Copper for smartstill

[Easydrinker]

Mother in laws are always valuable!

My Silly still was bouncing the copper pieces around in less than 60 seconds of switching on tonight, to a tune that I know very well

Robert.

[Thunderbird]

Please forgive my ignorance but I am here to learn best practice. Are the coins there purely to stop a boil over and/or to do the thing a copper still would do, i.e. reduce sulphites? If so, does bronze alloy (coins) have the same catalytic effect as would taking a strip of pure copper and cutting it into small flat pieces? Just because we refer to our small coinage as "coppers" it doesn't actually mean they are!

If a handful of pennies will do the job of actual copper it's got to be cheaper but do they actually serve the dual purpose? Bronze alloy and copper are two very different materials.

Also, if using copper in an Airstill, do you use it in combination with the ceramic boil enhancers or instead of?

[Easydrinker]

Hiya, Copper boil pieces or pure copper coins will fulfill two functions.
Help prevent a surge boil by breaking up large bubbles, and help remove sulphites, you will see this in the spirit runs, they tend to come out of the acidic strip runs fairly clean.
If using copper pieces then you do not need ceramic rings.
Obtain a length of 15mm pipe and cut it into short lengths is probably the way to go.

Robert.

[Thunderbird]

I've been reading that a lot of people seem to prefer bits of copper rather then the ceramic boil enhancers that come with the Airstill. Would these do, I'm hoping so as I've just ordered some, lol?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190467581442

Also, do you use copper just in the stripping run, or the spirit run, or both

[Mash]

Always - everytime you turn it on.

[Easydrinker]

I've been reading that a lot of people seem to prefer bits of copper rather then the ceramic boil enhancers that come with the Airstill. Would these do, I'm hoping so as I've just ordered some, lol?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190467581442

Also, do you use copper just in the stripping run, or the spirit run, or both

Smart thinking there! I have a bag of these, and never thought to use them.
They should be ideal, do boil them in water first, probably covered in oil from manufacture.

And, yes, use them every time.

Robert.

[tasleBHC]

Pennies aren't actually copper, they're bronze. I don't know whether or not this makes a difference.

You are correct....the mint quotes...

Traditionally bronze coins were made from an alloy of copper, tin and zinc. Since September 1992, however, 1p and 2p coins have been made from copper-plated steel. The change was made because of the increasing price in world markets of base and non-ferrous metals.

Quote...
Copper coins made before 1992 are 97 per cent copper, which means that each 2p coin contains 6.9 grams of the metal and each penny piece contains 3.45 grams. ... Coins made after 1992 are not as valuable, because the Royal Mint introduced new 1p and 2p pieces made from steel with only a thin copper plate.

You'll read a lot on here about coins used in a boiler, all I did (and others) was to cut a short length of 15mm copper pipe into wedding ring sizes..about 10/15 will work a treat...you can also thread a thin copper wire through the coil in an Airstill, which helps a little.

in this post you mention running copper wire through the airstill... can i use speaker wire for this operation??

[tasleBHC]

Hiya guys. Would this copper be any good in my smartstill boiler?
Also is it clean enough?
Thank you

another thing that works instead of citric is using vinegar and soak the coins in overnight then watch em shine

[Easydrinker]

High quality Copper speaker wire will work,minus the plastic/vinyl.

Robert.

[tasleBHC]

High quality Copper speaker wire will work,minus the plastic/vinyl.

Robert.

thanks Easydrinker thats good news as ive got an abundance of copper wire for speakers, and i also understand not to pack it tightly.. the only thing i ask is what purpose does it serve? does it remove some of the off flavours ? and make my likker taste better? or does it reduce the amount of strip and spirit runs i do through the air still

[Easydrinker]

You can coil copper wire and drop it in the airstill to work as boil pieces (stopping large bubbles from forming, which may blow the lid off).
Some folk have been known to push a little down the SS condenser tube.
In either situation the copper will attract Sulphides and result in a better tasting spirit.

Robert.

[tasleBHC]

You can coil copper wire and drop it in the airstill to work as boil pieces (stopping large bubbles from forming, which may blow the lid off).
Some folk have been known to push a little down the SS condenser tube.
In either situation the copper will attract Sulphides and result in a better tasting spirit.

Robert.

why thanks @easydrinker for answering my question.. ill do that for the next run

[Mash]

Wire in the pipe gains you nothing IMO if you have sufficient in the boiler.

Wire in the boiler will not protect you from surge boil (aka pukes) anywhere near as well as flattened copper, or offcuts or coins.

... Or put another way. Don't bother with the wire.

[Mash]

... Unless of course you form it into tight spiral.

I am thinking along the lines of twin and earth cores wrapped tightly around a biro.

[Easydrinker]

I have previously done the solid T&E,and continue to do with scraps, as from a wiring job this week.
IMHO the chunky quality flexible speaker cable that Hi Fi nuts use would work equally well as anti surge protection if formed into nice short heavy circles.

Robert.