Few questions about condenser/liebig

[fullmetal7777]

So ive about gotten everything figured out, but theres a few things im not sure about, and i honestly cannot find a 100% definite answer to my questions.

1: So im planning on doing the CSST condenser. What im wondering is how is it attached to the top of the head? I realize that there needs to be some holes to let the still breathe, so is it just "loosely" put through some holes through the top?

2: Ok so this whole liebig thing.. I'll be going with this guys design (i think?) http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9247. Would this be suitable for a 5' tall boka still? Also, would i feed a 1/2'' pipe out of the head and connect it directly to the liebig? Or would i have a 1/4" pipe soldered to the head, and then connect to a 1/2" pipe?

[Danespirit]

You can put the CSST loosely through the cap, if that's what you mean.
Leave some space around it, and you also have the top vented as it should be.
Hooklines Liebig will be a good choice.It's more than addequate for most builds.
Now, you want to go 5 foot tall..no problem...the point is how large (diameter) is your boka..??

[carbohydratesn]

You can just hang a CSST coil in the pipe, it doesn't need to be held in. You can just bend the input and output parts of the CSST sideways or downwards, so they rest on the pipe, and hold the coil up in the column.

[Hound Dog]

You can just hang a CSST coil in the pipe, it doesn't need to be held in. You can just bend the input and output parts of the CSST sideways or downwards, so they rest on the pipe, and hold the coil up in the column.

+1

[fullmetal7777]

thanks for answering my questions guys. It'l be a 2" column. Ok so what about the liebig thing? it feeds out of the head at 1/4" and then connects to a 1/2" (which is where it gets cooled down)?

[fullmetal7777]

You can just hang a CSST coil in the pipe, it doesn't need to be held in. You can just bend the input and output parts of the CSST sideways or downwards, so they rest on the pipe, and hold the coil up in the column.

would a lot of the alcohol vapor be wasted? or am i just missing something?

[Danespirit]

You can just hang a CSST coil in the pipe, it doesn't need to be held in. You can just bend the input and output parts of the CSST sideways or downwards, so they rest on the pipe, and hold the coil up in the column.

would a lot of the alcohol vapor be wasted? or am i just missing something?

No..not at all..
What you seem to not yet understand, is the relationship between vapor and condensing it in a refluxcondenser.
Now..a short explanaition is...if the alcohol ladden vapor meets a cold surface, it will condense to liquid.
That's the short explanaiton to it...please do some more research and take advantage of the link in my signature....

[fullmetal7777]

You can just hang a CSST coil in the pipe, it doesn't need to be held in. You can just bend the input and output parts of the CSST sideways or downwards, so they rest on the pipe, and hold the coil up in the column.

would a lot of the alcohol vapor be wasted? or am i just missing something?

No..not at all..
What you seem to not yet understand, is the relationship between vapor and condensing it in a refluxcondenser.
Now..a short explanaition is...if the alcohol ladden vapor meets a cold surface, it will condense to liquid.
That's the short explanaiton to it...please do some more research and take advantage of the link in my signature....

That makes sense. So what about the liebig? That's pretty much the last piece of the puzzle for me lol

[Danespirit]

Now..as i understand you are going to build a Liebig by Hook's thread..
You will be fine doing so..no problem..btw..Hook is a excellent distiller with a lot of knowledge..
The thing you should bear in mind is...
In a 2" Boka that you are going to build, you would handle liquid, not vapor at the output, thus a smaller coolingdevice can do the job.
You refluxcoil is already doing the job to convert your vapor from the column into liquid.
It does just require vapor to cool to 78,3 C (depending on were you are,but that's another subject)..to make the phase change happen..you have by now alcohol in liquid form.
Taking a lot of energy from that vapor and turning it into liquid, will give you the opportunity to shorten your coolingdevice significantly.
Take a look at my little "aftercooler" here...http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 87&t=54834 it might give you an idea of how to do.
Anyway..building a larger Liebig, gives you the opportunity to use it in another build... ...trust me...won't be your last..

[rad14701]

For a Bokakob the liebig product condenser is really just a cooler because the spirits have already been condensed back into liquid state within the LM reflux head... LM stands for Liquid Management... You are managing liquid, not vapor... Product condensers are optional on a LM column, like the Bokakob... Going big doesn't improve performance because it's liquid flowing down through it, not vapor... You need to have the liquid in contact with the condenser as long as possible so straight down or even 45 degrees isn't what you want unless you have something in the liebig to slow the descent... Size isn't the answer, efficiency is... A Graham condenser would be more efficient...

As has been mentioned more than a few times here, you need to slow down and do more research... You need to know what you need to know before you need to know it... Asking us questions at every sticking point isn't the way to venture into this hobby... Stop and take the time to do the research... Sure, you have butterflies, like a giddy schoolgirl that just caught a boy looking at her on the playground, and just want to get your rig working, but you're not ready yet, trust me...

[Hound Dog]

You can just hang a CSST coil in the pipe, it doesn't need to be held in. You can just bend the input and output parts of the CSST sideways or downwards, so they rest on the pipe, and hold the coil up in the column.

would a lot of the alcohol vapor be wasted? or am i just missing something?

Yep, if you are loosing vapor past your reflux condenser I would be worried a lot more about the giant flash from the air fuel explosion of the vapors collected near the ground igniting than the liquor you are collecting. Your reflux condenser needs to condense all the vapor. Check the top with a cool mirror to make sure nothing condenses on it.

[CR33G3R]

I would recommend that you start with a simple pot still. With that you can learn fermenting distilling and cuts as well as building your knowledge base about distilling in general. It is also a good way for you to build up a drinking stock along the way. Trust me it is allot easier to slow down and learn when you are making stuff.
Starting out with a column in my opinion is like trying to do algebra before you can add.

[fullmetal7777]

For a Bokakob the liebig product condenser is really just a cooler because the spirits have already been condensed back into liquid state within the LM reflux head... LM stands for Liquid Management... You are managing liquid, not vapor... Product condensers are optional on a LM column, like the Bokakob... Going big doesn't improve performance because it's liquid flowing down through it, not vapor... You need to have the liquid in contact with the condenser as long as possible so straight down or even 45 degrees isn't what you want unless you have something in the liebig to slow the descent... Size isn't the answer, efficiency is... A Graham condenser would be more efficient...

As has been mentioned more than a few times here, you need to slow down and do more research... You need to know what you need to know before you need to know it... Asking us questions at every sticking point isn't the way to venture into this hobby... Stop and take the time to do the research... Sure, you have butterflies, like a giddy schoolgirl that just caught a boy looking at her on the playground, and just want to get your rig working, but you're not ready yet, trust me...

id agree, but i just want to get it built lol im much better at learning when im actually doing it, even if i mess it up in the process (which i normally do), but thats just the best way i learn. I feel as if ive got a general understanding of everything to try to build it, and if i mess up along the way, eh, oh well lol otherwise i wont really learn. But i have been researching for a while to truly understand what every part is and what does what, just hard to sink it lol got any good links on how to build a graham condenser?

[fullmetal7777]

Take a look at my little "aftercooler" here...http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 87&t=54834 it might give you an idea of how to do.
Anyway..building a larger Liebig, gives you the opportunity to use it in another build... ...trust me...won't be your last..

So would that aftercooler be a good substitute for a liebig?'

great post btw, i now get what the difference is between this and other other still where the top of it just goes outward. It all makes sense now coolio

[fullmetal7777]

I would recommend that you start with a simple pot still. With that you can learn fermenting distilling and cuts as well as building your knowledge base about distilling in general. It is also a good way for you to build up a drinking stock along the way. Trust me it is allot easier to slow down and learn when you are making stuff.
Starting out with a column in my opinion is like trying to do algebra before you can add.

I probably would have done that, but i think ive already gone too far lol i doubt i even need a still this big tbh, but alas, go big or go home i guess haha im honestly not afraid to mess up. There no such thing as a mistake, only knowledge gained and possibly a wrecked bank account.

bleh, now im confused on which cooling method to use now tbh lol what would be the easiest route, since im somewhat inexperienced? I'd like to have my cake and eat it too please haha

[Danespirit]

Take a look at my little "aftercooler" here...http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 87&t=54834 it might give you an idea of how to do.
Anyway..building a larger Liebig, gives you the opportunity to use it in another build... ...trust me...won't be your last..

So would that aftercooler be a good substitute for a liebig?'

great post btw, i now get what the difference is between this and other other still where the top of it just goes outward. It all makes sense now coolio

That's what i is..a mini Liebig. Remember you are handling liquid in a Boka, so you can get away with building it more compact. That again would give the advantage of a lightweight build, you don't have to workout clumsy things to support it.
A Grahamcondenser, is a bit tricky to build compared to a simple Liebig, but as Rad mentioned...it performs much better.
You will find several builds and instruction for that in the construction section and here: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=87

As has been mentioned more than a few times here, you need to slow down and do more research... You need to know what you need to know before you need to know it... Asking us questions at every sticking point isn't the way to venture into this hobby... Stop and take the time to do the research... Sure, you have butterflies, like a giddy schoolgirl that just caught a boy looking at her on the playground, and just want to get your rig working, but you're not ready yet, trust me...

Wise words Rad... those words you should pay attention to fullmetal 7777..just say'in..