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I am about ready to build the stillmaker valved reflux still with a few mods based on some of your suggestions. I plan on using a keg as my pot with a sanke clamp to attach my 2" column. One change I plan on is to not use a valve on the reflux return tube and just let it stick up in the condenser section about 1/4". Using the product valve to control reflux. I also plan on using a 2" double helix condenser about 12" long instead of the single wound 3" version in the drawings. Does anyone have any further suggestions on how to better modify this unit and does my plans sound like I'm heading in the right direction?

Use the condenser calculator to confirm the coil substitution is sufficient to knock back your max heat input.

as for the dropping of a return valve why not simply go boka instead, as the benefit of the design you have selected is the ability to start the run with 100% of the condensate returned to reflux without collecting and pooling any of it, while your suggested mod will increase the volume of collected and pooled initial condensate dramatically.

Thanks for your input PhatFil. From what I have read from many other contributing posters. The offset head reflux still is preferred over the Boka. It seems as though most believe that you have more control over reflux with the offset. Do you have any pro's or con's to either setup?

Daveman69 wrote:Thanks for your input PhatFil. From what I have read from many other contributing posters. The offset head reflux still is preferred over the Boka. It seems as though most believe that you have more control over reflux with the offset. Do you have any pro's or con's to either setup?

Where did that wisdom come from...??? Most would advise shying away from the valved reflux, especially in it's original configuration... But even modified, there are better options for Liquid Management... Either the Bokakob dual slant plate or a dual reducer concentric would be better options for less work and expense...

rad14701 wrote:

Daveman69 wrote:Thanks for your input PhatFil. From what I have read from many other contributing posters. The offset head reflux still is preferred over the Boka. It seems as though most believe that you have more control over reflux with the offset. Do you have any pro's or con's to either setup?

Where did that wisdom come from...??? Most would advise shying away from the valved reflux, especially in it's original configuration... But even modified, there are better options for Liquid Management... Either the Bokakob dual slant plate or a dual reducer concentric would be better options for less work and expense...

Thanks for the reply rad. It seems like the slant plate would be more difficult to build from my point of view. I think I understand what your talking about with the dual reducer concentric but I think it was called something else where I read about it. So what type of still do you use and what are the pro's and con's with it?

Daveman69 wrote:

rad14701 wrote:

Daveman69 wrote:Thanks for your input PhatFil. From what I have read from many other contributing posters. The offset head reflux still is preferred over the Boka. It seems as though most believe that you have more control over reflux with the offset. Do you have any pro's or con's to either setup?

Where did that wisdom come from...??? Most would advise shying away from the valved reflux, especially in it's original configuration... But even modified, there are better options for Liquid Management... Either the Bokakob dual slant plate or a dual reducer concentric would be better options for less work and expense...

Thanks for the reply rad. It seems like the slant plate would be more difficult to build from my point of view. I think I understand what your talking about with the dual reducer concentric but I think it was called something else where I read about it. So what type of still do you use and what are the pro's and con's with it?

"You don't tug on Superman's cape , you don't piss in the wind . you don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger , and you don't mess with Rad .................................."
Don't call for what you don't want to come .

Daveman69 wrote:The offset head reflux still is preferred over the Boka. It seems as though most believe that you have more control over reflux with the offset. Do you have any pro's or con's to either setup?

The temperature measurement of systems with external reflux return is better. Without, the cold reflux can affect the measurement. I had this problem with my first reflux still. An offset LM has an external return. This is a pro argument for an offset. But with a Boka or a dual reducer concentric, it's easy to upgrade to an external return. I personally would make a boka and add a return.