Other forms of column packing?

by **minimalist_1** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:23 pm

So am currently building my 2" boka. All is going well. Just thinking ahead to packing the column. I have read a bit and it looks like most people use copper mesh. Where do I find this? And I'm sure other things are being used out there like SS scrubbers etc. One thing I thought might work is ceramic noodles which are used in fish tank filters. Has anyone given these a go? Any other ideas?

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by **Kimbo** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:43 pm

Mate, the S/S scrubbers are cheap and easy to get.
thats what I use.

by **kiwikeg** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:50 pm

Hi minimalist,
I have used as packing at

Rasching rings from HBS ( look alot like ceramic fish filter media to me)
ss scrubbies(good)
copper scrubbies(good)
Red rock gravel(very effective)
stripped copper welding wire rolled into balls (best ive found for high ABV neutrals)
ss washers(okay)
Duplast plastic balls (not recomended)
and also nothing at all(good for when running Boka as a pot still for flavour)

its all about finding what works for you, your still and the wash your running.

main thing is that its non toxic

by **minimalist_1** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:51 pm

Do S/S scrubbers react with the copper tube at all?

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by **Kimbo** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:52 pm

minimalist_1 wrote:Do S/S scrubbers react with the copper tube at all?

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No ;-)

by **minimalist_1** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:54 pm

Kiwikeg, how well did the ceramic rings work?

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by **crow** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:15 pm

Volcanic rock :handgestures-thumbupleft:
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=2308

by **poppa joe** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:11 pm

I use Marbles in my Still. As i can not get scrubbers in because of the design.
It has copper cooling tubes through it..
PJ

by **kiwikeg** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:30 pm

The ceramic rings were good but gravel worked better was a natural product and was a f of a lot cheaper.
Croweater is having good results from volcanic rock too.
make sure you have a bit of copper in the vapour path too.

by **Sam.** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 10:44 pm

Check out amphora society they have copper mesh that is suited to your needs

by **minimalist_1** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:14 am

kiwikeg wrote:make sure you have a bit of copper in the vapour path too.

What do you mean exactly? Do I need to have some small copper washers or something on top of the volcanic stone or whatever I end up using?
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by **bt1** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:30 am

Hello Min,

If your Boka is copper there's no issue here. If SS then yep you will need s fair bit of copper in the vapour path. It takes sulphides and other impurities out of the vapour via a chemical reaction.
Typically a SS still with no copper presnt or in contact with vapour produces (i'm told as I only use copper) a harsher spirit with significant taste issues.

+1 Kiwi said re volcanic rock...good results from crow on this...cheap, plentiful, easy, varying sizes hell why not!

bt1

by **minimalist_1** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:48 am

Mine is all copper so no problem.

Ok so if I'm using volcanic rock or similar what have people used as a barrier to stop if falling into the boiler?

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by **kiwikeg** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:53 am

some people (like me) believe that having copper in the vapour path removes the sulpher taste that you can get with sugar washes, a copper scrubby at the top of your packing is all you need
here is the Euro 60 packing upgrade i used in my first still
http://spiritsunlimited.co.nz/productde ... grade.html
Rasching ring + scrubbies

by **bt1** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:25 am

hello min,

Reckon if you cut up a piece of 2" pipe hammer out flat, cut to col size/shape. Shape it up mounted with a bolt and nut into a drill ( see posts on plate shaping in Plated stills section of fourm it'll be clear as once you see it nice picies too) then flat file or use course wet and dry to get exact sizing, then drill some reasonable holes 4 - 6mm in it like a perf plate and solder into col base would do it.

hope this helps
bt1

by **minimalist_1** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:35 am

Cheers bt, good explanation, don't even need to look at the thread on plate shaping, thanks will definitely need to do this but guess I will need to put a break in my column somewhere to allow for packing removal.

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by **Sam.** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 10:42 am

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1350175361.015716.jpg

by **wrightynut** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:23 am

How much volcanic rock or gravel packing would be appropriate?
I have a 2' pot still about 800 high column.
Thanks.

by **Sam.** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:43 am

wrightynut wrote:How much volcanic rock or gravel packing would be appropriate?
I have a 2' pot still about 800 high column.
Thanks.

What you trying to Mak

by **wrightynut** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:59 pm

What you trying to Mak[/quote]

Hello, I have been making some clean spirit for limoncello and the like and have managed to get at best a 76% clean spirit on the second run using a few s/s scrubbers up in the colum. If i could get a better result from the pot still using other forms of packing or a boka is better for what i am trying to achieve that would be appreciated.
nick