In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking. I am
pretty sure it galled up during assembly. There is not enough room to
weld around the threaded joint. So I'm thinking about using a wicking
sealer. Loctite makes one, 290, but it is only good up to 1/2 inch
diameter threads. Does anybody here know if I can get it to work on
the 3/4 pipe? I just need sealing, not retention of the fitting. I
will consider other methods too. I doubt that taking the coupler off
without destroying the threads is possible. I am willing to try using
Kroil or similar but if that doesn't work I will need to somehow clean
it out of the threads if I intend to use a wicking sealer. HELP!
Thanks,
Eric

On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 15:43:53 -0700, wrote:

In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking. I am
pretty sure it galled up during assembly. There is not enough room to
weld around the threaded joint. So I'm thinking about using a wicking
sealer. Loctite makes one, 290, but it is only good up to 1/2 inch
diameter threads. Does anybody here know if I can get it to work on
the 3/4 pipe? I just need sealing, not retention of the fitting. I
will consider other methods too. I doubt that taking the coupler off
without destroying the threads is possible. I am willing to try using
Kroil or similar but if that doesn't work I will need to somehow clean
it out of the threads if I intend to use a wicking sealer. HELP!
Thanks,
Eric

Is the outlet of the still male? If not, I'd just unscrew and
replace. If the nipple is bunged, replace that too.

I'm surprised the outlet is not a sanitary flange. I wouldn't want
leftover mash stuck in the threads, although the product does go
overhead.

Pete Keillor

"Pete Keillor" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 15:43:53 -0700, wrote:

In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless
steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking. I am
pretty sure it galled up during assembly. There is not enough room
to
weld around the threaded joint. So I'm thinking about using a
wicking
sealer. Loctite makes one, 290, but it is only good up to 1/2 inch
diameter threads. Does anybody here know if I can get it to work on
the 3/4 pipe? I just need sealing, not retention of the fitting. I
will consider other methods too. I doubt that taking the coupler
off
without destroying the threads is possible. I am willing to try
using
Kroil or similar but if that doesn't work I will need to somehow
clean
it out of the threads if I intend to use a wicking sealer. HELP!
Thanks,
Eric

Is the outlet of the still male? If not, I'd just unscrew and
replace. If the nipple is bunged, replace that too.

I'm surprised the outlet is not a sanitary flange. I wouldn't want
leftover mash stuck in the threads, although the product does go
overhead.

Pete Keillor

Cleaning up pipe threads with a die is much easier than cutting them
initially. My collection of larger pipe taps and dies is mostly second
hand and too dull to thread solid metal, but they fix rusty or damaged
threads well enough.
--jsw

On Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 3:39:58 PM UTC-7, wrote:
In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking.

My first thought is teflon pipe tape; it's safe for consumable contact,
and should take autoclaving temperatures and contact with organic solvents...

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 06:55:01 -0500, Pete Keillor
wrote:

On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 15:43:53 -0700, wrote:

In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking. I am
pretty sure it galled up during assembly. There is not enough room to
weld around the threaded joint. So I'm thinking about using a wicking
sealer. Loctite makes one, 290, but it is only good up to 1/2 inch
diameter threads. Does anybody here know if I can get it to work on
the 3/4 pipe? I just need sealing, not retention of the fitting. I
will consider other methods too. I doubt that taking the coupler off
without destroying the threads is possible. I am willing to try using
Kroil or similar but if that doesn't work I will need to somehow clean
it out of the threads if I intend to use a wicking sealer. HELP!
Thanks,
Eric

Is the outlet of the still male? If not, I'd just unscrew and
replace. If the nipple is bunged, replace that too.

I'm surprised the outlet is not a sanitary flange. I wouldn't want
leftover mash stuck in the threads, although the product does go
overhead.

Pete Keillor
The outlet is a nipple welded to the still. Can't be replaced without
much trouble. I convinced them to not use threaded fittings anymore
for drainage but I still need to fix the one. I need a solution that
doesn't involve unscrewing anything. I thought I made that clear in my
first post but once again I didn't.
Eric

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:37:00 -0700 (PDT), whit3rd
wrote:

On Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 3:39:58 PM UTC-7, wrote:
In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking.

My first thought is teflon pipe tape; it's safe for consumable contact,
and should take autoclaving temperatures and contact with organic solvents...
I can't unscrew the fitting. That's why I'm looking at wicking
sealers. I think I found a solution over the weekend. Apparently
Sil-Phos will braze SS nicely and wicks very well. So I will try it
out on some SS fittings and if it works I'll do the still.
Eric

On Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:25:14 -0700, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:37:00 -0700 (PDT), whit3rd
wrote:

On Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 3:39:58 PM UTC-7, wrote:
In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking.

My first thought is teflon pipe tape; it's safe for consumable contact,
and should take autoclaving temperatures and contact with organic solvents...
I can't unscrew the fitting. That's why I'm looking at wicking
sealers. I think I found a solution over the weekend. Apparently
Sil-Phos will braze SS nicely and wicks very well. So I will try it
out on some SS fittings and if it works I'll do the still.
Eric
I was going to say solder or braze with the appropriate flux.

On Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:25:14 -0700
wrote:

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:37:00 -0700 (PDT), whit3rd
wrote:

snip
I can't unscrew the fitting. That's why I'm looking at wicking
sealers. I think I found a solution over the weekend. Apparently
Sil-Phos will braze SS nicely and wicks very well. So I will try it
out on some SS fittings and if it works I'll do the still.
Eric

Something off the wall... I've used electric tape in the past for
odd leaks. Not sure if you have room to work with it or not... I would
splurge and get some nice 3M tape and then make some really tight
wraps, twice over the area. Then apply something like Scotchkote over
the tape. While it is still tacky make two more wraps with the tape.
Then apply another covering of Scotchkote.

http://www.amazon.com/SCOTCHKOTE-FD-...dp/B00AFX25UA/

The Scotchkote is key to the fix. It keeps the tape from unwrapping and
kind of binds it all together. Liquid Electrical Tape is similar, maybe
the same but I've not tried using it...

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
Remove no.spam for email

On 03/21/2016 11:25 AM, wrote:
On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:37:00 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

On Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 3:39:58 PM UTC-7, wrote:
In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking.

My first thought is teflon pipe tape; it's safe for consumable contact,
and should take autoclaving temperatures and contact with organic solvents...
I can't unscrew the fitting. That's why I'm looking at wicking
sealers. I think I found a solution over the weekend. Apparently
Sil-Phos will braze SS nicely and wicks very well. So I will try it
out on some SS fittings and if it works I'll do the still.

I'd wonder about whether is approved for the application or not...don't
want to leave the vendor with an unusable production vessel or get 'em
fined big time or the like...

--

Leon Fisk fired this volley in news:ncpcfi$t0o$1
@dont-email.me:

Something off the wall... I've used electric tape in the past for
odd leaks.

Really? On food-grade equipment? They'd sue you off the face of the
earth!

Although it might _work_, to use it on a food processing device would be
tantamount to deliberate sabotage!

Lloyd

On Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:22:03 -0700, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 06:55:01 -0500, Pete Keillor
wrote:

On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 15:43:53 -0700, wrote:

In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking. I am
pretty sure it galled up during assembly. There is not enough room to
weld around the threaded joint. So I'm thinking about using a wicking
sealer. Loctite makes one, 290, but it is only good up to 1/2 inch
diameter threads. Does anybody here know if I can get it to work on
the 3/4 pipe? I just need sealing, not retention of the fitting. I
will consider other methods too. I doubt that taking the coupler off
without destroying the threads is possible. I am willing to try using
Kroil or similar but if that doesn't work I will need to somehow clean
it out of the threads if I intend to use a wicking sealer. HELP!
Thanks,
Eric

Is the outlet of the still male? If not, I'd just unscrew and
replace. If the nipple is bunged, replace that too.

I'm surprised the outlet is not a sanitary flange. I wouldn't want
leftover mash stuck in the threads, although the product does go
overhead.

Pete Keillor
The outlet is a nipple welded to the still. Can't be replaced without
much trouble. I convinced them to not use threaded fittings anymore
for drainage but I still need to fix the one. I need a solution that
doesn't involve unscrewing anything. I thought I made that clear in my
first post but once again I didn't.
Eric

I have used "silver solder" (actually silver brazing) with a flux for
stainless with good results and it will flow into pretty small places.
I was building a bicycle frame with steel tubes and stainless lugs but
you can read
http://www.morebeer.com/brewingtechn....6/palmer.html
for use in brewing
--
cheers,

John B.

On Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:22:03 -0700, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 06:55:01 -0500, Pete Keillor
wrote:

On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 15:43:53 -0700, wrote:

In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking. I am
pretty sure it galled up during assembly. There is not enough room to
weld around the threaded joint. So I'm thinking about using a wicking
sealer. Loctite makes one, 290, but it is only good up to 1/2 inch
diameter threads. Does anybody here know if I can get it to work on
the 3/4 pipe? I just need sealing, not retention of the fitting. I
will consider other methods too. I doubt that taking the coupler off
without destroying the threads is possible. I am willing to try using
Kroil or similar but if that doesn't work I will need to somehow clean
it out of the threads if I intend to use a wicking sealer. HELP!
Thanks,
Eric

Is the outlet of the still male? If not, I'd just unscrew and
replace. If the nipple is bunged, replace that too.

I'm surprised the outlet is not a sanitary flange. I wouldn't want
leftover mash stuck in the threads, although the product does go
overhead.

Pete Keillor
The outlet is a nipple welded to the still. Can't be replaced without
much trouble. I convinced them to not use threaded fittings anymore
for drainage but I still need to fix the one. I need a solution that
doesn't involve unscrewing anything. I thought I made that clear in my
first post but once again I didn't.
Eric

I understood your post, I thought is was galled, but maybe would still
come off, guess not. I'm mostly concerned about using threaded
fittings in "food" application. Maybe it's ok on a still. Same for
the silver solder, is it ok in that service, and how do you flux?
It'll wick if everything is very clean and fluxed, but you have to
make damned sure you get residual flux out. Some of that stuff has
hydrofluoric acid in it.

Might be better to bite the bullet, cut that sucker off, and weld on
the proper fitting. They'd avoid trouble (and potential fines) down
the road.

Pete Keillor

Pete Keillor

On Tue, 22 Mar 2016 07:22:55 -0500, Pete Keillor
wrote:

On Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:22:03 -0700, wrote:

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 06:55:01 -0500, Pete Keillor
wrote:

On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 15:43:53 -0700, wrote:

In Washington State recent laws now allow micro distilleries. One is
opening up near me and I have done some welding on the stainless steel
stills. Someone goofed and a 3/4 pipe coupler was threaded to the
drain on the bottom of the still. It is apparently leaking. I am
pretty sure it galled up during assembly. There is not enough room to
weld around the threaded joint. So I'm thinking about using a wicking
sealer. Loctite makes one, 290, but it is only good up to 1/2 inch
diameter threads. Does anybody here know if I can get it to work on
the 3/4 pipe? I just need sealing, not retention of the fitting. I
will consider other methods too. I doubt that taking the coupler off
without destroying the threads is possible. I am willing to try using
Kroil or similar but if that doesn't work I will need to somehow clean
it out of the threads if I intend to use a wicking sealer. HELP!
Thanks,
Eric

Is the outlet of the still male? If not, I'd just unscrew and
replace. If the nipple is bunged, replace that too.

I'm surprised the outlet is not a sanitary flange. I wouldn't want
leftover mash stuck in the threads, although the product does go
overhead.

Pete Keillor
The outlet is a nipple welded to the still. Can't be replaced without
much trouble. I convinced them to not use threaded fittings anymore
for drainage but I still need to fix the one. I need a solution that
doesn't involve unscrewing anything. I thought I made that clear in my
first post but once again I didn't.
Eric

I understood your post, I thought is was galled, but maybe would still
come off, guess not. I'm mostly concerned about using threaded
fittings in "food" application. Maybe it's ok on a still. Same for
the silver solder, is it ok in that service, and how do you flux?
It'll wick if everything is very clean and fluxed, but you have to
make damned sure you get residual flux out. Some of that stuff has
hydrofluoric acid in it.

Might be better to bite the bullet, cut that sucker off, and weld on
the proper fitting. They'd avoid trouble (and potential fines) down
the road.

Pete Keillor

Pete Keillor
The way the thing is now welding on a different fitting would be
really expensive. So the solution will be as it looks now is a
phosphoric acid based flux which is safe for food service as well as a
silver solder alloy that is made for food service. The still will not
be distilling the beer but will instead be distilling the distillate
from the beer, so mainly alcohol and water. It is a vodka still. It's
odd to think about when we hear about all the poisons in moonshine,
like lead and cadmium from solder, but these poisons only get into the
condensate. The vapor doesn't carry any poisons that won't vaporise
during the process. And pathogens are killed by the temp and
eventually the high alcohol concentration. So even though I'm pretty
sure some stuff will collect in the threads in the drain for this
still it won't cause any harm. Nevertheless I have convinced them to
do away with the threaded fittings and go with welded fittings and
sanitary flanges, which they have have done with subsequent stills.
Eric

Lloyd E. Sponenburgh lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
Leon Fisk fired this volley in news:ncpcfi$t0o$1
@dont-email.me:

Something off the wall... I've used electric tape in the past for
odd leaks.

Really? On food-grade equipment? They'd sue you off the face of the
earth!

Although it might _work_, to use it on a food processing device would be
tantamount to deliberate sabotage!

It's no different than leaving on a busted up theaded fitting that leaks
because it costs too much to replace.

Cydrome Leader fired this volley in news:ncs8tm
:

It's no different than leaving on a busted up theaded fitting that leaks
because it costs too much to replace.

BS... the latter one is a maintenance issue (and must be corrected). The
other is "deliberate contamination".

C'mon... think.

Lloyd

On Tue, 22 Mar 2016 20:11:34 +0000 (UTC), Cydrome Leader
wrote:

Lloyd E. Sponenburgh lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
Leon Fisk fired this volley in news:ncpcfi$t0o$1
@dont-email.me:

Something off the wall... I've used electric tape in the past for
odd leaks.

Really? On food-grade equipment? They'd sue you off the face of the
earth!

Although it might _work_, to use it on a food processing device would be
tantamount to deliberate sabotage!

It's no different than leaving on a busted up theaded fitting that leaks
because it costs too much to replace.
If you are alluding to the fitting I needed to seal, it was not busted
up, it was galled. Full thread engagement. Assembled dry the pipe
joint leaked. Wicking Loctite 290 is an industry accepted practice for
this type of leak, even for food contact. As is the particular silver
solder alloy slated for the job. The finished assembly is now stronger
than if it was assembled with teflon tape, which is also acceptable
for food contact. So there.
Eric

fired this volley in
:

If you are alluding to the fitting I needed to seal, it was not busted
up, it was galled. Full thread engagement. Assembled dry the pipe
joint leaked. Wicking Loctite 290 is an industry accepted practice for
this type of leak, even for food contact. As is the particular silver
solder alloy slated for the job. The finished assembly is now stronger
than if it was assembled with teflon tape, which is also acceptable
for food contact. So there

I think you mis-attributed your "so there" to me. I was NOT the person
suggesting bad things. I said that black electrician's tape was an
illegal deliberate contaminant. I agree that wicking sealer approved for
food contact OR brazing/silver soldering is the right way to go.

Lloyd