StillSmart

Kiddo wrote:thanks, was a little fuzzy on that

That comes quite soon after the still build normally

So as it turns out... not a legit still design
*sigh* well time to go boiler hunting!

Mashy wrote:

Kiddo wrote:thanks, was a little fuzzy on that

That comes quite soon after the still build normally

I see what you did there

I disagree that aluminium is a safe material for boilers.

There is evidence of a long term link to alzheimers caused by ingestion.

Backset is acidic and will leach aluminium. Unless you can produce perfect neutral that is tasteless and oderless without filtering and make perfect cuts then you would likely be imbibing it.

There is a reason we have approved materials that are considered safe to still with. Aluminium is not one of them.

ant wrote:I disagree that aluminium is a safe material for boilers.

There is evidence of a long term link to alzheimers caused by ingestion.

Backset is acidic and will leach aluminium. Unless you can produce perfect neutral that is tasteless and oderless without filtering and make perfect cuts then you would likely be imbibing it.

There is a reason we have approved materials that are considered safe to still with. Aluminium is not one of them.

Totally agreeing with you here.

Unsure what Mashy meant by "SS not essential!".

We should all stay safe,and preach the practice of doing so with distilling.

Robert.

A big NO on aluminium...for years now we've been warned about the connection with alzheimers.

ant wrote:If you use a pressure cooker use a stainless one not aluminium.

Mashy wrote: SS not essential!

Until quite recently I had an aluminum bodied pressure cooker which was non- stick inside. Prestige brand. I am sure they must appear on charity shops/ebay/carboots etc


Here's some food for thought (get it!) ....
It appears that safe limits and a full understanding (including saucepans) has not yet been fully understood & defined yet and because of that Aluminum sulphate is added to ..........
Some wines !!!
malted drinks (beer?)
Tea,
cocoa
Fizzy drinks
water to improve clarity
cakes and biscuits
children’s sweets
Many processed foods
cosmetics
sunscreens
antiperspirants
aspirin and
antacids
food colouring
vaccines
Milk

... and I am sure that not a conclusive list.

None of that shows that aluminium is safe.

A thin teflon lining that is easily scratched and damaged is not a reliable protection. It's not usually on the inside of the lid.

Commercial practice is no indication of safety. Tabaco is known for certain to kill one in four users but commercial interests mean it is still sold.

That list you quoted is no doubt part of the reason alzheimers and dementia have become so common.

The best you have been able to say is that safe levels are unknown. That is to say we know for a fact that some levels do cause alzhiemers plaques in the brain but we have not done the science to show if all levels will, or if some very low levels are safe. There is no will to do the science A becuase it is difficult and expensive. You need very long term studies over a large and diverse subject group. B it would effect commerce drasticly if proven that long term exposure to common low levels does indeed have the same effect as short term high levels.

Look how long the tabaco industry denied that tabaco was harmful.

Boiling backset would leach relatively high levels of aluminium. Even tomatoes are considered acidic enough to be dangerous in aluminium. They are not in the same league as backset.

The idea that government regulation and commercial practice are reliable indicators of what is safe and desirable is misguided. As a less serious but apt example, look at the hangover inducing spirits that are all the general public get offered.

This government would prefer it if people died quitely and cheaply as close to just past pension age as possible. Try reading Orwell's Animal Farm. It was true when he wrote it and it's true now.

I agree with with you. I never said it was safe or otherwise. I was VERY surprised to find out in how many places it is used.

I think that we may have reached a consensus,and possibly wise understanding,that Aluminium has no place in still design?

Good.

I suspect that as we all know,the only other safe metal,other than SS (for our purposes) and easily obtained is copper.

I hold my hand up to being a challenger of accepted distilling lore,and a great believer of "kicking in the doors".

I do try and base my approach on something approaching common sense though,and hope and trust that anyone thinking of coming over to the "Dark Side" does the same.

Robert.

Yes. I am glad we all agree.

Not sure I ever had much common sense

That's why I had to read so much to find things out.

Sometimes I feel like a high functioning autistic.

Worked out ok but can be slow sometimes.

Worth the effort.

Shame age is making it all harder to remember.

ant wrote:
Shame age is making it all harder to remember.

Is it age or is it the aluminium ?

+1 regarding the Airstill, On my third run now and i'm blown away by the results..
I bought mine off Gumtree for £80.00 secondhand.

S4BB

Looks like a still designed for making alcohol in prison. Desperate measures son ...

There are designs for simple pot stills made from pressure cookers and pots all over the net if that's the way you want to go. Could be a fun exercise and would certainly teach you how a pot still works. Could leave you with a pile of junk that you struggle to learn how to use.
Roll the dice and see.

Spirits4BB wrote:I bought mine off Gumtree for £80.00 secondhand.

S4BB

One of the benefits of terrible manufacturers instructions...
A thriving second hand market.