I recently built a dual slant plate Bokakob design using 48 inches of 2.5 inch copper for the column, coupled with a 55 litre SS keg for a boiler. It works a treat but I've got the bug to build again and I was looking around the workshop today and noticed I've got 20 inches of 2.5 inch copper left and about 30 inches of 1.5 inch copper. I'm thinking of building something a bit smaller than my other setup. I've got a spare 20lt SS boiler and I'd like to go dual slant plate again, so my question is this - if i want to make use of both the 2.5 and 1.5 inch copper, is it better to use the larger diameter copper at the base of the column or is it better to use it at the head of the column? Im thinking it would be best to use the 1.5 at the base, and then have it open out to 2.5 for the head/condenser area, but im not 100% certain on my thinking!! (I was thinking in terms of vapor movement etc)
Or should I just leave these scrap pieces for something else and wait until I can build something from start to finish in a single size of copper?
If I were you I would try building a pot still this time, as you already have a boka to give you some nice neutral.
I started with a boka type but have just built me a traditional pot still outof 2" copper leading off to a leibig.
I have a multi head boka that I have tried to use as a pot still on a short column, but I wanted to see if I could get more flavour that I was getting using the short column boka.
I have it all ready to run, but I am inthe middle of a move so have put all my toys away until early this fall.
That would be my adivice, and possilbly use the 2 1/2" to make youself a graham condenser maybe.
Yeah, go with a Pot Still this time. It appears you have everything in order for it. But, if you really wanted to make another Boka then cut about 8-10" of the 2.5 for the base of the column to fit your current 2.5" fittings, then reduce into the entire 1.5", packed, and another reducer (to expand) into the 2.5 slanted column, for another 11". You can use the same condensing coil and you may get a little more volume on packing, but what you are really doing is making another Boka with a different look. Still the same neutrals, may even get lower quality booze from it too.
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