Charles 803

[Glovefoot]

Hi all,

I am looking to build my first reflux still and it was my intention to build a Boka design sourced from the net(standard), however I have been advised from a chap that lives local to me that it would be better if I built a Charles 803 design.
Not entirely sure about it, I started to do a little research but in doing so, I have discovered that this particular design was intended more so for the production of biofuel.
My intention is to produce an extremely high quality vodka and have no desire to mix any after market flavouring to turn it into something it's not.
If anyone here could please voice their opinion ie. pros vs cons etc. it would be most appreciated.

Glove

[bt1]

Howdy,

803 would not be my first choice for a design...it's 30 plus years old and slow as death warmed up.

It also has a couple of design ideas I won't consider reasonable these days, the valve arrangement and no take off control.

A straight 3" or even better 4" boka would eat it in terms of output volume and also quality. Some of the new highly developed structured packing that's just coming on the market would further boost performance for flavours (or lack there of) and output rate.

Do make a point of looking into this new packing...it's reportedly that far in front of existing packing it's almost laughable. Some enterprising blokes have done it in copper and it's not sheet form but pourable.

A 2" boka I won't suggest..been there...its slow to the point of frustration and eventual disappointment.

bt1

[Smbjk]

I have a 2" boka. Maybe slow but still great to learn on. Wouldn't say a disappointment :-p

[haze]

ive started on a 3" boka. its been great. Although i have nothing to compare it to yet. It makes a pretty much tasteless neutral if you do a stripping run first. I use the TPW recipie and i add baking soda after stripping run. Works for me, but if you want vodka that would be a different recipie i imagine and you would want some flavour through.