Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Another side to this great hobby, other than making great quality alcohol, is that you can build so much of the equipment you need or want. I started with a T500 for neutral. Quickly realised its limitations so I built a 2 inch pot head with a Liebig condenser. It worked great but decided to build a 2inch shotgun condenser, for no other reason than to build it. That’s now what I use. I cut down the Liebig and used it on a small pot still to make gin which I made from an old stainless pressure cooker. Also built a parrot for stripping runs. All the information I needed was sourced from this great forum.
I’ve now decided to build a 2” double reducer Boka based on the design that LikkerSheWillLoveIt originally planned to build in another thread here a couple of years ago. Don’t really need it, but I love making stuff.
I have made a jig to wind a coil, which worked ok, but I underestimated the amount of tube I needed and ended up running out of tube before I finished :angry-banghead: Now waiting on another roll to be delivered.
Im going to use the existing column of my pot still, adding Tri clamp fittings so it can all be interchangeable.
First part of this build is the deflector for the condensed liquid into the outlet reservoir.
I cut a disc a bit bigger than the 1” reducing tube and curved it in a mortar and pestle.
To those more wiser than me, what would be a good amount to catch in the reducer before overflowing back down the column. Level with the top of the reducer will only collect about 30 ml before overflowing back down the column.
Any advice or criticism of my plan most welcome.

Cheers Steve

Nice to see a build.
Smaller bath less smearing. 50-80ml max i reakon...bout as much as a parrot max. Planning a boka build myself very soon :handgestures-thumbupleft:

bluc wrote:Nice to see a build.
Smaller bath less smearing. 50-80ml max i reakon...bout as much as a parrot max. Planning a boka build myself very soon :handgestures-thumbupleft:

That’s what I was thinking. Might lift the overflow about 3/4” above the reducer. I reckon that’ll give me about 50ml.

Looks good. The one thing I did, which may not be visible in my post, is a dropper tube welded to the inside of the cone, that is cut at a 45 degree angle at the bottom, this will help the condensed liquid fall through the centre of the column while mixing with the rising vapour. I’d hate for it all to be running down the side of the column and no interaction taking place.

LikkerSheWillLoveIt wrote:Looks good. The one thing I did, which may not be visible in my post, is a dropper tube welded to the inside of the cone, that is cut at a 45 degree angle at the bottom, this will help the condensed liquid fall through the centre of the column while mixing with the rising vapour. I’d hate for it all to be running down the side of the column and no interaction taking place.

I presume you mean the tube running into the bottom reducer?
At the moment it’s just sitting square on the lip in side the reducer. Should I grind the lip out so I can push the tube through it and cut to 45deg?

Yep, push it through, the angle or a sawtooth - 4 or more points to spread it out a bit better

Had already cut the 1” tube to length and soldered the top cap and deflector in so was a bit restricted to the angle I could cut the bottom at. I not sure yet but I might de solder and make this piece again. Saw tooth bottom makes sense.

I have no idea why my photos are sideways

Progress so far. The bottom section is part of my pot. I just blanked off the t and continued up. The overall length is about 1500mm with just under 1200mm available to pack.
Just ordered a 3/8 needle valve from 5Star and waiting on 1/4 tube for my coil. Gotta try and source some 3/8 tube for the product outlet and a small product cooling condenser. ( that’s the trouble with living in the sticks, materials not readily available)
Everything above the t is just dry fitted so if anyone has any suggestions I can easily change it.

My coil winding jig and my first attempt at a coil. The inner coil turned out pretty good till I kinked it trying to overlap the outer coil. Then I only got half way back before I ran out of tube. :angry-banghead:
More care needed I think but I reckon it will work.

Changed the design of the overflow tube into the column. Now directs liquid to the centre. I bent the teeth in slightly to help direction.

Soldered and cleaned up. Top section will be cut to accomodate the coil I make. Still have to put outlet on and small cooling condenser when I get the parts.

Good job :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks bluc
I knew absolutely nothing about distilling before i found this site. Totally hooked now.
Love the satisfaction of making something and it works.

My 3/8 needle valve turned up today from 5Star ( thanks Andrew).
Now I have to connect it to the outlet tube. I was going to use stainless compression fittings but having trouble finding some. Anyone have any ideas of who might stock them, or maybe another option?

Should have asked , we have them :laughing-rolling:
https://5stardistilling.com/product/com ... stainless/

The Stig wrote:Should have asked , we have them :laughing-rolling:
https://5stardistilling.com/product/com ... stainless/

Really? I looked on your site and couldn’t find them. :angry-banghead:
Another order coming your way.

:handgestures-thumbupleft:
Sorted

The Stig wrote::handgestures-thumbupleft:
Sorted

Thanks mate

That thing is guna pump out some good hooch