Greetings

[jaypes]

Jaypes here. Long time AG beer brewer looking for the next challenge.

Have read a bit about the craft and am eager to make a reflux still - similar to a boka. I have a keg boiler, 4-ring burner and a HP reg from my beer brewing kit

I am open to suggestions wether this is the still I should be making as I am pretty handy with DIY projects. (dont have a great deal of coin to splurge)

Anyways, hope not to ask too many stupid questions (was once told there are no stupid questions, just stupid people!)

Cheers!

[Andy]

hey mate. it all comes down to what type of spirit you want to make as to what type of still will suit you best :handgestures-thumbupleft:

so what do you drink?

[jaypes]

Ahh yes, I have made a nice lemoncello in the past from some spirit "from the bloke up the road"

Love a good scotch whiskey

I wouldn't mind trying to make a whiskey and oak ageing it

[Andy]

well since you have your all grain experience, i would suggest looking into a pot still.
you could make an AG whiskey, and age it on oak with a pot still.
a boka will make the neutral spirit to make lemoncello.
you could make a boka where the packed section can be removed. this will allow you to make a neutral spirit when the packed section is in, or a AG spirit with the section removed.

[jaypes]

Cheers mate. I was originally thinking of a boka due to the versatility.

I have seen some of the designs here an can see the collection tube is also cooled by a water jacket. Is this essential? What does it do exactly?

[pulsetech]

It condenses the vapour back to a liquid. Yes its essential. You must have a condenser. It could be air cooled but it would need to be huge.

[Andy]

i would say that it is not needed if you are building a boka. boka is liquid management system. without the condenser it means the alcohol coming out will be warmish.
a condenser like that is needed for a VM reflux- otherwise vapour would just be pouring out.

[jaypes]

It condenses the vapour back to a liquid. Yes its essential. You must have a condenser. It could be air cooled but it would need to be huge.

Hi Mate, I was more meaning the 1/2 inch condenser after the valve in this post viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5771

Is it really necessary?

[Zak Griffin]

Welcome mate!

A PC, or product condenser, isn't a necessity on a Boka but it doesn't hurt... It just means that you won't have to temperature-correct your alcometer readings (as much, anyway)

[Sam.]

Welcome mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Some good info here on different types of stills.

Like the guys have suggested you are going to need two dedicated stills to make excellent vodka and whisky, or a modular design. Depending how handy you are you could build a bubbler but the cost will be a fair bit unless you already have all the tools.

[1 2many]

Hi mate Welcome if you are going to build yourself consider making the still modular, That way you can go from pot still to a bubbler or what ever style you choose with a few tri clamps. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[jaypes]

Awesome!

Cheers fellas, will get cracking on exploring the wealth of info on the site!