Building still for essental oils

[bc.gold 3,403]

The first leg of this journey, this pair of stainless steel canisters probably had a life spraying herbicides, I heated them to cheery red and knew the sanitation was complete when the vapor coming out no longer supported a flame.

 

Could have used ozone or a strong UV light source, steam cleaned or used an autoclave to sanitize but decided a flame heat was my best option as it burnt the vapors coming off keeping the yard organic.

 

Next is to put some loose gravel inside to loosen some of the scale left behind, that works good for cleaning rust from inside and old fuel tanl as well. Gravel with a bit of water, shake and dump.

 

The small canister will be used for the water jacket on the condenser while the larger tank becomes the reflux column, filled with broken glass.

 

A reflux used in a moonshine still, as both steam and alcohol rise the latter has a temperature of 176 degrees while steam is 212 degrees, this were the magic takes place. As the alcohol pre-heats the glass from bottom to top once this is achieved only alcohol is permitted to pass over to the condenser while the steam finds the glass cold and condenses back to water falling back into the boiler.

 

Those tanks will buff up good as new.

 

Years ago I had built such a still and the first run was coming off at 96 percent.

 

The essential oils I'm after are liberated with steam, in my research have not yet seen anyone using a reflux, however I'm confident it will work as anticipated.

 

Oil being sold must have a certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory which is cheap insurance at $35.00. Multiple batches can be used to make up a lot, but once the homogenized sample from that lot is sent out no more can be added.

 

 

 

Edited August 5, 2019 by bcgold

[Pullstart 62,791]

You definitely come up with creative projects!

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

10 minutes ago, pullstart said:

You definitely come up with creative projects!

[ol550 830]

[bc.gold 3,403]

Made a trip to the farm drilled holes into the bottom of the reflux tower then used the metal lathe to smooth off the brass screw tops. During my visit Rob the owner showed up and we chatted about the oil still project, he told me they recently purchased another parcel of land that will soon be cleared to make way for crops.

 

Said I could harvest the branches and sawdust from the firewood processor.

 

 

[bc.gold 3,403]

Crazy world we live in, the Colony gave me a job quote $1000.00, said no. But they're willing to supply material and laser cut the parts out for $250.00, should be cut and ready for pick up early next week.

 

Back at the farm Colin tells me that I could braze the parts onto the boiler but silver solder would flow nicer, since this still will be in public view I think silver solder is the route I'll go.

 

Before making this decision I did make a calls to a few local machine shops and they're shop rates are now $110.00 which wouldn't be bad if they had modern equipment instead of old WWII lathes and mills.

 

Now that's out of the way the image below shows a steam still with an oil separator attached.

 

pic uploader

[bc.gold 3,403]

Found a small welding shop run by a young fellow who does Tig welding the the shop rate is reasonable, he's also interested in building a still so it's possible we may be doing a bit of horse trading.

 

The laser cut parts came out really nice, will post pictures later, have to make a dump run to dispose of some scrap of my own.

 

Interesting in that the colony laser cuts washers from which would be considered waste stainless sheet, nothing goes to waste.

Edited August 13, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

Top of boiler will have center cut out the ring tig welded, reflux column placed on circle has center cut out . Reflux is for alcohol distillation the blank circle will be modified for oil production.

 

Piping will have tri clamp connections making it  very easy to modify the plumbing so no matter which product is being distilled use the same condenser.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

Made some progress on the still today, the hardest part was tapping the threads into the large stainless steel ring but we got her done. Also have the condenser finished. Now to order my J clamp accessories.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2019 by bcgold

[bc.gold 3,403]

I'm going to steal this idea, the steaming vessel is mounted on pivots. So dumping the trash out is easy.

 

Also notice the gear reducer on the left hand side of the vessel. truck full of logging waste waiting to be processed for oil.

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2019 by bcgold