Soldering the slant plates in a bokabob

[moe fishwater]

Recently, a buddy of mine brought me 2, five foot lengths of 2" type "L" copper pipe for my birthday. Today at the health food store I found a gallon of Blackstrap, 60% off. The universe is telling me something I know it. I have all my fittings and condensers for two bokabobs with detachable heads. I downloaded the pdf for the 2" bb template, and I'm about to start my build. Never soldered, but I'm a pretty quick learner. My biggest worry are the plates. Whats the best way to solder in the slant plates in a bokabob reflux column? How many five gallon batches of rum wash will this make? Thank you in advance.

[Braz]

The best tip I can give you is to make sure the plates are a snug fit in the slots. And use a good flux.

[rad14701]

Also, it is easier to solder oversized plates in and then trim, grind, and sand, down to the column than to solder in perfectly sized plates...

[moe fishwater]

Thanks. Recommendations on good flux? so i'll slip the square plates (bottom first then top) in the notch then apply flux, solder, trim, and grind . . . is that about it? I'll bend the return notch before installing the top plate of course.

[rad14701]

It's just that easy...

[Prairiepiss]

With the untrimed plates. Make sure you get solder on both sides of the plate.

Oh and refer to the hook rum thread in the tried and true section. It will help you with that question.

[emptyglass]

And don't forget to angle the take off tube downwards a little.

[cwalker]

When i did mine i used a 1/16 " grinding disk on my grinder. The cut ended up a bit wider but that was ok. When cutting the plates out again used the cutting disk but DID NOT clean up the "burrs" left on the plates. When I tapped them into the slots the burrs held everything tight and allowed a nice easy solder job. No gaps to fill or anything.