Hello everyone.

[luke777]

Hi to all at Home Distiller.
I live in Far north Queensland, Australia and am new to the arena.

I have embarked on my first build which is a Bokakob design on 2"copper. I have put a 2400Watt stainless element ina 50 litre beer keg and am awaiting the arival of some fittings and accessories for the attachment of the column.
I successfully wound a double condenser coil out of 1/4"copper and have soldered the slant plates in the column. I'm on a rural property so I intend to run coolant through the condenser and straight back into my water tank again. The coil went really well but ended up longer than intended. It is 250mm long rather than 200mm which I wanted.

I am a bit of an eternal tinkerer and love a challenge.
A few years ago I assembled a P.I.D. digital temperature controller for a Lead-alloy casting project. It kept my molten alloys within one degree of the desired temperature regardless of decreasing volume of product. I was really happy with it. I hope to use this system on the still if possible.

I have done a fair bit of reading but the thought of eventually doing my first run (when I eventually finish the still) is a bit nerve racking. I am steadily going through all the stickies and newby topics on this forum.

I am a rum drinker and since embarking on the project I have learned the popularity of the pot still amongst rum drinkers. This seems like a different realm all together with lots of experimentation and a bit more of an "eye of newt and wing of bat" feel. I really like the idea of the natural flavouring that is aparently achieved via this method.
Having said that, I will learn to crawl before I walk and take on one thing at a time.

I want to thank all of you right off the bat for all the amazing generosity and wealth of knowledge you have all assembled in this GREAT forum.

See you all around the ridges.

Luke

[Braz]

Welcome Luke. Sounds like you've done a good bit of homework already. The Boka is a fine machine and will give you a very good neutral spirit, which you can drink as a vodka or flavor as you wish. For rum you are going to want a pot still head for your boiler. I like your description of rum making, eye of newt, etc. It is a bit like that. I've made Hook Rum (in the Tried & True section) using black strap molasses and it came out OK, I think. I am not that much of a rum fan, though, so I don't know how it stacks up against really good stuff.

[Bushman]

Welcome to the forum, sounds like you have a background that will serve you well in this hobby!

[Odin]

Hi Luke,

Welcome to the forum! I read somewhere that you might be able to run your Bokakob in a sort of pot still mode: take out the packing, open the take off valve and power up! Others here now more, since I do not operate a Boka or make rum, yet.

Odin.

[Prairiepiss]

Welcome aboard sir. So your just gona have to make the top of your column a little longer. No big deal. You want to barrow my pipe stretcher? Sory couldn't help myself.

About the PID controller. The problem you will have isn't just the diminishing amount of liquid in the boiler. It will be the ever changing boiling point of the boiler liquid. As the alcohol is depleted the boiling point goes up. You will need a way to adjust the amount of heat you put into it. To keep a nice steady boil. That is smooth and not a choppy on off. But the liquid controls the temp. From the sounds of it. Building a controller to fit the bill. Should be no problem for you.

Have fun. And we like pics. Lots and lots o pics.

[yankeeclear]

Welcome aboard luke777. Sounds like you are doing your homework and are making some solid initial choices.

Extra long coil is no big deal as long as you are getting the minimum required flow of ~1 liter/quart per minute. As mentioned, you should be able to run rum through a detuned boka or a pot still head. I am using a pot still for my rum and have been very pleased with the results - I recommend starting with the Pugirum recipe from the Tried and True section of the forum. It is an easy, lightening fast ferment and makes a delicious white dog product for immediate gratification!

[luke777]

Hello again. Here (I hope) is a photo of my condenser.

My first condenser... a bit too long....

I soldered on some brass hose fittings today. flows very well.

Regards to all.

Luke

[rad14701]

Nice job, luke777... Perhaps a bit longer than you'll need but it's always better to have the capability of too much rather than not enough cooling...