I'm building a still with 1 1/4" copper (novice alert.)

[eddie]

Hi. I'm very new to distilling and have begun building the device detailed in Ian Smiley's book "Making Pure Corn Whiskey." I noticed a lot of people here using 2" copper instead of the 1 1/4" copper Smiley suggests in his book. Seeing how I'm about 80% finished with this still, I think I'll stick with the 1 1/4" and see how it goes (also, anything larger seems unavailable to me unless I want to buy wholesale) but I was wondering if anybody else here has built a still using 1 1/4" and what they thought of it.

I was unable to make a tongue on the pipe leading from the column to the condenser because of how my fittings are formed so I plan on placing a compression T-fitting on the 3/8" collection tube prior to my needle valve with a 3/8" tube leading from the T back into my column. I've measured and cut the 3/8" tube so it will run from my T to the center of my column with a slight down-slope. I'll be losing about 1"to 1 1/4" of packing but I don't think it will hurt too much. What do you guys think of this?

Also, I've succeeded in making my condenser coil using 3/16" tubing. I made it 12" long to run the length of the condenser tube. Do you thing this may have been over kill? I'm a little concerned about how much resistance there will be against the water supply to the still given the length of tube and it's diameter. I have a well and intend to run a garden hose from my outside spigot to the bottom of my liebig condenser which is 6" long. It's a 3/8" tube inside a 1/2" jacket with 3/16" in/out ports. I'm thinking the worst that can happen is the resistance in the cooling system will end up matching the pressure generated by my water system and the water will simply fail to circulate and will stop but I wanted to know if any of you have had a similar experience with a similar set-up.

Also, (I know this is getting long-winded) is it beneficial to put a little copper packing inside he condenser coil to encourage a little turbulence and vapor resistance around the condenser coil to reduce lost vapor?

I know these are a lot of questions, but any info you can offer is welcome. Thanks.