StillSmart

Ant,

Welcome at last, I am assuming you are the same Ant from Lancashire that I met in HD.

Since this thread was started I have read many aurguments for and against Aluminium.

You state that "The point is that poisoning of this type is slow and cumulative".

By nature of the topic, you are commenting on the additional amount of Aluminium entering the body using spirits as a carrier, I would suggest that you compare the amount of spirits you consume to the amount of food and drink that has been prepared using Aluminium utensils - I think the resultant figure would be very small indeed.

Add that to the amount of Aluminium that is deliberatly used for the following Health & hygeine Applications:

•Antacids
•Buffered Aspirin
•Vaccines
•Vaginal Douches
•Hemorrhoid Medications
•Anti-Diarrhea Medications
•Astringents
•Nasal Sprays
•Baby Powder
•Dentures
•Lipsticks
•Talcum Powder

And Aluminum that is commonly added to:

•Baking Powder
•Self-Rising Flour
•Table Salt
•Pickling Salt
•Processed Cheese
•Cake Mix

OK I googled that - but it is a simple demonstration that, you can find any answer you want on Google for any argument or against the same aurgument.

Yes a masif accidental overdose of just about anything will probably kill you, but is that a valid reason for me not to use the Aluminium lid on my stainless steel boiler?

Probably not.

If I ever get round to using it in anger and I can "taste" the Aluminium then I will change it the next day and dump the offending spirits.

Yes Brian it is me. Thank you for the welcome. You are right of course and I avoid all sources of aluminium if I can. I never use aluminium pans or utensils. The point of the example was that the aluminium overdose caused an exaggerated Alzheimer type reaction which supports the link that has been proposed by other sources. Many potential sources will not transfer aluminium because they are not acid and do not carry the aluminium into the food chain. Wash is significantly acidic and will carry significant amounts of aluminium as a result. I just think better safe than sorry. A cheap stainless serving tray from a charity shop would make a nice lid for a Burco I think.

"I avoid all sources of aluminium if I can.I never use aluminium pans or utensils"

Do you really mean that? How do you survive without a Rohgan Josh from the Star Of Asia on a Friday night?. Only joking - I take your point.

I've had a think about this, and although I take your point about ingesting aluminium and aluminium sulphate begin slightly soluble in alcohol, as long as its just the boiler you should be alright, it would all be left behind with the slops.

I put all sorts of things in my washes that I wouldn't want to ingest in any quantities (fertilisers, Epsom salts etc.), but at the temperatures we are dealing with they will be left behind.

So I would avoid aluminium in the still head, condenser or collection vessel, but would not be put off using it as a boiler.

CC

If you are right, and no aluminium is carried over from the boiler to the product, then yes it would not matter.

I do not know if it is true or not. I am a beginner to this hobby and have much research left to do.

In the meantime, until I read a definitive report that convinces me that someone has proven there is no carry over, I would rather play safe.

The wash would slowly corrode the boiler in either case.