3in Boka Questions

Reflux still design and discussion

Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Doubleuj » Sat May 06, 2017 7:28 am

No worries with using your pool as a retic system, even Mac used to do this and if I had a pool I would too.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Mon May 08, 2017 2:02 pm

Another quick one, in regards to stainless and copper condensers is a 400mm 3in all stainless up to the task. How much better is a copper unit ive read anywhere from between 10% and twice as efficent thermally
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Wed May 10, 2017 7:56 pm

Well I didn't get a reply so I just up and bought SS :) and so the constructions begins. I'm going to document each step I take with photos and stuff please chip in with advice as I build.

So far build list stands at

2m polished 3" (od) 316 SS
6m 3/8 (od) 316 SS
1.2mm plate 304 SS
2x 3" ferrules 316 SS
1x 3" Tri Clamp 316 SS
1x 3" Gasket
2" to 3 in reducer (Will discard after I update the Keg with a 4 or 6 inch port, it's just temporary at the moment)
2" Ferrule 316 SS

Current cost is about $200

I've just drilled out the first plate to accept 19 3/8 pipe do the next ones tomorrow.

Question for the moderators I intend to post picture of the build as I go is there any no no's or prefered way of doing it before i start spewing them up?

Cheers
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Wed May 10, 2017 8:27 pm

Few pics of the condenser plate, I've left the center one not drilled so that I can lay out the arc when I'm ready to cut it out. Figured it would be easier to drill out all but the centre holes so that there was more to hold onto.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby TasSpirits » Wed May 10, 2017 8:42 pm

Looking good Mate, whish I could tTig :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Wed May 10, 2017 10:03 pm

nah cant tig, I can however ask someone to do it for me or teach me and I pay.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby hillzabilly » Thu May 11, 2017 12:31 pm

Have a look at viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8194&p=142163&hilit=glass+Mac+boka#p142163 this is the way I would go ,glass sections are not cheap but you will be able ta moniter ya reflux well and be able ta keep your eye on going's on,plus it looks shit hot ta me.cheers hillzabilly ;-)
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Sam. » Thu May 11, 2017 1:22 pm

Post your pics however you want mate, more the better :D
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Thu May 11, 2017 6:29 pm

hillzabilly mate saw that one on my travels and have already stolen the idea, I thought exactly the same thing about being able to view whats going on so you can tell if you're pulling too much product out. I was going to see if I could grab my mates lathe and just spin something up.

Just thinking about how I can make a window to see above and below the overflow mark..... might dick around with sketchup tonight and see what I can come up with.

Just in the process of sizing the shotgun plates for the condenser, shit of a job and I think im doing it the hard way but end result should be the same.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby scythe » Thu May 11, 2017 9:24 pm

I'm with Sam, and im sure just about everyone else, here when i say the preferred method of posting pictures is:
LOTS.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Zak Griffin » Thu May 11, 2017 10:02 pm

As long as they're not posted from a photobucket etc account that also has personal pics on it ;-)
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Thu May 11, 2017 11:16 pm

Well with luck I should have the 19 pipe shotgun dry fitted on the weekend, so will post up the pics of the plates bits and bobs.

2 things I would like to get peoples opinions on one is the length of the condenser is I have the parts to make a 500mm (470mm internal 3/8th pipe) shotgun is there such a thing as to long? I asked the mrs and she just shook her head and walked off.

secondly fixing the internals pipe that only have about 4.2mm between it and its closest neighbour, Should I;

1. Solder
2. Braise
3. Tig it (will need to pay for this one)

Im worried there simply isn't enough room for option 3, am I wrong on that front?

anyhow this is what I'm building
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby warramungas » Thu May 11, 2017 11:47 pm

Its stainless. I'd have someone tig it. Last forever then. They can also tig all the ferrules on while they're at it. Presume you're using a bit of overlap on the drilled section to create a ferrule join for the shotgun? :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Fri May 12, 2017 12:52 am

oh yeah was thinking of having a 5mm overhang, noticed that when I was doing a bit of a dry fit. So tempted to buy a tig kit for my welder....
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2" copper boka
2" pot still

Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby scythe » Fri May 12, 2017 6:28 am

The beuty about TIG is when you have an experianced operator they can reduce the bead size down to about 2mm.
4.5mm is a bit close tho so it may not look gorgeous but it can be done.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby hillzabilly » Fri May 12, 2017 11:44 am

I think 400-450mm would be fine,if ya get ya end plates tigged 4mm inside ya ferrules,then have ya tubes tigged flush( if they protrude any from the end plates, then it will make welding more difficult) with the end plates,a good welder like the one I suggested should be able to seal the deal,brazeing can be problematic with so many tubes and plenty have struggled to get it to seal me included,I made one similar for my brother and had to have at least a half a dozen goes to get it right with brazeing ,I would fix one hole and create two more,flippin frustrating it was ,also I would get two 1/2inch npt weld on fittings tigged onto the main body of the condencer for ya cooling lines befor ya do the internals,anyhoo cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Fri May 12, 2017 12:35 pm

Great advice guys thanks.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Thu May 18, 2017 10:54 pm

ok so all internals are cut and its time to put this puzzle together, I have tried a few times but knew from the outset that it wasn't going to work. What Ill do tomorrow is drill out all holes excluding 1,4,7,10,19 about .3mm oversize to allow the pipe to just slide through while all holes on the opposite plate will be a tight fit.

Im hoping this way it wont be such a challenge to line everything up, wont be doing it until after work or on the weekend so if anyone else has any idea let me know.

latest pics of the finished places and pipe.
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby hillzabilly » Fri May 19, 2017 11:43 am

Having known a welder or two,it made me realize that you can get a TIG welder but it takes years of experience to learn how to go about assembleing such jobs to make it easier to weld with knowing wich things to tack first and then how to spread welding to avoid over heating some parts and causeing distorshion,what settings to use on the welder, size of filler rod etc.Hope it goes well for ya .cheers hillzabilly ;-)
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Re: 3in Boka Questions

Postby Skara » Sat May 20, 2017 1:50 am

oh Hillzabilly mate I know my limits I'm not even going to attempt it :) I can chicken shit weld all over the place like the best of them but I'm not going near this one. I made contact with your fella in the hills just working out the next stage. Pitty I cant pull it all together cause I'm doing a run next weekend. At least I get to try out the pool cooling again.
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