Building my first still (2in boka head)

[guyonthecouch]

I got a few parts accumulated for my still so I figured I'd go ahead and start this thread now. I should have my 2 inch copper by this weekend and ordering some of the electrical components this weekend also. I have read and read and read so I think I'm pretty much ready to tackle this build.

As i said I'll be doing a 2 inch boka head. I already acquired a keg and have my dual wind condenser made. I just received my keg ferrule and tri clamp. I will be purchasing a 10 ft peice of 2 inch copper (that's what I have to buy here locally). So I'm looking for some suggestions on column length. If I remember correctly between 4-5 foot of packed column suggested. My condenser measures out to about 9 in. Would 5 ft total colum length be good? I also plan on running a liebig condenser too. I would like to take the leftover copper and possibly make a pot still too at some point down the road.


Thanks in advance guys. Any suggestions would be great

[BentJar]

The height of the still after its on the keg and boiler will determine if its too high to fit in your space. You have to figure out if its going to hit the ceiling. A still built too high is not needed.

5 foot is a good starting place but figure also from your slant plates down. I have 32 inches of packed tube that produces a constant 95% abv. all the time. From there you can add about a foot or so for your coil. You want your plates 1 1/2 inches above the packing and your coil about the same above the plates.

I started at the bottom and fitted my keg connector first, then went to the slant plates, then the coil and cut off what was too high.

There are many thousands of these boka tubes running and about as many different ways to do it.

Just my 2 cents as it worked for me.
Bent

[thatguy1313]

Sounds like you got a good plan there. What are you planning on packing the column with, as this may affect required height to reach azeo. I run mine outside so the ceiling isn't an issue but if you're indoors you definitely want to take that into account, or hire someone to install a new skylight for you

[skow69]

Coventional wisdom says packing height should be 20-30x diameter, so 40 - 60 inches.

[guyonthecouch]

Thanks guys!


@ thatguy I plan on packing with rolls of %100 copper mesh. Ceiling is just over 9ft where I plan on running this thing. I plan on running mainly neutral spirits in this column.

[thatguy1313]

Sounds good. Skow is right on the money. I'd probably go 4' packed area with plates 1 1/2" above that and condenser 1 1/2"-2" above the plates. Should fit as long as you're going electric heat (I should hope so, running it inside). Check out Birdwatchers in Tried and True. Its my go to for neutral.

[rad14701]

Sounds good. Skow is right on the money. I'd probably go 4' packed area with plates 1 1/2" above that and condenser 1 1/2"-2" above the plates. Should fit as long as you're going electric heat (I should hope so, running it inside). Check out Birdwatchers in Tried and True. Its my go to for neutral.

Yep... Packed column height of 18 - 24 times the column diameter will suffice for 2", and 1 column diameter between plates, packing, and reflux condenser... Depending on structured packing, a reflux column with those spec's should bang out clean neutral spirits without any problems...

Cough...!!! Try marbles...!!! Cough...!!!

[guyonthecouch]

Definitely gonna be running electric heat. I'll definitely try the birdwatchers thanks.

@ Rad I just read your whole marbles post, definitely some really good info in there. I'll probably start with the scrubbers for now then down the road try the marbles so I can post my results too.

[skow69]

Cough...!!! Good choice...!!! Cough...!!!

[skow69]

Just kidding, rad. Can't resist pushing the buttons, sometimes. Got nothin but love for ya, brother.

[guyonthecouch]

Which one should I get? I'd like to get the thickest one but not sure if I need it or not.

[bearriver]

I like thin wall pipe myself. Its not as heavy, and less cost. Hobby win.

[guyonthecouch]

Actually I just acquired an new "18 piece of 2 inch 1/8 wall today. Would it be ok to have a coupler few inches down from the take off plates? I was also wondering if this coupler could be sealed with flour/water paste? My condenser is 9.5 inches. Thanks bearriver.

[skow69]

2 inch 1/8 wall

You mean it's 2.125 OD and 1.875 ID? Holy bazooka tube, batman. What was that intended for?

Lots of stills are built in a modular configuration, with the head removable from the column. You can seal just about anything with flour paste, but tri clamps might look pretty cheap after a few runs.

[guyonthecouch]

Did a little work today! Got my takeoff plates cut today. I used a 3/4 inch coupler, cut it long ways, flattened it then traced the template and cut it with tin snips. Turned out pretty good I think. Gotta cut the slots in the column now. Do these appear to be cut correctly?

[guyonthecouch]

Btw thanks skow!

[guyonthecouch]

I also just realized I should have put this in the construction site thread. Sorry.

[Aquafish]

guyonthecouch I also build a 2" boka very similar to yours. It's difficult to see from the photo if you cut slots in the plate with the tab on it. You might consider cutting small slots on either side of the tab to allow the fluid to drop in the center of the pipe. My column is only about 30 inches tall. I used SS scrubbies for packing. I have done BW and Rads sugar washes and have no problem getting 95% ABV. Also I didn't put a support for the take off tube big mistake came loose and leaked after a few runs. Good luck on the build looking good so far.

[guyonthecouch]

Ok It's been a little while since I posted anything. Been making some progress lately. I got the head pretty much done. I ended up re cutting the plates with the 3rd revision template (I think). It has the little cuts next to the little tip. I got my buddy to weld in my bungs over the weekend for the fill port, the drain port and the heater port. Also added some legs to it too. The legs were made from the tube that came out of the keg when I took it apart. I got my heater controller box pretty much finished up tonight. I'll be running the camco 5500 Watt ulwd curved heater.

[guyonthecouch]

Few more pics

[guyonthecouch]

Any ideas on what angle I should run my liebig at? Should I run it parallel with the column or angle it out away from the column a little?

[still_stirrin]

Good looking rig, guy.

Wrap the tank with Reflectex bubble wrap to help hold heat in. I also put a couple of layers (cut circular) into the top and bottom too. It really helps speed the warm up.

On your Liebig, what size is it? Remember, the fluid going into it will be vapor. And it changes phases (to liquid) inside. So increasing the dwell time will improve performance. Most here do angle their Liebigs between 90 and 45-50 degrees from the horizontal with success.

I run a 7-tube shotgun and it is best oriented vertically.
ss

edit: Phat Phingered...corrected spelling.

[rad14701]

Any ideas on what angle I should run my liebig at? Should I run it parallel with the column or angle it out away from the column a little?

I would have the angle adjustable, but that's just me... There are a number of ways to do that, either with a union or slip-fit fittings... Doing so will allow you more flexibility of the configuration of your rig for take-off orientation...

[guyonthecouch]

Thanks ss and rad. I definitely plan on insulating it soon. I still have to get the rest of my 2 inch copper so that will be next so I can got to distilling. I will be starting my first gen ujssm in the next couple days My tube coming off of the slant plates is 1/4 inch, and my liebig with be 3/4, so 3/4 over 1/4. I have all the parts for the liebig I just have to solder everything together. I actually did a test run with water to try out the heater and control box and everything worked good. I just boiled some water without a column attached.

[still_stirrin]

Thanks ss and rad. I definitely plan on insulating it soon. I still have to get the rest of my 2 inch copper so that will be next so I can got to distilling. I will be starting my first gen ujssm in the next couple days My tube coming off of the slant plates is 1/4 inch, and my liebig with be 3/4, so 3/4 over 1/4. I have all the parts for the liebig I just have to solder everything together. I actually did a test run with water to try out the heater and control box and everything worked good. I just boiled some water without a column attached.

I hope your take off is at least 1/4" ID (3/8" OD). Typically refrigeration tubing (soft copper) is spec'd on ID, which I believe yours is. I'm just checking because you don't want to get too small of takeoff potentially causing it to plug during a run.

I tend to think of that size tubing as 3/8" because that's the size of the compression ferrules used in the brass fittings.

You could also use flared connections too if you've got a flaring tool (a good investment). Flared joints seem to be less likely to leak compared to compression joints which can be easily over-tightened. Flared or compression joints would facilitate assembly/disassembly.
ss

[guyonthecouch]

Unfortunately it is 1/4 od. I was kinda following the boka build on http://m.instructables.com/id/Building- ... lux-Still/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow but doing a few things different that I learned on here. I plan on redoing the head soon because I don't like my solder job on the slant plates.

[guyonthecouch]

Anybody else got any suggestions on this. I already have the 1/4" tube soldered in. And already bought a 1/4 inch needle valve. Can an admin move this post to column builds?

[guyonthecouch]

Also are these still manufacturing/parts websites required to report info to the ttb if you just buy parts or accessories from them?

[HDNB]

your power connections make questions come to mind...i see you are using only one pole of a two pole switch??? so the other 1/2 of the element is live if the power is plugged in but the switch is off?
changing colors is confusing for me, so are you all good there?
can't see all the connections so maybe all good, but i thought i'd throw out info anyway.
you got an air intake on that box somewhere?

[guyonthecouch]

Thanks for your concerns hd, I wasn't completely done wiring when I took this picture. My blacks and whites are hot and greens are ground. Yes I have a 120mm 110 volt fan mounted on the back of it. Here's a pic of it completely wired and a pic of the fan. Sorry I see how this could have been confusing. It's just a little tight when everything is wired up. Thanks again.