StillSmart

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-14T23:56:21+00:00

"Too each, his own", finding your own is is the tricky part.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat May 14, 2016 11:56 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-13T05:42:22+00:00

Nice to have you back Robert

"look at it like it really is "

Good phrase. Sooooo many times you see people setting themselves up with commercial processes or kit which are just not appropriate. Some do bring benefit sure, but are some clearly irrelevant at home volumes. Look at it like it is!

Oh no I am agreeing with you now

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Fri May 13, 2016 5:42 am

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-12T22:52:52+00:00

Nice one Benoit,I have to agree wth you there.

More concerning is that Mash has posted something, containing several points that I agree with
I did once have a minor infection in a wash but stilled it anyway, with little change from the usual.
It's a fickle world, find yourself a comfortable niche, or frighten yourself every now and then by trying to look at it as it really is.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu May 12, 2016 10:52 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-12T02:12:44+00:00

Benoit. You are bang on. Well put. The beer chaps get silly about it and I have never understood it at the volumes we make. I am sure if you add up the cost of all the cleaning products you could easily afford to lose the odd brew. I have NEVER lost a brew or ferment of any kind to infection. (yes I did say that out loud).

There is a big difference between washing, sanitising and sterilising. There is also a BIG difference between sterilising and getting back to the bare metal. The big boys use steam generators and they pump superheated steam through everything.

Cleaning is the same as oxidisation in my book, both have become subject of paranoia and OCD.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Thu May 12, 2016 2:12 am

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-11T22:53:09+00:00

I think mine is from Mrs Gazza "cleanliness
is next to godliness" or something like that,
anyway she's always cleaning

Statistics: Posted by gaza the instructor — Wed May 11, 2016 10:53 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-11T22:25:52+00:00

gaza the instructor wrote:
Re Benoit;
After every session, I am paranoid about
infection. Think it comes from brewing
beer !! Use citric acid to clean my
stills is that a good thing

The fermentation gear I can understand even if I don't bother myself but your still is a horrible environment, biologically speaking. It's hot, it's full of toxic vapour when it gets hot, it's full of fairly high alcohol liquid before it gets hot...it's no fun for a bacteria really & is there stuff in there long enough to get infected? I rinse just to get rid of any tails left loitering before the next run, maybe I'm lacks / lazy but I've never really done much with beer so this cleanliness thing hasn't been bred in to my routine. Early into my research before starting distilling I read about the protective patina & it must have stuck with me, funny how the things that reinforce not doing something you don't like stick out! In my head I read it & thought "yay, less cleaning"!

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Wed May 11, 2016 10:25 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-11T20:41:21+00:00

Re Woodworm;
Have a good handful of old pennies
dated 67 64 etc used coke to clean.
Really shiny let still cool(late night
to following morning early) brown
stains on still base

Statistics: Posted by gaza the instructor — Wed May 11, 2016 8:41 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-11T20:36:19+00:00

Re Benoit;
After every session, I am paranoid about
infection. Think it comes from brewing
beer !! Use citric acid to clean my
stills is that a good thing

Statistics: Posted by gaza the instructor — Wed May 11, 2016 8:36 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-11T18:53:34+00:00

Easydrinker wrote:
I always thought old pennies were copper, must have been an alloy.

Pennies were bronze from the mid 1800s up until decimalisation. Mostly copper, but possibly with enough zinc and tin to cause issues. I think ha'pennies were the same (and I'm amazed my auto-complete recognizes "ha'pennies" )

Statistics: Posted by wormwood — Wed May 11, 2016 6:53 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-11T18:15:46+00:00

How often do the big boys break their stills up & scrub them out, I wonder?

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Wed May 11, 2016 6:15 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-11T17:41:14+00:00

Re Seagull.
Don't know about you but if my dome is
discoloured I would see the doc
On more serious note I have copper dome
etc and copper is a funny metal isn't it.
So say its good for all sorts of things,
but we only want flavour BUt good
flavour so do you clean or not???
If so with what???

Statistics: Posted by gaza the instructor — Wed May 11, 2016 5:41 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-10T23:07:54+00:00

Its probably quite strange of me but the steel I will give a wipe over with a green scourer / hot water after use & the copper I tend to just rinse. I only really clean the outside every now & then will a stainless scrubbie & cillit bang, shines up real nice with a bright rosy copper hue but that's purely eye candy. If my still has puked then I will clean the inside with hot, soapy water & a demijohn brush but I mostly just rinse it out after with hot water, especially if I know the next use will be a similar wash. I did give a good clean out after a peated whisky before making cachaça because I'd convinced myself the phenols might be hiding in the pipes, might be my mind but I think my first few runs had a slight metallic taste / smell to them especially in the heads which has gone now

Statistics: Posted by Benoit — Tue May 10, 2016 11:07 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-10T20:12:41+00:00

Let it naturalise. It is part of the conditioning of the metal.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue May 10, 2016 8:12 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-10T16:38:31+00:00

My copper dome no longer looks lovely and shiny after its first stripping run. I've cleaned it but it still has the discolouration on the inside.

I read elsewhere that the patina build up is a good thing. Do others worry about discoloration internally on the dome?

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Tue May 10, 2016 4:38 pm

Re: Copper Problem

2016-05-10T15:46:59+00:00

Sorry I thought it was your AS - I'm sure the same applies

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue May 10, 2016 3:46 pm