Help please

[Roobrew]

I have just sourced a 50 litre stainless beer keg so want to make it into a still. I am going to use it as both a pot still using my old still head as a donor but also want to make a Boka head for it. The heater I have is 2.8 kilo watt and I have a router controller for it. My question is what height of column (54 mm) would be good for this configuration and how much steel / copper scrubbers would be required and to what height? Only reason I ask is I keep finding contradictory answers when I do a search.
Also at a later date what would be the next still head to make for neutrals...ie better than the Boka?

Cheers

Roo

[bearriver]

My question is what height of column (54 mm)

Shoot for a meter. 10-20x the diameter is a good rule of thumb, or so I have heard.

how much steel / copper scrubbers would be required and to what height? Only reason I ask is I keep finding contradictory answers when I do a search.

How ever much it takes. Pack it tightly enough to where you can blow air through the column (Using your mouth) so that there is some restriction, but not so much restriction that breathing would become labored. This is why I dislike scrubbers, and advise other packing materials...

Also at a later date what would be the next still head to make for neutrals...ie better than the Boka?

Good luck. I think LM designs are the bee's knees. However there isn't a damned thing wrong with a VM still...

[thatguy1313]

CCVM is super easy and makes a damn good neutral. Boka's too slow for me.

[bearriver]

CCVM is super easy and makes a damn good neutral. Boka's too slow for me.

How is a CCVM generally any faster or slower than a LM? I don't get it...

The reading lounge has a few threads on the difference between these reflux designs, and their operations. Be sure to check it out.

[thatguy1313]

Never run a Boka but I thought take off rates were fairly slow (drips per second?) I pull nice neutral at near pot still speeds on a 3"x48" CCVM.

[bearriver]

I can easily collect (1 gallon ≤) per hour with my 3" boka, at or near azeotrope, without smearing. Hound dog has a similar setup to me, with similar results. The output is kept at a steady twisting stream. Saying all bokas are slow is like saying all cars are slow because you drive a Pinto.

Takeoff rates in reflux stills are mostly dictated by the column diameter, which requires more power thus resulting in more reflux. The distiller in charge is also a large variable. VM/CM/CCVM/LM has little to nothing to do with it.

[S-Cackalacky]

OK boys, keep your junk in your pants.

[Roobrew]

Thanks for the replies so far. What is a CCVM....? ))....

[Roobrew]

Thanks for the replies so far. What is a CCVM....? ))....

Oh and forgot to ask....where does the packing need to start and end ....I am guessing not above the plates for one?

[Bob Loblaw]

Condensor controlled VM. DAD300's design is an easy to build example. Slide the condenser up and down over the takeoff rather than using a valve.

I have one. Works pretty well.

[thatguy1313]

I think I remember the packing should end 1 column diameter below the plates(i.e. 2" below the plates on a 2" column, 3" below the plates on a 3", etc). Again, I've never built or run a bok but that's what I remember from looking at the design.