Home Distiller

So ive been reading over this post ( http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 60&t=36050 ) and in it, he says that 1/4 in copper tubing is the norm for liebigs, yet a lot of builds involve 1/2 tubing. So is it ok to use 1/2? why did he says most people use 1/4? I still dont really have a clue how it all works, but i think i want to go off of this guys build

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9247
http://ww.homedistiller.org/forum/viewt ... g#p7282835" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

thanks

Husker's design is a LM (Boka) reflux column. The 1/4" condenser tubing is for the cooling water.

The Liebig design you want build is for knocking down vapors where the vapor travels in the center tube.

Those are separate design parameters.

If you're piping vapors, 1/2" is the minimum recommended size. If you're going to twist a reflux condenser coill (where the tube carries water) then you can use the 1/4". But you should look at Dad300's VM head that uses stainless gas line (corrogated) tubing.
ss

In other words, if you're cooling a liquid you can use 1/4", although I'd stay with 3/8" as a minimum. If you're knocking down vapors, then you should stay with 1/2" or bigger.
ss

You may be confusing the reflux condenser (RC) build with a liebig build. The normal size tubing for a RC is 1/4". Water runs through the RC, so there's no minimum size restriction. However the inside pipe of a liebig should be no less than 1/2" because it has vapor flow going through it. 1/2" is the minimum size pipe/tube anywhere in the vapor path. This is a safety consideration. Anything less can become clogged and cause a pressure buildup in the boiler. It seems that the preferred configuration of a liebig condenser among the members here is 3/4" over 1/2".

There's a calculator on the Parent Site you can use to determine the efficient length of a liebig condenser. It's basically a guideline for the minimum length for a particular still configuration. Longer is OK.

Posted while Still_stirrin was posting.

It all just clicked lol basically the 1/4" inbetween the 1/2 and 3/4 is where the water will be going, and the condensate will be inside the 1/2 being cooled, right? seems fairly simple. Its allll starting to come together

S-Cackalacky wrote:You may be confusing the reflux condenser (RC) build with a liebig build. The normal size tubing for a RC is 1/4". Water runs through the RC, so there's no minimum size restriction. However the inside pipe of a liebig should be no less than 1/2" because it has vapor flow going through it. 1/2" is the minimum size pipe/tube anywhere in the vapor path. This is a safety consideration. Anything less can become clogged and cause a pressure buildup in the boiler. It seems that the preferred configuration of a liebig condenser among the members here is 3/4" over 1/2".

There's a calculator on the Parent Site you can use to determine the efficient length of a liebig condenser. It's basically a guideline for the minimum length for a particular still configuration. Longer is OK.

Posted while Still_stirrin was posting.

i have no clue how to use the calculator lol theres so many variable that i would have no way of knowing/super confused about.

edit: also, is the 1/2 minimum and id or od?

fullmetal,

For rigid copper (hard copper) the diameter is an ID. For soft copper (rolled tubing) the diameter is typically the OD. Either would work.
ss

Full metal, you sound just like I did a while ago. Excited to build with no clue how it was all gonna come together! So I felt like I should give you the friendly tip to understand COMPLETELY what you are doing before spending any money on anything! Sounds like your doing some good research so that's good. Everyone was giving me this same advice when I first started and I didn't listen. Over a year and hundreds of dollars later I have the rig I should have built in the first place. Just couldn't make myself slow down.

This might not be your case at all and in that case I apologize for my assumptions. Just trying to save you the same headache I suffered!

StillLearning1 wrote:Full metal, you sound just like I did a while ago. Excited to build with no clue how it was all gonna come together! So I felt like I should give you the friendly tip to understand COMPLETELY what you are doing before spending any money on anything! Sounds like your doing some good research so that's good. Everyone was giving me this same advice when I first started and I didn't listen. Over a year and hundreds of dollars later I have the rig I should have built in the first place. Just couldn't make myself slow down.

This might not be your case at all and in that case I apologize for my assumptions. Just trying to save you the same headache I suffered!

hit the nail on the head with this one lol im definately waiting till i get it all put together in my head, then ill start buying stuff. But i did look at thread and it did give me most of the information i think i would need. Thinking 60 inches of 2" piping for the column/head, enough piping for a 6" condenser (about 7 feet*2 so i can practice with one first), and i think ive about figured out how to make the plates as well. But i think i still got a while before i actually start buying stuff.

also, a random question but i dont want to start a whole new thread about it. I have the option to get a 15.5 gallon keg for like $20 more than a 7.5 gallon, is there any downsides to having a bigger keg? because i dont think i would need the bigger one, but if its only $20 more... eh why not lol

if you have the bucks, get both kegs. But if only one Id be going with the 15.5

bellybuster wrote:if you have the bucks, get both kegs. But if only one Id be going with the 15.5

+1. Sage advice there. You can always use the extra but if you can do one, go bigger, you will eventually. It is easier to be less greedy too. Your runs are big enough to do harsh cuts and still have plenty to drink.

fullmetal7777 wrote:I have the option to get a 15.5 gallon keg for like $20 more than a 7.5 gallon, is there any downsides to having a bigger keg? because i dont think i would need the bigger one, but if its only $20 more... eh
why not lol

Go for the bigger one! I started out with a 5 gallon boiler then went to a 10 gallon (briefly) and now I'm
up to a 15 gallon boiler. You will save yourself money in the long run. Just start with the biggest one
you can afford. I wish I would have.

What kinda rig are you planning to build?

a 15.5 boiler with a 7.5 thump would be perfect

bellybuster wrote:a 15.5 boiler with a 7.5 thump would be perfect

+1 I agree , but in OP's last post he said something about plates. Now I'm confused as to what he is trying to build....

StillLearning1 wrote:

bellybuster wrote:a 15.5 boiler with a 7.5 thump would be perfect

+1 I agree , but in OP's last post he said something about plates. Now I'm confused as to what he is trying to build....

Yeah I'm probably confusing some stuff tbh lol this is what I'm going for
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=vhgmeu&s=6#.VPZyYoZOKJI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Ok, now were with ya. That design is called a "Boka" plenty of info all over these pages on that design.

StillLearning1 wrote:Ok, now were with ya. That design is called a "Boka" plenty of info all over these pages on that design.

Oh yeah I new that haha I probably should of just said that to start out with

fullmetal7777 wrote:

StillLearning1 wrote:Ok, now were with ya. That design is called a "Boka" plenty of info all over these pages on that design.

Oh yeah I new that haha I probably should of just said that to start out with

Yea that helps folks know what type of liebig you are after. I'm just a pot still guy so I can't help past this point. I'm sure someone else will come along with more info on what you need!
Good luck!