New build, I have 2", 3", and 4" -- decisions, decisions...

[DoublyDooble]

Right now I have a 1.5" Bok on a 15.5gal keg that I really enjoy running. But...I've been itching to do another build. Part of me wants to do another Bok b/c it's pretty simple, relatively cheap once you have pipe for the column, and I've done it and know how to run it. But part of me wants to do something new.

So here's the thing. About a year ago I picked up just under 9' of 2" copper from a guy on Craigslist for pretty cheap. Brand new. He had work on the boiler done and the repair guy said they needed a foot of 2" pipe and so they bought the only length at Lowes/Home Depot which was 10' and the 8'10" leftover brand new pipe sat around for a while 'til I took it off his hands. So that's been in my basement for a year. I was pretty sure I wanted to do a 2" Bok with that.

Then yesterday I found some more pipe on CL that I picked up this morning. 9' of 3" and 11' of 4" ... so now I feel like I have so many options I just don't know what to do. I mean, I have some ideas...I've read hundreds of posts on this forum but would still love some input if anyone has opinions. I realize that I could reasonably make several stills so part of me wants to make a list of the next 3 stills I would build and then prioritize.

I've been running my 1.5" unpacked in "pot still" mode as I realized that as much as I like getting really high proof neutral, what I really love drinking in whiskey/bourbon. But, I love drinking vodka based drinks also, as well as doing flavorings/infusions...oh, and I like a good gin every now and again. And did I mention that I enjoy rum on the right occasion? So you can see that versatility matters too. Of course, a combination of different stills that would result in great versatility would also work.

So...ideas? Send 'em my way.

[bentstick]

IMO a plated column,2-3 plate column (perforated,or bubble caps) section,with a couple add on plate,sections with the 4"
Then make a packed column to set on top of the plated section to make your vodkas with some 3"!

[Danespirit]

The 2" would be perfect for a VM...maybe with a LM on top to take care of the heads?
Plated column for the 3"...

[DAD300]

3" VM...CCVM...it is the perfect column for a 15 gallon keg. 3-4 feet high it will give azeo with scrubbies, in a three hour run time.

The 4" stuff is gold. Sell it for a new fermenter or three.

[googe]

IMO a plated column,2-3 plate column (perforated,or bubble caps) section,with a couple add on plate,sections with the 4"
Then make a packed column to set on top of the plated section to make your vodkas with some 3"!

[Stainless dude]

You have the option of making more than one rig with all of the pipe available to you. IMHO with your four inch a plated rig would be a fine choice, great for whiskey and rum. And like Bent said a packed section can be added above the plates for neutrals.

[DoublyDooble]

Thanks for all of the responses so far! Very helpful.

You have the option of making more than one rig with all of the pipe available to you. IMHO with your four inch a plated rig would be a fine choice, great for whiskey and rum. And like Bent said a packed section can be added above the plates for neutrals.

Yeah, I realize this...which is great, and I probably will make multiple, now I just need to start to prioritize. All of these responses have been very helpful! In the past 3" and 4" pipe was so cost prohibitive to me that I didn't do much reading about plated columns, but now that I have it, anything is on the table. I'm almost embarrassed at what I paid for this pipe.

I think I'm going to dive headfirst into that topic, as several have said that would be a good build with the 4" for whiskey and rum. That sounds very appealing to me. From the reading I've done, it is also quite intimidating and I think I would need a good LONG time to read and really try to wrap my head around the build process. So maybe in the meantime I'll build a 2" or 3" Boka, as having made one already, I feel like I could reasonably crank another out in an afternoon and/or evening. That would let me really up my output from my current setup and might be a good "stepping up" still so I don't feel at all rushed about constructing the 4" plate.

3" VM...CCVM...it is the perfect column for a 15 gallon keg. 3-4 feet high it will give azeo with scrubbies, in a three hour run time.

The 4" stuff is gold. Sell it for a new fermenter or three.

A couple of days before I posted, I stumbled across your thread. I will be doing more reading about that and it's definitely an option, and might be a great use of the 3". I need to take a closer look at what type of copper (thickness)...it was way too cold to spend anymore time than necessary to stuff it in the garage. As far as selling the rest...I've definitely thought about that as well...as it would help defray the costs of additional components needed for these stills...and I probably don't need 11' of 4" ...it's actually 9' with a 4" coupling and a second 2' pipe.

So again, thanks for the input! Hindsight is always much clearer and so it's great to hear from guys that have built multiple or been doing this much longer than me to know what you would do if you were in my shoes.

[Erichimedes]

I've had Reverse liquid management on my mind recently. I think my next project will be a rebuild of my Bok with a precision needle valve and piped for RLM. Maybe look into that!

[BigSwede]

What a gold mine of copper! Go modular. Make a dephlagmator, a product condenser, a VM arm, a short pot still upright, all tri-clamped, and you can have whatever rig you want for the desired product. Of course, a plated 4" with correct CM will do just about anything.

Have fun, take pics!

[bellybuster]

Read your own post above about high proof neutral..... Why build a BOK? Great reflux still, crappy pot still. Start with a nice pot still maybe. 3" all the way to a shotgun condenser. Coolio

[DoublyDooble]

What a gold mine of copper! Go modular. Make a dephlagmator, a product condenser, a VM arm, a short pot still upright, all tri-clamped, and you can have whatever rig you want for the desired product. Of course, a plated 4" with correct CM will do just about anything.

Have fun, take pics!

Yes, quite the gold mine. Everything's on hold for now until I can dig out the 4' drifts of snow in front of the garage, but they're saying up to another foot of snow this weekend...looks like this will be a summer project. That's fine, more time to think on things. I've learned it's never good to be in a hurry.

I'll definitely take pics.

[DoublyDooble]

Read your own post above about high proof neutral..... Why build a BOK? Great reflux still, crappy pot still. Start with a nice pot still maybe. 3" all the way to a shotgun condenser. Coolio

I definitely see a pot still in my future...I need to spend some serious time reading about pot stills. I'm a voracious reader but can only tackle one topic at a time...so feel free not to answer this, as I'll answer it myself eventually in my reading before I go about building anything...but, I'm under the impression that in a pot still, the height/length of the still/column has very little impact on the product. Is that correct?

[BigSwede]

...but, I'm under the impression that in a pot still, the height/length of the still/column has very little impact on the product. Is that correct?

I believe so, but maybe someone with more experience will chime in. What you want is enough height off the boiler (and diameter) to minimize the chances of puking, AND to get the product away from the heat source, and into the product condenser. A nice 2" vertical column say a foot tall, leading to the product condenser, will keep solids or puke where they belong, in the boiler. But what you CAN do is make that 2" column 3' tall, add a ferrule to the top, and turn it into a reflux column when needed by adding packing and running it correctly.

That same 3' 2" dia column can do pot still duties. Some guys like to remove packing, but apparently that's not needed. Throw enough heat at it, it goes isothermal and there's no reflux. Obviously, you need to be able to remove the reflux condenser (or cap it) to do this. And the big thing, of course, is to never, ever create a sealed system that can pressurize, or it's kaboom city. That can be a factor with a modular system where you can tri-clamp all sorts of things together. It's more of a beginner thing to do this, but it's always worth re-emphasizing - no closed systems. There must be a wide open exit somewhere above the boiler.

If you're thinking pot still, I'd skip that - with the copper you have - and build a plated rig instead. But a simple pot still can do great things and is a good way to start. I've got a silly-complex rig about done, a combo VM/LM still, but I went through a pot still phase a while back, and while I liked what it did, I am more interested in neutrals right now.

I guess one way to summarize... A pot still cannot get high ABV without multiple runs, but makes great flavored beverages with some care w/cuts, and experience helps. A nice reflux rig is geared towards neutrals, but can also behave like a pot still. And a plated column can do a little bit of everything, and do it well.