• My First

  Discovering Leaks

  Posted by SBB on October 18, 2011 at 9:32 am

  Ive read about using a mirror to find leaks on a still, Ive tried this method on two previous still builds and never found one.
  Just wondering how easily they show up if there is a small leak somewhere?????

  Sam. replied 13 years, 2 months ago 7 Members · 9 Replies
• 9 Replies

• 

  QLD.Andy

  Member

  October 18, 2011 at 8:27 am

  A Bic lighter will show them up real quick :crying-green:

• 

  MacStill

  Member

  October 18, 2011 at 9:36 am

  They’ll show up easily with a mirror if there is one, also a glass held over the joins will work……

• 

  R-sole

  Member

  October 18, 2011 at 10:53 am

  Somebody posted up using a light in a darkened room on Artisan once. I think it was a plain ol torch too.

• 

  SBB

  Member

  October 19, 2011 at 4:07 am

  Yes the mind suits the face ( Avitar)…evil.

• 

  QLD.Andy

  Member

  October 19, 2011 at 4:14 am

  :teasing-neener: it had to be said :teasing-neener:

• 

  MacStill

  Member

  October 19, 2011 at 7:35 am

  Oh Andy
  :violence-stickwhack:

  :laughing-rolling:

• 

  Sam.

  Member

  December 10, 2011 at 1:02 am

  For all my beer gear and fermenters I use the Star San sanitiser in a spray bottle, it foams up really well and I use it to test for leaks on my beer kegs. I assume it would work on a still, I only use it as its handy but the detergent would work very well, I have used it in the past looking for leaks on LPG connections.

• 

  Bursal

  Member

  December 10, 2011 at 7:17 am

  Reviving an old thread but I think the easiest way to find leaks is to use about 50:50 washing up detergent and water applied with a small piece of sponge. I just make up some in a small mustard jar and leave the piece of sponge in with the liquid, part of my still kit. Fridgies use this method at times and the smallest leak will blow bubbles. If the leak is big it will blow the liquid away. You can add some glycerine and the bubbles will hold better.

• 

  stubbydrainer

  Member

  December 10, 2011 at 7:46 am

  your exactly right Bursal, 😉
  that is the method I used when working on automotive air conditioning systems, now they use a dye in the gas, but I have seen a/c’s that leak gas over time and the dye doesn’t show up, and the old bubble check has been used to diagnose the problem….so just because it is an old method it does not mean it’s outdated by any means

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