4" boka build advise

by **BIG D** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:22 pm

Hi fellas I built my 2" boka a few months ago and have several sucsessful runs under my belt with some great advise from Linny along the way :handgestures-thumbupleft: however as much as I like to look at my still I want something faster cause the kids are missing me :text-lol: Anyway thinking 4" and thinking of using 2 perforated plates with j tube down combers for centring rings, column high 1.5 m. I would love some input on my centring rings thought it couldn't hurt the abv either :think: and how much power will it need currently got 1x 2400w FSD element.Thanks in advance :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **MacStill** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:15 pm

Hey mate what boiler size are you planning ?

Reckon you're going to need a tad more than 2400w to run it properly too ;-)

by **BIG D** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:29 pm

Hi Mac I've got a 50l boiler for now but looking at something larger in the future probably aim for 120l but for now 50l :text-lol:

by **MacStill** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:54 pm

I think you'll be wasting your time with a 4" boka on a keg mate, IMHO you'd be better building a 3" VM to go on your keg.... but your still going to need more power ;-)

by **BIG D** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:21 am

Thanks Mac I'll check that out what sort of take off speed would I get from a 3" vm was thinking 4" to use your perf plates as centering rings would 4" be over the top I don't mind fitting another element. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **MacStill** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:28 am

My plates would need cutting back to fit in a 4" column, unless you were going to clamp them in modular style.

A 3" VM running with low wines in the boiler can get you up over 4L/PH of azeo once you get it dialed in, and is a much better choice if using a keg boiler, I wouldnt run a 4" reflux column on anything less than 100L boiler.

A 3" VM is great, you can use the liebig as a condenser on a stripping still.... universal rigs give you options :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **BIG D** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:53 am

3" it will be will centering rings still be needed I was thinking modular in 4" thanks again Mac.

by **MacStill** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:06 am

I've used 3" stills successfully without centering rings, but if added they certainly aren't going to hinder anything ;-)

by **newbiboozer** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:54 am

If ya going 4" modular why not just do a bubbler.

by **BIG D** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:23 pm

I would love a bubbler but wanted to build something to produce great neutral fast its my understanding that a bubbler wouldn't give me azeo with a fast take off please correct me if I'm wrong?

by **tipsy** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:00 pm

BIG D wrote:I would love a bubbler but wanted to build something to produce great neutral fast its my understanding that a bubbler wouldn't give me azeo with a fast take off please correct me if I'm wrong?

I've got a Mac 4 with a packed section that runs at 93-95% fast.

by **Dominator** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:33 pm

tipsy wrote:
BIG D wrote:I would love a bubbler but wanted to build something to produce great neutral fast its my understanding that a bubbler wouldn't give me azeo with a fast take off please correct me if I'm wrong?

I've got a Mac 4 with a packed section that runs at 93-95% fast.

How fast tipsy? I was of the impression 4" bubblers run at 2.5lph. As mac said above, a 3"VM can produce azeo at 4lph.

by **tipsy** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:16 pm

Dominator wrote:
tipsy wrote:How fast tipsy? I was of the impression 4" bubblers run at 2.5lph. As mac said above, a 3"VM can produce azeo at 4lph.

Now that's the thing Dom, I haven't really timed it and I'm really comparing it with my super slow 2" nixon stone. 8-}

2.5lph probably sounds about right which is fast compared to 2.5lt per day I was probably getting :laughing-rolling:

by **Sam.** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:03 pm

My one and only nuetrel run with my 4" FSD I was getting 2.5lph without pushing it, I will see how much more I can get next run :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I used large scoria pieces last time for the packing and could only get 93% (but it was damn clean) I will be using copper mesh next time and I reckon it should perform better :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **BackyardBrewer** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:21 pm

sam_and_liv wrote:My one and only nuetrel run with my 4" FSD I was getting 2.5lph without pushing it, I will see how much more I can get next run :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I used large scoria pieces last time for the packing and could only get 93% (but it was damn clean) I will be using copper mesh next time and I reckon it should perform better :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Same here. My FSD packed section has scoria and also gets me exactly 93%. I'm going to try copper mesh too. Not that the scoria product off my bubbler isn't clean enough. It's as good as the old reflux but just not quite as much product but MUCH quicker.

by **Dominator** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:45 pm

BackyardBrewer wrote:Same here. My FSD packed section has scoria and also gets me exactly 93%. I'm going to try copper mesh too. Not that the scoria product off my bubbler isn't clean enough. It's as good as the old reflux but just not quite as much product but MUCH quicker.

When you say not as much product is that less distillate or less hearts?

by **BIG D** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:31 pm

I was hoping to achieve closer to 4.5 lt per hr . :think:

by **Sam.** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:34 pm

BIG D wrote:I was hoping to achieve closer to 4.5 lt per hr . :think:

So for a 50L boiler your hoping for 4.5L per hour of 95%? The run will be over before you can pull up a chair :laughing-rolling:

by **MacStill** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 1:16 am

3" VM on a keg full of low wines & you'll be pulling quicker than a teen with a playboy mag :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **BIG D** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 7:30 am

I agree I need a bigger boiler 120 ltr will commence asap. :handgestures-thumbupleft: and Mac that is the exact take off I'm looking for :text-lol: :text-thankyoublue: