I love the backyard chemistry set aspect to the hobby. I’ve done some from-malt home brewing (no extracts for me! lol) so I am familiar with the forerunners of the distillation process (mashing), but as a nube, I have to throw out those silly nube questions that have prolly been asked a 1000 times before, but it’s just a moral imperative after all. I’ve been reading as much as I can all week of the home site and forums till my eyes bled (well, itched anyway), so here goes:My limitations:
1.Apartment ‘stilling: thus no full-size kegs with 100k BTU propane burners and 10’ columns. Depending on the size of pot I can find that I can afford, I thinking something in the 15-25q, 1500-3000w electric element range (may be limited by the size of the breaker in my kitchen, harrumph).
2.Limited height: my (electronic ignition gas) range is likely the best place for me to support the weight and heat of 3-5 gallons of boiling mash safely. Thus, my post and column will have about a 30” total height restriction.
3.Poverty: I work at a big box store, and live in an expensive city, thus I don’t have $1000+ to throw at my rig.
My assets:
1.I’m (slightly) smarter than the average bear, and am just vain enough to err on the side of safely rather than try to get that last 0.5% purity.
2.I work at a big box store, and have access to professional plumbers with not only the proper tools to solder big pipes but the skill to do it right (copper porn is always nice).
3.A cousin in the deep south who prolly has some good recipes as he has ‘stilled his whole life, off and on.
My plans:
Build a still for learning which can be easily converted to reflux in the future. I want to conserve as much of the $$ spent on the simple pot still so that when converting to reflux I don't end up throwing parts away. I really like the elegance of the Bokabob slant plate designs, but I think my height limitations preclude these. I also notice that when folks go with a Nixon/Stone based design they always take the vapor from the top, which again causes height problems for me.
So here’s my prolly too obvious nube question:
A basic Bokabob 1.5” diameter, dual slant-plate with a reflux chamber about 18” tall, and a 12” Hookline condenser (if he’s still selling those beauties, hint hint) on top. Except that instead of the base being attached to directly to the pot lid, a 45* ½” pipe connects to the base of a 1.5” diameter, 24” reflux chamber. To my thinking, the 24” pipe can be removed and capped, and the Bokabob chamber not packed and I have a pot still. When it's time for reflux, I can pack the main tube, and/or add the side tube for more refulx.
Have at it, and please be harsh, I can take it and would rather get criticism than waste money on copper I can’t use (have you seen copper prices lately? lol)
Thanks and well met,
-M
PS. I not too concerned about what I end up making…I’m fine with fuller flavored rums or corn ‘shine, but heck, if I can get 80% or better I’m willing to settle if I have to…
