Boil enhancers

[billmcc]

Hi All, I have replaced the ceramic boil enhancers of the smart/air still with 50 half folded 1/4 inch copper washers and imho the spirit tastes cleaner the copper discolours after a few distillations so they must be collecting something and require cleaning so a quick soak in citric acid does the job then back in the little still

Cheers

[Capt-Cudellez]

I use the copper saddles from my defunct T500 in the boiler - works well.

[mozr]

Thanks Bill.

I will try that as soon as possible.

[mozr]

You got me thinking Bill.

Could the copper be converting sulphates into less smelly compounds in the wash in the same way that column packing does?

Or can this exchange only happen with vapour?

I need to try it.

[Capt-Cudellez]

I'm sure it will help - I forget every now and again to add my off cuts of copper to my stainless stripping head when running rum.

About a third of the way through the run you get a very sulfur like smell coming from the condenser.
Having smelled the spirit collected from the condenser, then smelled a sample collected from the copper parrot - I think even that short contact improves it somewhat.

When I find myself in this situation, I add copper bits to the DJ, and within a few days they are really black and there are black flakes of "something" floating in the spirit, and the spirit smells fine again. As this is the strip and it's all going back in the boiler, then the bits are of no concern to me.

BTW, when I forget to add the copper to a really clear wash for neutral - I often don't get any sulfur smells - some eastern Europeans say they prefer all stainless rigs, as the active copper taints their vodka - so who knows?

[eattheliving]

please excuse my ignorance on this one.

are we talking normal copper washers which you buy from B&Q etc?

[Capt-Cudellez]

Any pieces of copper will do the trick.

[eattheliving]

thanks mate. will give it a go

[Capt-Cudellez]

If you are going to use washers, I'd put a 90 degree bend in them so they don't lie flat.

[Almanac]

Easiest/cheapest boil enhancers - small piece of 15mm copper pipe and a pipe cutter, cut 5mm pieces semi flatten and your mother suddenly has a brother called Robert!

Every time I finish making anything involving copper the offcuts get chopped and go in the bucket. A handful goes in the still for every run.

AM

[Magnu420]

sorry to bring an old thread up

would these be ok to use in airstill,just bend it open more

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M3-COPPER-SPRING-WASHERS-QTY-50-/120756734409?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ&hash=item1c1da989c9

[chill]

I don't see why not, I use old pennies (from when they were still solid copper).

Chuck

[Magnu420]

thanks chill

il have to have a look in me dads celler,im sure i got him some onetime
for summat