Here we are again...
- The thermo-port, used a piece of 1/4" copper tubing
- The thermometer, bought it on Ebay
It works good, only drawback, shuts itself off after 10 min. was not mentioned in the specs
but keeps me active during the run
The following pics also shows the boiler, it's a "preservation boiler" correct word?? has a build in (no direct contact with wash) 1800W heating element, it holds about 29 liter
The column is a piece of 2" copper pipe with a length of 115 cm (45") on the top i've soldered a coupler where the Boka head slides in, sealed with flour paste.
The bottom of the pipe slides in a 2" endcap, connected on the lid as described in Pikluk's Bokakob's mini still post.
The SS lid was not included with the boiler, i bought it at Ikea
http://www.ikea.com/nl/nl/catalog/products/10018325 fits good
- Pot still/stripper mode with 36,5 cm Boka head
In it's full glory:
- column length 115cm, head 36,5cm total 151,5 cm (almost 60")
Insulated:
- Boka insulated with 54mm inner dia. black foam,
Cleaned it with column and condenser attached (no packing) with 8 liter 50/50 vinigar/water mix for a few hours on full power.
After the cleaning run the mix turned a bit translucent green, secondly 10 liter old wine in the boiler for a final cleaning run.
Very happy with the neutral it's producing, i make 22 liter batches of Rad's All Bran recipe (fermenter is 25 liter) i use 5,5 kg sugar so that gives me about 11,2 potential alc. with a starting SG of 1.088
After 4/5 days the wash is ready, (ending SG 0.997) siphon in carboys, place in fridge for a day or 2 and than through the Bok in pot still/stripper mode...
The boiler takes 1,5 hour to heat up, strip till alc. perc. is 20% (98C on thermometer) total time (incl. heat-up) for stripping 22 liter wash with 11/11,5% ABV takes about 4 hours.
After 3 stripping runs i run a spirit run with column attached filled with SS scrubbers, dilute low wines till about 40%, collect in small jars (300 ml) first 600ml saved for firing up the BBQ,
let it air for full day before doing the cuts, i noticed that by pouring a jar with the ethanol in a larger glass bowl (i use a glass coffee can) and slowly turn the can around, smell with nose and the mouth a bit open, the detection of heads is easier than by smelling straight out of the small jar...
Totally collected about 600ml Foreshots, 1,25L heads, 3,5L hearts and 1,2L tails, diluted the hearts to 38%ABV which gave me 11 0,75L bottles of very good Vodka!
The knowledge and especially the field proven stills made by the members found here on this forum gave me the drive to start this endeavour....
Many Thanks!
Pooyan
, have scavenged scrap yards of whom i never knew they existed in my neighbourhood!!