbler . Food for thought . This would also be great for the bloody Mary in one run .
Interesting
This is really a terrific video, thank you for creating and sharing. Your design with the three-way valve is really well thought out.
Thank you very much!
hey, been following all you videos, thanks for the recipes!
Over the top cool!
Look forward to seeing the end result Randy👍
Randy could you demonstrate how to make the caps for the jars?
I just finished my thumper jar build today, that is a close design of yours. I have a few things to finish up and I will clean and flush this week end. I didn't use the three way valve but I designed the piping arrangement so the chance of any condensed liquid from running back into the second jar. I will try and take pictures of the setup when I get it running.
Not gonna lie....I thought he was setting us up when he drew the first two circles ...I thought...never mind..IAM BAKED AND ENJOYING THE NEW EPISODE RANDY!
Cheers!!
great video, great Idea. I hope it’s ok to highjack it.
It is
love your stuff,I have a bypass on thumper with one ball valve and one on my bypass cross over,path of least resistance
Cheers
Interesting idea
Nice build, Randy.
Thanks!
Awsome idea Randy I may steal your idea. Ive been thinking of how to put a thumper in my reflux still. Thanks buddy
Go for it!
Dangit Randy. Are you peekin in my shed? I also run a 2 half gal jar setup and was wondering how to make a bypass. Just a tweek to your tubes going into your jars. Just send em straight down about and 1/8" from the bottom and cut a small 1/8th " V or slot in the bottom of the pipe. That allows more of the "steam" to travel through whatever you have in the jars. As always, great video! Cheers
Thanks Cheers!!
Take a cue from heavy construction and set up a lock out - tag out system. It's hard to mistakenly unlock a padlock.
Nice video!
Thanks
Innovation, great video Randy.
Thinking of innovation, when we're using quite a bit of water in a 2 HR run, as anyone tried a lone water vessel with a 6 head aquarium fan to cool water. There cheap as chips on Amazon 🤔
I use a 48 gallon coleman cooler with a 5000 btu window air conditioner that I carefully inverted the evaporator downward so it sits in the cooler. as the a/c runs the water is cooled by the evaporator then i use a small water pump to recirculate the water thru my still. works great but, i recommend to find a cheap used a/c unless you fail in your attempt to invert the evaporator without kinking the refrigerant line. You also need to remove the plastic fan so it does not blow air.,
Randy, you should check out Rick Gibson. He runs the Tennessee Thumper and Mason Jar Mafia. He designs and builds thumpers for distillers all over.
thanks
Think your going to need a additional valve for the out, right now the bypass goes into the second jar.
I’m thinking that vapor will take path of least resistance pressure will build in jar so it will go out see what happens
@@stillworksandbrewing hope your not wrong, rather be safe than sorry down the road. Good luck. Love your videos.
@@stillworksandbrewing Tes , minimal pressure will push the vapor in the direction you want.
There is no way the vapor will go into the second jar without overcoming atmospheric pressure, the vapor couldn't even make it halfway down the tube towards the jar. The pressure inside the jar creates a dam.
Great video Randy! Put the camera over your shoulder next time so the drawing is upside right 😜
thanks
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
thanks
If the temperature of the vapor is 180 at the collum, how long does it take to reach the same temperature in the jars? ( 2 half gallon jars)
Is there a risk of vapor backing into the second jar if your using the bypass during foreshots/heads? Or Will the vapor continue pass through the T?
Hi With the 3 way valve in bypass vapor will not back up to second jar because it would have to build pressure it will take the path of least resistance
Wondered same thing or atleast condensation from the Steam vapor dripping into the jar
I'm gonna guess that if you are using a thumper for flavor you will run slow at lower temperatures, that should ease the chance of the failure. I personally would still use a PRV or even a 3rd thumper of copper before the glass jars to slow the vapor down
Where did you get your copper sealers and did they have the holes pre-drilled?
Gotta make em yourself. It's not that hard.
got at standpead stills
I've been wondering if a single bubble plate in a column still would act like a thumper keg. What are the opinions?
I have to say no but would not hurt anything
Except on By-pass some Vapor will condense and run into the second jar at the T. Contaminating that jar
Yes those jars are not the strongest BUT we use them in pressure canning, so the cooler temps, no real pressure of a thumper should be just fine.
1:57 🤣
Had to go back and watch was funny thanks my friend
Where did you get the 3 way valve Randy?
look on amazon
@@stillworksandbrewing thank you
It's not the same as diagram. I agree with a second valve or go with diagram
cheers!!
@5:27 you drew the one way bypass valve wrong ,it should be after the bypass line not before ,the way you have it if you closed that valve its not gonna bypass its only gonna block the whole system , best is to just have 2 x 3way valve one at the intake and other at the outake but that bypass line is always gonna need cleaning if you use it, heck whole complicated thing needs to be cleaned of liquid every time after use even if you steam clean it
yes you are right i did draw it wrong thanks
@@stillworksandbrewing ok cool i juts wanted to be sure, sometimes i start second guessing myself too
I didn’t think you should brass in the vapor path?
Can’t speak for everywhere, but in North America brass is lead free now
@@marconantel7735 I thought there was some other reason besides lead? Just something I’ve heard. Maybe it was because people thought there was lead still in brass.
@@webcrawler3332 I’m no expert, and you may be correct! Until semi-recently, say 10-15 years ago, brass fittings did contain lead, there was a fear of it leaching into ethanol
@@marconantel7735 Yeah I bet that’s why people who say don’t use brass still think there’s lead. Good to know brass is ok to use.
Ummm 6:39 If the first valve is off the second is mute. I'm not sure you got the logic right there.
I drew that wrong should been on other side of tee thanks
It’s not going to work !,
If you run thru the first jar and then thru the second jar and out the top, where is the flow going ? It will go two differentways. Need a shutoff valve so it won,t back feed to the first jar again!!!
great question the flow can not go back to jar 1 because that is a three way valve inlet port a can only connect to outlet b or c not both so flow only go jar path or bypass path I want a path always open cheers
i could watch the whole video if the background music wasn't so annoying.
Hey Randy,
mate can you stop using OK, OK all the time. It is just so annoying & might be why your YouTub has stalled with new people?
I do love what you are giving the brewing community.
Cheers: from OZ