1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

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MoonWhisky
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1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by MoonWhisky »

This is my 1/4" double helix with a custom cold finger.... More like a cold nub
IMG_20140507_233244.jpg
This is the start of it... Straighten a 10" section and slide it threw the pipe and make careful bends to start the coil.
I had it packed with water.
IMG_20140507_233403.jpg
This is the connecting tube 16" to be safe I cut some off at the end.
IMG_20140507_233443.jpg
Using a 3/4 cap I soldered it to a copper sheet then cut it out and grind the edges flush. (drill a small hole where one of the tubes goes in that way pressure can escape during soldering)
IMG_20140507_233518.jpg
Next I drilled two 1/4" holes (one was drilled through the small hole already)
IMG_20140507_233632.jpg
And wahla slide the connecting tube down the inside coil press on the cap and solder it all together to complete the water flow. Depending which tube the the water is ran through the "nub" will receive the coolest water then back up the finger then down the inside coil then back up through the outside coil or the opposite by switching tubes
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MoonWhisky
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by MoonWhisky »

Dang... No feedback? Has anyone used this design before and will it drop the vapor in a 2"x 5' column. Is a 5' column a good height? How much packing length would be good 3 feet? Or more. I'm just waiting on my 2" pipe to arrive
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Condensifier
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by Condensifier »

That's a big condenser and should work fine.

Here's a thread with lots of good advice on building a boka. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=23449

For more just use the HD google search and searh for boka.
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MoonWhisky
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by MoonWhisky »

The coil part is 6" and 7-1/2 with the cooling cap
Hound Dog
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by Hound Dog »

6" is a little small but may get the job done. You will have to run a 2" slow anyway. I have never used 1/4" line so I am not really sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
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Condensifier
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by Condensifier »

It looks bigger in the picture than it really is. Looks like it should work good though. Mine is 7.5 inchs and has 13 outer coils and 15 inner coils and no cold finger and it works fine. Yours has 14 outer coils, not sure on the inner coils but you have a cold finger so it seems to have a similar length of tubing overall to mine.
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MoonWhisky
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by MoonWhisky »

Does the length of the column make a difference I will have 44" of pipe to the first plate and I guessing 36"-40" of copper packing. The top part is 16" (10" for the coil with in and out water tubes then 1" gap to the second plate then 3/4 " to the first plate and will use a copper coupling w/ teflon tape to connect them so I will have a 60" column which I saw the there's no benefit to have a Boka of 60" am I wrong?
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by Hound Dog »

MoonWhisky wrote:Does the length of the column make a difference I will have 44" of pipe to the first plate and I guessing 36"-40" of copper packing. The top part is 16" (10" for the coil with in and out water tubes then 1" gap to the second plate then 3/4 " to the first plate and will use a copper coupling w/ teflon tape to connect them so I will have a 60" column which I saw the there's no benefit to have a Boka of 60" am I wrong?
Rule of thumb for column size is that height equals purity and diameter equals speed.

The height is the amount of column that has packing since this is what does the work for you. If you can get more height in packing than 36", you will benefit from it. It will equalize better and run a little more stable. If you can't get more, it will still do the job. I ran a 2" x 36" for a while and it would consistently pull 94-95%. It was just a bit slow and touchy compared to a taller fatter column.
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MoonWhisky
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Re: 1/4" double helix w/ custom cold finger

Post by MoonWhisky »

Thanks I found 2" pipe type m for 10.00 a foot so I bought a 5 foot piece I will be able to get at least 45-46 inches of packing till it gets to the first plate.
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