Reflux still

[McBadWish]

I was reading through one of the newb topics and found the still im building is one of the ones not reccomended to build and was wondering why? It is the one from moonshine-still.com the relfux still with the coolant pipes running through the column. Should I cut my losses and go with a different design?

[mrhooch]

Yup. While just about anything will in fact produce alcohol, some designs are better than others with respect to getting the higher ABVs, cleaning and building. It depends on what you want you are ultimately trying to make. If you are looking to make a nice neutral with little or no taste and odour, and less of the cogners that cause hangovers, then you want to build a column still. If you're thinking a grain or corn mash, and are trying to make something with more flavours, then it's a pot still. At the end of the day, it is a hobby, and there is a lot of different ways to get to the same end.

Hooch.

[rad14701]

The still you are referring to is a Cooling Management reflux column...

The theory behind the design is flawed... You cannot artificially create a HETP section in your column, it has to be established naturally... By having both top and a bottom reflux tubes you are trying to force all of the HETP's to form within a narrow temperature range within a small portion of your reflux column, essentially fighting an uphill battle from an operational standpoint...

Having two reflux tubes running through the column is the problem... With this configuration you are stuck with a CM column... Now, if those tubes were both at the top of the column and you could control coolant flow to those reflux tubes and the product liebig separately, you would have a better CM design which can also be run in pot still mode by not using the reflux tubes... However, if you're going to go to all the trouble of building an improved design you might as well scrap CM and go for Liquid Management, such as a Bokakob dual slant plate column, or Vapor Management... The Bokakob will outperform any CM design, hands down, and is cheaper and easier to build and operate - if you can wind a condenser coil...

[McBadWish]

Ok a Bokakob sounds good. I tried searching and really can't find any plans could some one steer me in the right direction. O im looking to mostly make neutral spirits.

[rednose]

The topic in the novice section where you found out that your built isn't up to date has a link to a built with pics and templates.

Don't need more it's just that simple

[xx7777xx]

Rednose

You might consider going with a vm if you want to make neutral spirits. VM's are pretty easy to contruct and stupid simple to run. I built a VM as my first and just love it. I also built it in a away that allows me to covert it into a pot still as well to make more flavorful spirits. I have some pretty detailed designs out there, but if you can't find them PM me and I'll send you a link.

x7

[Thorn_veritas]

ha ha ha

rednose needing help that makes me laughs not paying you out 7x but if you seen rednose collection of stills you would understand, there on here somewhere.

mcbadwish was after the plans i believe.

[birdwatcher]

Buy this book. It will explain all you need re neutral spirits and how to build the stills to create.

http://www.gin-vodka.com/making-gin.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Good luck.

G

[rednose]

Thanks x7 for your kind tip but as Thorn already mentioned, the built of stills isn't really MY problem.

I don't go too much for high ABV but for taste, so most of my stills are pot stills, here what's inside the new 6" towers.

That doesn't mean that I have no problems, mine are the local ambient temperature which makes fermenting in big vessels difficult, but that's another book.

Rednose

You might consider going with a vm if you want to make neutral spirits. VM's are pretty easy to contruct and stupid simple to run. I built a VM as my first and just love it. I also built it in a away that allows me to covert it into a pot still as well to make more flavorful spirits. I have some pretty detailed designs out there, but if you can't find them PM me and I'll send you a link.

x7

[xx7777xx]

Much apologies to Rednose as I misaddressed my reply that was intended for McBadWash! I guess I need to be more cautious when I'm posting from my phone

Thanks x7 for your kind tip but as Thorn already mentioned, the built of stills isn't really MY problem.

[rednose]

No apologies needed x7, mixing names can happen to anybody, I'm champion in that, lol.

[McBadWish]

Well I just got back from Deadhorse alaska and finally have internet again. I have been reading about the bokakob and the only design my small brain can decipher is the mini still plans he has. I was wondering if bigger is better? Some of the other drawings are of bigger stills but im having trouble figuring out all the dimensions of all the peices. And if size dose matter could I scale up the mini still plans?

[Mud Mechanik]

Don't meen to interject but, bigger takes more energy to heat, longer times to distill, more care in watching ferments, more water for cooling, etc..., if you have the time and resources, I would go as big as your time and pocketbook and patience will handle. MM

[Braz]

The Bok slant plate still plan will scale up nicely to a 2" diameter column around 40" or so in length. There are a couple build threads on here showing the process. One posted by Pikluck (I think) is quite good. Another posted my me is not as good but might contain an idea or two that would be helpful.

My Bok runs beautifully, very consistent temps throughout the run and makes a very good 94-95% neutral.

Braz

[McBadWish]

Ok I found the bok piklock made and I think im going to go in the same direction, thanks for all your help.