CFC instructions, with pictures...

[danno]

Yes, I know this is the wrong place for this thread, but I'm posting pics, and this is the only place I can do that...

Tweek asked for instructions on how to build a counterflow chiller, here's now I did it. First, a diagram of how a CFC essentially works:

http://www.boomspeed.com/danno/pic2.jpg

[danno]

Step one, get out your propane torch and sweat a couple of fittings together.

http://www.boomspeed.com/danno/solder.jpg

[danno]

next step, and this is really the hardest part of building your CFC. Inside a compression fitting is a small lip to keep your average plumbers from pushing tubing too far into the fitting. However, we need to remove that lip in order to feed our inner copper tubing all the way through the fitting. First pic is my two compression fittings before drilling...

http://www.boomspeed.com/danno/compression1.jpg

[danno]

next pic, which is out of focus, shows the fitting after drilling out the ridge. I then took my Dremel and smoothed out the inside.

http://www.boomspeed.com/danno/compression2.jpg

[danno]

I used clear plastic tubing for my outer coil, if you go with garden hose, you'll get away cheaper. Next hardest part of building your CFC, (actually, just the most frustrating, not that it's that difficult...) You need to straighten out your copper coil, and feed it all the way through your outer jacket. After struggling with plastic tubing, I can't compehend trying to feed copper through copper. waaay too much work for me...

Next, after feeding your copper coil through your garden hose, you mount your fittings on each end. Please note, I would not tighten up the compression fittings until after you re-coil your CFC. (a corny works pretty well for re-coiling your CFC...) The reason for this is you'll most likely want to change the angle of your water inlet and outlet after coiling. Here's a pic of one end of the finished product, with the two pieces of the compression fitting marked A and B...

http://www.boomspeed.com/danno/IM001787.jpg

[danno]

I would also highly encourage you to go get some Polysulfone quick disconnects, it makes handling your kettle and CFC much easier. B3 has them, USplastics has them, but definitely get a set...

http://www.boomspeed.com/danno/QD.jpg

[Tweek]

thanks man!



nicely done btw!

[ray m]

That's a hell of an essay, Danno!! Nice work!:)

[HarkJohnny]

what size copper did you use? I used a 3/8" soft copper (refrig line) and 1/2 garden hose and it just takes forever for 10 gallons to go through the thing! then again it's also 30 feet in length.

also, instead of a compression fitting I used a "flare" fitting I'd call it. It takes 1/2" to 3/8" and I just sweated the fittings to the copper tubing.

here's a link to my "brewery" and you can see what I mean on the chiller closeup photo.

http://www.harkjohnny.com/Brewery/Brewery.html

[fretlessman71]

As Moderator Of This Thread I Must Warn You Never To Post Pictures In This Manner Or You Will Be Held Accountable And Punished By Being Hung By The Toenails And Pummelled Into Unconsciousness With A Limp Organic Carrot.... BEEP!


oh wait... it's not off topic if it's about beer, is it?

[Emily Litella]Never Mind..... ;)[/Emily Litella]

Great pics Danno! Maybe I'll sticky this one so it doesn't get lost. Or maybe it's better if the moderator of "How To..." posts a link and stickys it instead... either way, this is going to help a lot of people out! Thanks much!

[BrewDog]

HOW did you get the pics to show up as part of the message without a link?

[danno]

Originally posted by BrewDog
HOW did you get the pics to show up as part of the message without a link? there's a (very) few areas where the [ I M G ] code works, that's how I got the pics to appear... they're linked to a tiny (1meg) free file server I found years ago. I think they mainly do ebay pic hosting... (www.boomspeed.com)