Building a new colum

Reflux still design and discussion

Building a new colum

Postby davesims » Sat Nov 11, 2017 6:27 pm

Hi all

I have been playing around with different ideas for a new column, some have suggested LM others VM and more say LM\VM combo is a good alternative. I like the idea of LM\VM altho i would not have a clue how to run yet.

I have read heaps on here and other forums saying the distillate coming of a Boka type column could do with condensing to cool down the out put, i can across a design and played around little with it, i just wanted some feed back on if this design would be ok before i go any further

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Re: Building a new colum

Postby davesims » Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:44 am

No comments on if people think it will work?

Good point? Bad? or crap?
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby woodduck » Sun Nov 12, 2017 11:07 am

I haven't commented yet as I don't know much about reflux stills. I did have a boka but don't know anything about the nixon stone or whatever it's called.

I guess my question would be why a hybrid? Why not just one but in saying that I can't see anything glaringly obvious that would make me think your design wouldn't work. Clever use of the pc for the boka out put :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby bluc » Sun Nov 12, 2017 11:26 am

:text-+1: what does nickson stone do the boka doesnt or vice versa? I dont know about reflux stills either :-B
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby woodduck » Sun Nov 12, 2017 11:27 am

I've heard nixons may be a bit faster
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby bayshine » Sun Nov 12, 2017 12:28 pm

I’ve only had a lm for a short time a while back so not to experienced either.
But from what I’ve read for a lm/vm combo is the best for a reflux still :handgestures-thumbupleft:
I think you can bleed your heads off a lot faster with the Vm and then throw it into lm for a cleaner(but slower) nuteral :-B
There’s a good write up in the begginers section on different stills and what they do
Your plan looks good to me :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby scythe » Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:54 pm

So essentially its just a packed column and you can switch between fast or slow output (VM fast and LM slow).

Not a bad idea really.
Wonder how fast the VM side of it could go while maintaining over 80%ABV?
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby davesims » Sun Nov 12, 2017 4:46 pm

scythe wrote:So essentially its just a packed column and you can switch between fast or slow output (VM fast and LM slow).

Not a bad idea really.
Wonder how fast the VM side of it could go while maintaining over 80%ABV?

Hey man, you got it in one, it is a LM'VM combo, i have read up on people using the LM side for fores and heads then the VM side for hearts
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby davesims » Sun Nov 12, 2017 4:47 pm

davesims wrote:
scythe wrote:So essentially its just a packed column and you can switch between fast or slow output (VM fast and LM slow).

Not a bad idea really.
Wonder how fast the VM side of it could go while maintaining over 80%ABV?

Hey man, you got it in one, it is a LM'VM combo, effective a boka or version of as well as VM i have read up on people using the LM side for fores and heads then the VM side for hearts
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby davesims » Sun Nov 12, 2017 5:05 pm

davesims wrote:
davesims wrote:
scythe wrote:So essentially its just a packed column and you can switch between fast or slow output (VM fast and LM slow).

Not a bad idea really.
Wonder how fast the VM side of it could go while maintaining over 80%ABV?


Hey man, you got it in one, it is a LM'VM combo, effective a boka or version of as well as VM i have read up on people using the LM side for fores and heads then the VM side for hearts
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby scythe » Sun Nov 12, 2017 5:48 pm

Wouldnt you want to do it the other way around tho.
Bleed the fores and heads off slow to make sure the column stacks properly and you get them all then open it up a bit and get the good stuff.
I suppose it gives you an option for stripping a wash as well.
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby davesims » Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:46 am

scythe wrote:Wouldnt you want to do it the other way around tho.
Bleed the fores and heads off slow to make sure the column stacks properly and you get them all then open it up a bit and get the good stuff.
I suppose it gives you an option for stripping a wash as well.

I have read that VM is really good for collecting hearts, with the LM collecting fores and heads you can slow it down as much as you like with a boka cant you?
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby Sam. » Tue Nov 14, 2017 7:19 am

Bleed heads with the LM nice and slow.

Collect hearts with VM and it should stop producing near the end of hearts on its own.

Rip tails off with LM if desired.

There not a bad still but I would go 3 inch minimum for speed. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby davesims » Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:11 pm

Sam. wrote:Bleed heads with the LM nice and slow.

Collect hearts with VM and it should stop producing near the end of hearts on its own.

Rip tails off with LM if desired.

There not a bad still but I would go 3 inch minimum for speed. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks Sam

Do you see any issue with this design that mighyt need changing?

The main column will be 3", tee'd off to 2" for the VM, then onto 2" to 1" reducer, then in to the liebig i was thinking 1/2" with a 1/4" core
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby Sam. » Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:52 pm

I reckon it will work as long as your condenser can knock everything down :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby icewind » Thu Nov 30, 2017 7:41 pm

when changing over to vm mode, won't there be a build up of distillate at the lm collection point and on the other side?
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Re: Building a new colum

Postby P3T3rPan » Thu Nov 30, 2017 7:46 pm

Sam. wrote:I reckon it will work as long as your condenser can knock everything down :handgestures-thumbupleft:

This
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