CCVM plans, please review

[ushutuppicard]

ok folks... about to finalize my build that has been years in the making procrastinating. ive definitely settled on a ccvm after considering a boka for a while. just looking to do a final dobule check before i break out the saw and solder..

here is what i have:
lots of triclamps and ferrules
2" copper pipe 83" long
a Tee
a viewing glass(was a gift from a friend)
a shotgun condenser, 17" long. unpictured, but it was essentially a chinaexpress purchase
an 8" long double helix copper coil(not pictured)
boiler is a standard keg.
heat source is a turkey fryer.

Here is a litle diagram because we all like pictures:

Screenshot 2024-06-19 152543.png

My main use for this still will be taking sugar and fruit washes to high octane, which is what i have been doing with a friend's offset still, but im ready to make my own and potentially get more creative. here is my final list of questions(i hope).

1. I have read that an extra 2" more than your reflux condenser above the top of the horizontal pipe is good. is there any benefit in making it a tad longer? i was thinking of going with 10" instead of 8.

2. the remaining pipe will allow for a 73" long column. obviously way longer than necessary. but what would be the ideal length? ive seen someone with a 48 that said it was a bit short to get the highest %. i also thought about saving the remainder to swap on to use it as a pot still and not have to unpack the packing. so i guess the question is... with the 73" of remaining pipe... what would you do with it? i know that even with a 48" column, it will put the top of the thing wayyyy up there, but i actually have a pretty convenient location where ill be able to stand on a ledge next to the rig that will put me 3' up, and im 6'4".so even an 11' rig would be manageable, albeit, not ideal.

3. should i even use the viewing glass? Does it add to the functional length of the column, does it actually help, or is it literally just for pretty?

4. i have access to a private pond we use for irrigation that i plan on using to cool the thing... one thing i dont see discussed in a ccvm is the cooling circuit. do i need 2 separate loops for the shotgun and the reflux condensors? or can it just go through one and then through the other? how large of a pump should i get for this duty? the setup will be about 20' from the water and about 6' above the water to the base of the boiler... then plus the height of the rig, obviously. so 20' horizontal, plus ~16' vertical.

5. packing... where can i buy it on the cheap? And should I go with all stainless, or a mix of copper and stainless. i was thinking 50/50 copper/stainless, but ive also read people say that with a copper column, i dont have to add the work of cleaning copper packing.. From what I gather, I want to pack the packing in all the way up to the sight glass.

6. would a thermometer help anywhere on this setup? from what i read... no. the only temps that are important are to check the water temps coming out of the reflux and to be sure they are below 140°. So I think I found this answer already.

Anyways, thanks so much for your help. Feel free to point me towards a good place to get these answers vs be spoonfed. I have tried to find the answers for everything, but this is what I couldn't find, and I'm not confident enough to just start cutting that expensive copper yet. Have about 4 plum trees that look like they are going to fruit like crazy this year. Looking forward to getting this thing ready in time for them!