Copper for smartstill

[Corps012588]

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

[gaza the instructor]

Oh yeh pennies they will be copper,definately.
If you want to clean them up, soak them in
citric acid or coka cola over night.

[Corps012588]

They are definitely copper. All found metal detecting.
They've been through the tumbler for about 3hrs.
Are they meant to be shiny before going into the still?
Just not sure how shiny a 1863 penny can get lol

[Mash]

Overnight soak in a some water and Citic acid will do the trick. Rub down with brush or cloth when you dry then off. No need to panic about they ate going to be boiled

[Mash]

Given the size of them you perhaps don't need all of them.

[Corps012588]

Citric acid is another thing I don't have I'm afraid mash. Does that mean they need to be shiny?
I stuck them in the oven after they had been through the tumbler too.
Was thinking about trying them in my rum spirit run tonight.
Should I still put the ceramic beads in and conditioner?

[Mash]

Run em. They will be fine.
I would omit the ceramics and the conditioner. I never use either.

If you listen to you still at about 70 minutes in, it will start to chatter as it nears boiling point.

[Corps012588]

That's interesting to hear mash. Do you use conditioner in the stripping runs?

[Mash]

Never. Nope. Not in anything. Never have. No butter/oil substitutes either. Nothing.

[gaza the instructor]

Coke soak 'em in coke that makes them
shine.God knows what it does to your guts

[Mash]

Coke soak 'em in coke that makes them
shine.God knows what it does to your guts

Also used by concierge's the world over to cover the smell of vomit - must be good !!

[Easydrinker]

"Shine" is not the word here, it is "clean".
Much lighter colour than the coins in the picture.

Without citric acid, brown, HP type sauce works pretty well.

I have also never used, nor regretted not using, any conditioner of any sort.

Robert.

[Thunderbird]

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

[Icefever]

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.

[inspector gadget]

I cleaned mine with lemon juice until my citric turned up...

Mine start clanking after about 10 minutes, I think my airstill is around 500w so maybe it heats up faster than some.

a gratuitous picture of a coin that came from my mother in law, i must check if it is valuable