Forum Rules, Notifications and Helpful Hints

Explore the community of craft distillers and discover the largest professional association dedicated to the art and science of craft distillation. ACE DISTILLER has been serving all levels, from novice enthusiasts to seasoned professionals, in the craft distilling industry since 2010.

Home Forums Hardware Relating To Distillation OF Spirits The correct element for distillation

  • Tammuz

    Member
    December 4, 2024 at 4:05 pm

    The Dernord is a couple bucks more and used a lot here.

  • squigglefunk

    Member
    December 4, 2024 at 5:16 pm
  • Homebrewer11777

    Member
    December 4, 2024 at 6:55 pm

    More money (quite a bit more) but I’ve been a customer here for a lot of years and everything he sells has been top notch. I use the 2100 watt version and have been very happy with it. The electrical connection is well done. No dragging a cord around when moving your boiler.https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/ … ple_tc.htm

  • squigglefunk

    Member
    December 4, 2024 at 7:24 pm

    these look interesting but I already soldered a 2″ TC to the bottom of the keg.

  • Salt Must Flow

    Member
    December 4, 2024 at 7:41 pm

    Wow I didn’t know they sold Dernord elements on AliExpress. Those are $60 on Amazon. I own two of them. I really like Dernord elements.4″ VM Build

  • Steve Broady

    Member
    December 5, 2024 at 2:30 pm

    I’ve been using a 6 kW triclamp element for a while now, and I’m very happy with it. Not sure of the brand. When I started building the new still, I bought another similar one.And then it was pointed out to me that I was being a bit dumb. A triclamp to 1” NPT adapter and a standard water heater element cost significantly less together than the triclamp element alone, and it opens up possibilities to use other readily available and inexpensive elements in the future. So from now on, that’s what I’ll be doing. And what I did when I realized that I needed a different element in the new still.https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0t1zt5Learn from the past, live in the present, change the future.

  • squigglefunk

    Member
    December 5, 2024 at 4:11 pm

    i thought the idea was these wavy folded stainless ones are a lower watt density which is preferable for brewing and distilling? tho honestly I would most likely use it only with low wines and for steam generation so maybe low density isn’t an issue?i do like significantly less costs

  • Salt Must Flow

    Member
    December 5, 2024 at 8:10 pm

    Dernord elements and other similar ULWD elements are a bargain for what they provide. They are Tri-Clamp compatible, do not rust at the base, even the element is plated, they come with an element guard and have a proven track record. Typical hot water heater elements rust where the element meets the base. Even the ULWD elements intended for hot water heaters rust like that. Like many others, I even own one and mine rusts. For that reason Camco came out with a stainless steel version that doesn’t rust (for brewers if I recall correctly). Those are over priced compared to Dernord and other similar elements. Typical hot water heater elements have exposed connections and need an element guard. Still Dragon came out with an element guard kit many years ago, but those are now over priced in comparison to Dernord and other similar elements. This style doesn’t need an element guard, eliminates the need of a male Twist Lock plug, but costs a few bucks more.Hot water heater elements are 1″ NPS thread. Not ideal to use with 1″ NPT thread.I just don’t see any advantage to using any common hot water heater element these days when elements like Dernord or similar exist.4″ VM Build

  • shadylane

    Member
    December 6, 2024 at 1:17 am

    My 2 cents worth on heating elements. Buy once, cry once.Get good quality and something with a guard and cord strain relief. Definitely avoid the zinc plated elements.

  • NZChris

    Member
    December 6, 2024 at 3:36 am

    I use old school zinc plated elements. By the time my first three stripping runs are done, the zinc is gone exposing the copper.

  • shadylane

    Member
    December 7, 2024 at 12:42 am

    I don’t like the idea of zinc leaching into the wash during a run.Also, once the zinc is gone only copper is left and it’s not as durable as stainless steel or Inconel. Long story short, a wash is acidic, and it dissolves the protective zinc coating very quickly.

Log in to reply.

en_USEnglish