FSD 2" Boka

[Kibo92]

If I were to go with a 2" Boka reflux still, I have some concerns about how much water would be used, in the driest continent I hate wasting water. I do have a pool though so that seems like a good solution to the cooling water problem. The pool is approx 20 mts from where I would set up the still and I was wondering if anybody would know whether an Ozito 350w submersible with a 2m head and 20m run would supply sufficient flow of water?

Thanks to anyone that may have ideas about this.

[indenial]

I run the Ozito 350w from my pool to my pot still with 2" shotgun condensor. It's about 2m elevation and I run it through about 15m of garden hose. It provides more flow than I need for my purposes. I don't have a boka so unsure how your needs my vary.

[howard]

i also run the ozito 15m through a garden hose, to & from the pool.
so a total of 30 m + 2 x shotgun condensers with no problem.
the big green shed is ok with refunds as well, i think they have a 3 year warranty as well.
i bought a spare just in case they ever stop making them.
i have a piece of 40mm conduit over a corner of the pool, then tie the pump handle to the conduit.
this keeps the pump a good distance off the pool bottom.
you don't want the pump to ingest leaves and debris, it's difficult to clean out the hose and condensers if that happens (don't ask me how i know :sad: )

[The Stig]

If I were to go with a 2" Boka reflux still

You wont regret it :handgestures-thumbupleft: ^:)^ :techie-typing:

[Groovie]

Great thread,

New poster here just did my first stripping and spirit runs on the FSD pot/boka combo over the weekend and super happy with it (thx again Andrew for sorting me out), stupidly I only put 4 rolls of copper in the main column before I read a couple more pages to see Carol used 7 rolls so was only getting around 89-90% abv off the still, have rerolled the existing rolls to make use there are no gaps in the middle and will add a few more rolls and re run it again later in the week, question is do a need to do another vinegar and or a feints run with the new copper going in or will an acid bath suffice?

Regards,

Damien

[The Stig]

Hi Damien ,
I’m glad you’re happy with the gear .
Now before you do anything else jump into the welcome centre and drop a quick line , it’s customary :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Now , with the new copper , give it a good citric acid or vinegar clean and a good rinse with fresh water then by the time you’ve run the foreshots and heads she’ll be good to go.
Cheers

[Groovie]

Good stuff,

Welcome message posted :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Copper has already had a bath and flushed with water so will stuff the column with the new rolls ready for another spirit run this Friday.

Cheers,

Damien

[The Stig]

You can also stuff any leftovers in and around the coil just to help it along

[Professor Green]

+1 on stuffing a bit copper mesh up around the coil, it really helps the reflux performance.

[Buj]

Massive shout out to Carol for starting, what I call "The Boka Bible" thread :handgestures-thumbupleft:
I've read this thread many times before, and after, purchasing a FSD 2" Boka & 2" Pot Still from Andrew at 5 Star, back in August.
Thanks for everyone posting questions and replies as well...I was able to navigate my way through the first stripping & spirit runs with ease, and am massively happy with results :-D

Have made some nice Bailey's and Limoncello from the first few spirit runs.
Started out with several basic Weet-Bix washes, and now have 20l of WBAB low wines to spirit run if the sun comes out finally so I can run off solar ^:)^
Have also just put down 4x 25l of CFW wash to try next.

Early pic of initial setting it up. I've since added 1m Copper pipe for the output so I don't need the bucket stand for collecting.

20240927_102527.jpg

[Carol]

Pleased that the "Boka Bible" thread is useful. Lots of people have contributed to it. The great strength of this forum is the willingness of so many people to ask good questions and to answer them. Sharing lessons learned makes it so much easier for the next person on their distilling journey!
Cheers
Carol

[Buj]

:text-thankyoublue:
Exactly, as I was able to navigate my way without having to ask questions...other people asked them for me previously, and were well answered :dance:

[Squidsy]

Hi everyone. I have a question regarding foreshots on the 2" Boka.

I like the idea of running the outlet tap closed for quite a while (30-45mins) once the wash has started to boil, as suggested by Carol, to get plenty of reflux happening before starting to collect spirit.

I'm wondering what effect would this extended reflux time with no offtake have on the fores? Or to put it another way, should I still discard the first 100-200mls as fores from a 25L wash, or does the extended refluxing time reduce (or increase) the amount which should be discarded as fores?

Thanks!

[howard]

Hi everyone. I have a question regarding foreshots on the 2" Boka.

I like the idea of running the outlet tap closed for quite a while (30-45mins) once the wash has started to boil, as suggested by Carol, to get plenty of reflux happening before starting to collect spirit.

I'm wondering what effect would this extended reflux time with no offtake have on the fores? Or to put it another way, should I still discard the first 100-200mls as fores from a 25L wash, or does the extended refluxing time reduce (or increase) the amount which should be discarded as fores?

Thanks!

i think that extended reflux time is a method to create fractional distillation.
so the liquids with the lower boiling point go to the top of the column.
this can be monitored with a temp gauge at the very top of the reflux section, where the temp will drop about 2C when it's fractioned.
it compresses the fores & heads and causes very slight (safe) pressure inside the column.
once the column is fractionalised (is that a word?) the main trick is adjust power/water very very slowly to allow the top compressed stuff (fores & heads) to get pushed out, without collapsing the fractions you have spent time creating.
so my first 250ml is very fores (chucked), then i get about 5 x 250ml jars of heads (for the feints jar), then obviously hearts.

[Squidsy]

i think that extended reflux time is a method to create fractional distillation.
so the liquids with the lower boiling point go to the top of the column.
this can be monitored with a temp gauge at the very top of the reflux section, where the temp will drop about 2C when it's fractioned.
it compresses the fores & heads and causes very slight (safe) pressure inside the column.
once the column is fractionalised (is that a word?) the main trick is adjust power/water very very slowly to allow the top compressed stuff (fores & heads) to get pushed out, without collapsing the fractions you have spent time creating.
so my first 250ml is very fores (chucked), then i get about 5 x 250ml jars of heads (for the feints jar), then obviously hearts.

Really useful information, thanks very much :cool:

[Buj]

Andrew at 5 Star Distilling was kind enough to lend me one of his new Boka Copper Condensers to try out for feedback.

I've had it in play for a few months now and have to say I'm really happy with the temp of the distillate on the output.
I was always concerned about the take off temps especially in the Summer just passed. You could feel the temp when sniffing out cuts.

Previously I ran a 1m x 3/8 Copper tube after the take off valve. Temps on the output of this were around 34-35°c in late April, running off a 3000lt rain water tank with an Ozito 350w submersible pump.

The next run, with the new condenser, saw the output temp drop down to 25°c. Water tank temp was around 22°c at the time.

Other runs in June saw output temps drop to 15-17°c. Will be interesting to see how it goes next Summer.

All in all I'm happy with the results and it's become a permanent fixture to my 2" Boka.

Apologies for the raw pic...I knocked up the plumbing from the only leftovers I had on hand. Cold water into the lower input on the condenser and the output to the RC.

I'll fix you up when I see you next Andrew. Will need a few brass hose connections to make this pretty.

[TheRealMrMessy]

Sounds like a good upgrade - I was concerned about the temps too when running the 2" boka for a few months (gave it to a mate). Might suggest it to him, too!

[The Stig]

Thanks for the input Buj , see you soon.
For those interested , they are here at the introductory price https://5stardistilling.com/product/cop ... a-upgrade/
Cheers

[ANTONY]

Hi all
I just set up my new 2in Boka from 5 star . and i am doing a sacrificial run with the last of my Turbo Yeast wash ,before i go into Weet bix . Its heating up to 79 C and stabilizing and after dumping 150 mm of nasty stuff its drip dribbling BUT the product that is coming out is 35 C which seems hot to me . My water Tank water is 10 C as I live South Tasmania
(In fact Im looking at snow on the mountains right now) Im running water flat out . The shed this morning when I started was 2 C.The whole set up is packed with a whole roll of copper ,again from 5 star.
Question is, is it to HOT ? I saw 5 star has a cooling system on copper outlet but at the moment i am broke and cannot buy it.
Thank you all for a great forum and so much info . Big Thanks to Andrew as well for setting up a good site .
Cheers Antony

[ANTONY]

HELP
To finish off the temp in the still has now risen to 81 C and ive cut to 50 % power on controller Im on my 3 rd liter as we speak .
Thanks again Antony