Parrot for a moonshine still: how to make it yourself and why you need it

1) Why do you need a "parrot"?
2) How to make a "parrot" device
3) Syringe parrot
4) Parrot made of copper tube

Most moonshiners prefer to precisely control the strength of the distillate during distillation. This is done with the help of a special device called a "parrot".

The device got its name for the vague resemblance to an exotic bird. The device consists of two combined vertical cylinders that work on the principle of communicating vessels. Through a narrow tube, moonshine enters a wide one, where an areometer floats in a special funnel. With its help, the distiller continuously monitors the alcohol content of the product.

After passing through the device, the distillate flows freely through the discharge tube into the receiving container.

Why do you need a "parrot"?

Measuring the strength is necessary to clearly separate moonshine into fractions: "head", "body" and "tails". Experienced moonshiners often do this "by eye", using folk methods, improvised means or focusing on the smell. The parrot allows you to more accurately determine the boundaries of fractions by alcohol content in the product, which greatly simplifies the distillation process. The device is universal: it can be connected to both traditional stills and distillation columns.

A small error of up to 3 °C is allowed during measurements. It can be caused by deviations from the recommended ambient temperature (20 ° C) and the inability of the areometer to instantly respond to changing strength. To reduce the error, you can equip the parrot with a thermometer and adjust the readings to the temperature. The device is bought or made independently. It is not difficult to make it at home.

How to make a "parrot" device

Homemade parrots are constructed from various materials: stainless and copper pipes, glass flasks, syringes, plastic cylinders, water pipes, etc. д. When choosing a base, you should focus on its harmlessness in contact with distillate. Stainless steel, copper and glass are best suited.

The general scheme is as follows:

How to make a device

The main rules that must not be violated in the process of manufacturing the device:

The receiving funnel is above the edge of the main pipe (wide cylinder) and the drain hole is below.
The width and length of the cylinder is sufficient to freely accommodate the alcohol meter so that it can rise and fall freely. The flask should not be too spacious, otherwise the response speed of the device will decrease. Optimal tube dimensions: approximately 2-3 cm taller and wider than the alcohol meter.

Before using the device, it is recommended to check for leaks by distilling water.

Syringe parrot

The cheapest version of the device, which will have to be tinkered with a little. During distillation, the upper reservoir is placed under the receiving tube, the lower one is filled with a spirit meter.

Materials

2 syringes with a volume of 50 ml
Metal lid for a jar that can be unscrewed
Plaster
Hot glue gun
Dropper tube (10-15 cm)
Gas burner/lighter

Manufacturing instructions

Remove the syringes from the package and free them from the pistons.
Connect the tips of the reservoirs with a hose from a dropper.
Turn the needle case into a tube by cutting off the blind end.
Make a hole in the upper part of one of the syringes (between the finger stops).
Heat the edges of the hole with a gas burner/lighter, insert the thin end of the case into it, tilting it slightly downward, and fix it firmly. Seal the joint with hot melt adhesive.
Cut off the finger stops from the second syringe.
Glue the two reservoirs together so that the tips are at the bottom and the syringe without stops is higher than the syringe with the tube spout. The connection point should be at the 50 ml mark of the lower reservoir, and the total wall should be approximately 2 cm long.
Glue the hose from the dropper to the walls of the tanks.
Carefully cut off the parts with rubber bands from the syringe pistons.
Glue the pistons on both sides of the lower syringe to make legs (with the wide ends down).
Pour diluted gypsum into the lid for the jar, dip the legs into it, let the mass harden.

Parrot made of copper tube

The dimensions of the elements are based on the classic ASP-3 areometer. Adjust them if necessary. If you do not plan to connect to the device, you will need a watering can to collect the distillate coming from the refrigerator and direct it into the parrot's intake tube.

Materials