Cleaning the T500 alembic condenser

[Thunderbird]

Hi guys, I'm just about to get a wash going and hoping to use the copper alembic pot still condenser for the gin run. I seem to remember reading somewhere (it was quite a while ago now so I can't remember where) about cleaning the copper parts of a still. This is going to be necessary I think because I also plan on making whisky. How do you guys clean your copper parts like the condenser and parrot?

Somewhere else there seemed to be a debate on what to use. Some people seem to do a vinegar run (no explanation of how to do it), others use vinegar and salt solution (but there was a reply that that would lead to green spirit) and someone else said to use alcohol (can't remember which type but is was something American). So, I'm a bit confused as to what to do. Can anyone please advise?

[Mash]

All of them are acidic cleaning.

A vinegar run, is using the still hot and the steam and vinegar vapors clean it.

Citric acid would work well to. Make/build a bath for all your bits and soak them. You can also bung one end and fill with a citric acid solution.

[gaza the instructor]

Yes I turn mine upside down in the sink and bung
both holes up, but she hates it !!!

[Thunderbird]

That’s bad Gaza! LOL!!!

So doing an acid clean you don’t get green or blue spirit? Personally, when the copper is clean and shiny I can’t see how the other guy on the other forum said it can taint a run.

[Easydrinker]

Gaza is incorrigible.

Blue/green spirit is something else.
If you use copper somewhere in your still, as I think that you should, chances are you will find some colour someday.
I regularly get green crystals in my whisky feints, I just filter them out.
The big boys accept that it actually turns to black flakes which fall off the copper and that eventually wears out their stills and condensers.
Copper will not taint a run, but improve it.
The acidic ph of what you are running is what produces the colour.

Robert.

[Mash]

Yes I turn mine upside down in the sink and bung
both holes up, but she hates it !!!

Does she have to clean the sink afterwards? Perhaps that the bit she hates?

[gaza the instructor]

You could have something there Mash.