1.5" vs 2" bok still

[scrap]

I am working on my first Bok still and have run into a snag. There is no place near my house that sells 2" copper pipe in less than 10' length. A 10' length is a little to expensive for my budget. I have found 1.5" pipe by the foot at a very reasonable price.

My question is, 1)Can I make a reflux still using 1.5" tubing? 2) How/will it affect the distillation process?

I have yet to roll my condencer and am not even sure if I can roll it to fit into a 1.5".

Any thoughts and opinions are welcome.

Thanks

[maheel]

yes you can use 1.5 it will just be a little slower than 2" in top end production rates

some make a cold finger style

you could also make a single helix coil that exits through the "side" of the BOKA that will work fine
i have done it by cutting the column just below the bottom of the coil.
cut a slot in the column for the "exit" of the coil tail
slide in coil into "slot" with a coil tail out the "top"
use a pipe coupler to rejoin the pipe
solder in the coil "filling the slot" to seal into the coupler

then do your plates below the coupler

i dont have the pics anymore

[scrap]

Thanks!

I did a little more research throughout the forum about column size and height. There is just so much information on the forum that I sometimes find it hard to sort through to what I need. Thanks for the help.

I did roll a double helix coil that I actually very happy with for a first try! I'm going to continue looking for 2" pipe around my area. I want to build it right, so I'm taking my time and looking for the right stuff. And doing a ton of reading in the meantime. This forum is a great help!

Thanks again
scrap

[skydivemd]

I made an offset-head reflux still in 1.5" Type L copper tubing back in 2000 (can refer to Matt's Offset-Head Still on the Parent Site). I too did not have enough $$ to get everything in 2" copper and I was buying a lot more couplers . Of course, to the best of my knowledge, this was "pre-Boka" times.

I would also advise you to check out Rad's Apartment Still design for a sub-2" build that is proven.

So yes, smaller diameter tubing can work well, but like everything else it will have a limit to the total allowable heat input to the boiler to avoid flooding the packing. With a 1 meter tower and no controller, I am "limited" to running at 1500 watts. The real downside is the time it takes for a proper spirit run --all *friggin* day. But even the guys & gals with 2" columns will tell you that their spirit runs for good neutral will take all day. Time to run will be directly correlated with column diameter.

As a tip, I was able to make a very nice single helix reflux condenser using 3/16" soft copper tubing. You just can't get away doing it with 1/4" tube...

Blue skies,
SkydiveMD

[moonshine guy]

You guys who think 2" is to high for you need to check out you local scrap yards. I got a 6' of 4" L copper pipe for $90.00. That same pipe at the store would be around $400.00. The stuff at the scrap yard goes for about $4.00 a pound.

[skydivemd]

you need to check out you local scrap yards...

Will definitely second moonshine guy's advice on this one. Just stopped by a scrap yard recently (thanks NChooch!!) and was able to find 1.5", 2", 2.5" and 3". Took a length of 2" and 3" with me for $5.00/lb. Now if they just have some nice 4" when I stop back by...

skydiveMD

[eviljesus]

If your looking to get into at any more serious rate or are throwing a few , go the 2". A mate of mine built a 1.5 inch and it just couldnt handle 2.4kws of power properly. The spirits quality was noticeably diminshed.

[oakback]

You guys who think 2" is to high for you need to check out you local scrap yards. I got a 6' of 4" L copper pipe for $90.00. That same pipe at the store would be around $400.00. The stuff at the scrap yard goes for about $4.00 a pound.

Not everyone has access to these awesome scrap yards you speak of.

[sambedded]

If your looking to get into at any more serious rate or are throwing a few , go the 2". A mate of mine built a 1.5 inch and it just couldnt handle 2.4kws of power properly. The spirits quality was noticeably diminshed.

You can't properly cut heads on 2.4kw even using 4" reflux. Run your column on 500-700W while collecting heads and sprits quality will improve a lot.

[scrap]

Just contacted a scrap yard near my home and found a 31" length of 2" pipe for a VERY good price!

[Prairiepiss]

Just contacted a scrap yard near my home and found a 31" length of 2" pipe for a VERY good price!

There you go.

I was going to say. You can get 2" by the foot online. At pretty reasonable prices. But sounds like you have found a good source.