my 36" bokakob

Many like to post about a first successful ferment (or first all grain mash), or first still built/bought or first good run of the still. Tell us about all of these great times here.
Pics are VERY welcome, we drool over pretty copper 8)

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samwell
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Re: my 36" bokakob

Post by samwell »

NcHooch wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 3:54 pm
samwell wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:57 pm
NcHooch wrote: Wed May 12, 2010 5:55 pm Just wanna say that a 10" distillate cooling coil off the take-off valve is highly recommended for this still. works like a charm, takes the temp right down to room temp and no need to be messin with water.
DSC00508.JPG
Wow that makes things easier. Definitely seems worth it since it removes the hassle of water and a pump. :D :clap:

Love it!
You still need to water cool the coil at the top of the column. :wink:
Of course HAHAHA. I just met a secondary pump. I'm building a bokakob right now and wanted to avoid having a mini Liebig, so your solution was perfect.
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samwell
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Re: my 36" bokakob

Post by samwell »

NcHooch wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 3:54 pm
samwell wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:57 pm
NcHooch wrote: Wed May 12, 2010 5:55 pm Just wanna say that a 10" distillate cooling coil off the take-off valve is highly recommended for this still. works like a charm, takes the temp right down to room temp and no need to be messin with water.
DSC00508.JPG
Wow that makes things easier. Definitely seems worth it since it removes the hassle of water and a pump. :D :clap:

Love it!
You still need to water cool the coil at the top of the column. :wink:

Hey NC,

Out of curiosity, when you wound yours did you fill it with salt or anything? I’m considering redoing mine as it’s a bit wonky and I think I lose some valuable surface area because I wound mine so wide.

It definitely knocked down the temp of the distillate but it was still warmer coming off the still than I would like…

When I wound mine a couple months back, I recall winding it slowly by hand without any filling.
D7D94C36-941F-4B7D-85CD-970D1B621D30.jpeg
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Salt Must Flow
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Re: my 36" bokakob

Post by Salt Must Flow »

samwell wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:03 am
NcHooch wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 3:54 pm
samwell wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:57 pm
NcHooch wrote: Wed May 12, 2010 5:55 pm Just wanna say that a 10" distillate cooling coil off the take-off valve is highly recommended for this still. works like a charm, takes the temp right down to room temp and no need to be messin with water.
DSC00508.JPG
Wow that makes things easier. Definitely seems worth it since it removes the hassle of water and a pump. :D :clap:

Love it!
You still need to water cool the coil at the top of the column. :wink:

Hey NC,

Out of curiosity, when you wound yours did you fill it with salt or anything? I’m considering redoing mine as it’s a bit wonky and I think I lose some valuable surface area because I wound mine so wide.

It definitely knocked down the temp of the distillate but it was still warmer coming off the still than I would like…

When I wound mine a couple months back, I recall winding it slowly by hand without any filling.

D7D94C36-941F-4B7D-85CD-970D1B621D30.jpeg
Filling the copper tubing with salt is well worth while doing. It keeps it from wrinkling, kinking and flattening. Connect it to your garden hose and it will clear the salt. It just takes some time before it clears. I've never had issues when filling tubing with salt. I tried filling with water, freezing it, etc.. and nothing worked as well as salt. Some use sand, but that scares the hell out of me because if it won't come out, I'd be screwed. Salt will always clear with water pressure.

If you make a Liebig condenser or even a Graham condenser, the product will exit much cooler. You could supply water to the product condenser first then to the reflux condenser.
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samwell
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Posts: 174
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Location: PNW

Re: my 36" bokakob

Post by samwell »

Salt Must Flow wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:14 am
samwell wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:03 am
NcHooch wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 3:54 pm
samwell wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:57 pm

Wow that makes things easier. Definitely seems worth it since it removes the hassle of water and a pump. :D :clap:

Love it!
You still need to water cool the coil at the top of the column. :wink:

Hey NC,

Out of curiosity, when you wound yours did you fill it with salt or anything? I’m considering redoing mine as it’s a bit wonky and I think I lose some valuable surface area because I wound mine so wide.

It definitely knocked down the temp of the distillate but it was still warmer coming off the still than I would like…

When I wound mine a couple months back, I recall winding it slowly by hand without any filling.

D7D94C36-941F-4B7D-85CD-970D1B621D30.jpeg
Filling the copper tubing with salt is well worth while doing. It keeps it from wrinkling, kinking and flattening. Connect it to your garden hose and it will clear the salt. It just takes some time before it clears. I've never had issues when filling tubing with salt. I tried filling with water, freezing it, etc.. and nothing worked as well as salt. Some use sand, but that scares the hell out of me because if it won't come out, I'd be screwed. Salt will always clear with water pressure.

If you make a Liebig condenser or even a Graham condenser, the product will exit much cooler. You could supply water to the product condenser first then to the reflux condenser.

I’ve repeatedly learned that it’s always best to do things the right way LOL. The first double helix condenser I made was without any sort of salt and it kinked. Ended up doing it all over again, but properly…

Clearly the version of me from a few months ago thought it was no biggie to not use salt again.

I think I’ll be making a trip to the hardware store and do it over again.
Bradster68
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Re: my 36" bokakob

Post by Bradster68 »

Wow. Even 14yrs ago they knew turdbo was actually shit. :lol
Don't mean to derail mods. Last comment
I drink so much now,on the back of my license it's a list of organs I need.
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samwell
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Location: PNW

Re: my 36" bokakob

Post by samwell »

Salt Must Flow wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:14 am
Filling the copper tubing with salt is well worth while doing. It keeps it from wrinkling, kinking and flattening. Connect it to your garden hose and it will clear the salt. It just takes some time before it clears. I've never had issues when filling tubing with salt. I tried filling with water, freezing it, etc.. and nothing worked as well as salt. Some use sand, but that scares the hell out of me because if it won't come out, I'd be screwed. Salt will always clear with water pressure.

If you make a Liebig condenser or even a Graham condenser, the product will exit much cooler. You could supply water to the product condenser first then to the reflux condenser.
Hey Salt,

The salt was a good call :lol: :lol:

Ran my boka yesterday and all went well.

Here's a photo of the finished product condenser. I added some extra length to be extra sure HAHAHA.
samwell boka prod condenser.png
17" of coiled area, about 30" in total.
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