Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi, i've been trawling the pot site for 'quite some time'... still cant seem to get my head around it. Seems there is some indecision regarding size, unless thats just me and my lack of comprehension.
My understanding is that col width is not as important as with reflex stills and apparently height is, not so much, a big concern either.
I have a T500 (2kw) boiler with a 3'' stainless riser col welded onto the lid(300mm high) was going to extend it...because i can...
As i have ample 2'' copper, it seems a no brainer, BUT is 3'' better.I intend to reduce back to 2'' at the top of the col when i find out the best diameter and height. I am at the tail end of a VM/LM combo and probably will end up trying non-neutrals in the future as it seems the natural progression with the pot...plus the stripping side of the pot has me right in.
Cheers...Ken

Larger diameter is always going to be better. Just go the largest you can within your budget.
As you decrese the column size vapur speed will increase. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Ta, but when u say increase col size, do u mean HEIGHT as well cos i will go 3'' diam for sure, how tall is good though?
Is vap speed better to be quick in a pot?
sorry, my head is a bit Adelaide, (2 hrs behind)... lol

Rum, as usual, thanks. Budget? shit that went out the window months ago... its just go for it from here...
keg/elements/controller, in the v near future... its all sooo much fun. i used to fish but this saves getting off yer arse.(joke)

Hi Kenster.

My 2 cents worth. I was informed from a long term member (he'll know) that bigger width is generally better. The practical theory is:
You have a single straw, breath through it. Sure, your lung capacity makes it through, but at a slow rate. Now get 5 straws. Breath through it. Your lungs empty at a much quicker rate. Same with your booze.

Your element does play a key role in the math at what point the diameter matters, but its at the top end, not generally hobby size worries.

Height, not a worry. As long as you have copper in the vertical path, and your takeoff ends up at collection height, you build your colum to suit your pc and collection point. So you generally do your own math of collection table height + collection jars height + PC height etc in relation to your column/boiler height(with any extra bits).

Hope that helped.

The old straws theory is about as simple as it can be put ;-) :handgestures-thumbupleft:

i love and appreciate when the die hards chime in...i have a sense of relief that way...thanks guys...
was thinkin of running a wound (double) coil in the outlet (no leibig) saw that somewhere, dumb or should work?

Liebig would be good, shotgun would be much better. And if you make it with easy flanges you can use it on your next, bigger still :handgestures-thumbupleft:

With the pot still you need volume in the still and if have just a pipe that limits the volume to the size of the pipe where if it expands out that has bigger volume for vapor and on web site about big stills that the tall and slim the design the more flavor is reduced but they are very tall compared to a home still.

Kenster wrote:sorry, my head is a bit Adelaide, (2 hrs behind)... lol

I think you mean Perth :-B

And if you have been here for "quite some time" I'm sure you would have heard the term "height = purity and diameter = speed" ;-)

Most members here use a 2" pot.
Not many step up to a 4" pot unless it is on the way to a bubbler.
2" has a fairly good possible throughput and keeps alot of people happy, 3" will be better again.

Height is not a factor as you could run an elbow directly from the top of the boiler straight into your condenser.
Make it as high as you need to suit your setup.

scythe, thanks, you have clarified it for me.
Sam, i'm not big on geography, obviously, must mean Perth...lol.
Incidentally, i did stumble across the little definition you sited, however the height of a pot, as illustrated is NOT as critical as that of reflux models. As i have seen pics of tiny (short) columns and super tall ones, I just wanted some confirmation.
Scythe , thanks again, you have done that. 3'' x 1m tall will be the go...
and thanks to all other input...greatful to all
Cheers...Ken

My 3" pot is about 1m tall, and works fine for me! :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Some go a bit bigger than a 2 inch. :laughing-rolling:
www.aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4610

But not many go this big. :scared-eek:

Hey Doggie(DBV),i did see that 'unit' somewhere... too scary for me. But i suppose what u r sayin is '' BIG IS GOOD"... yeah, i will pike out and just do a 3'' x 1250 high copper col.. the guy today, after asking for 700, cut it at 850... same price... no complaints... just hope my pissy 2kw T500 boiler can send the goods to the right spot (if not enough kw's.. have a 2.5kw (booster) on order... does it EVER STOP??????

Kenster wrote:does it EVER STOP??????

It stops when you choose too.

Was just showing that you can go big if you want.
2 inch is small.
4 inch will give you a much faster run . . . etc

Up to you what you want to run.

Then you go to reflux stills and so on.
The sky is the limit.

Happy stillin' :handgestures-thumbupleft: