StillSmart

Reading around I find a lot of people talking about the benefits of copper in the vapor path. I'm not coordinated enough to thread a copper wire through the condenser tube or some of the other tricks I've read about, but I have found an easy and effective way of my own that I thought I'd share.

So, here's our vent hole.


And here's my stainless steel funnel with screen. (5 3/4 inch - bought online frome a distillery products site - I see it cheaper on Amazon.com now)



And here's the filter removed from the funnel. It has a springy clip that holds it firmly in the funnel. It will also hold firmly to the vent hole when inserted in the air still head.


If you spear those springy legs through a copper scouring pad...






You have a nice mass of copper for your steam to filter through before condensing. It seems to even out your drip rate, too. Fewer surges.



Any ideas on how to improve it even more? Or ideas of their own? I love learning new stuff.

Many "Copper Scrubbers" available today are actually Copper Plated and shouldn't be used.

Otherwise, that's a pretty good solution for using on stripping runs

AM

Ja, shoor. You betcha.



I don't understand why you'd not want to use it for spirit runs as well. Please enhance my knowledge base, Master Distiller.

Copper is useful for removing Sulphides from the vapour on a stripping run. The low wines from the strip don't contain any Sulphides and many will tell you that Copper will ruin the taste of Vodka/Neutral.

AM

So putting copper in the ferm bin is no good (for a neutral)?

Good to know! That little tidbit went right into my notebook thanks!

By ruin the flavor, what do you mean? What off flavor/smell will copper impart?

Voddy wrote:So putting copper in the ferm bin is no good (for a neutral)?

Oh! I wouldn't put copper in any wash, the acid in there will convert the Copper to Copper Sulphate CUSO4 and your wash will turn blue

AM

Cherry Yidaki wrote:...
By ruin the flavor, what do you mean? What off flavor/smell will copper impart?

I understand it can impart a metallic/tart taste/mouthfeel which can be quite pronounced depending on the original wash makeup!

AM

I have to agree with Aidan here,DON'T put copper in your brew;I've yet to discover a distiller that does commercially.Tries to think of blue coloured spirits....
Whatever the metal used in your still,lots of copper,eg,boil pieces in the boiler are good in the strip.
I also use them on spirit runs despite having a copper head on the still and a big copper condenser.
I don't feel the need to put the vapour through copper scrubbers.

@ Cherry Yidaki, With an airstill,Yes do introduce copper,it will help.
The simplest way is a few pieces of copper pipe,cut,bashed and hammered out of shape,cleaned with lemon juice or citric acid dropped into the boiler.
Absolutely nothing wrong with your innovative funnel method that I can see.
Happy Stilling.
Robert.

Ha! On the last episode of Moonshiners on Discovery Channel, two newbie shiners (after many problems and setbacks) finally got a run started. They were congratulating themselves - until they noticed it was Windex blue in the bucket. They were stumped, but I bet you just told me/us why. Cool.

After my hog rings inquiry was answered I got some heavy gauge copper wire, cut and bent it into rings and have been using it as settles - though there were no boil overs on the runs where I forgot to use them.

They got really corroded-looking on this last spirit run and I've cleaned them up with vinegar, ready for the next run. You answered my question as to whether I should use them on spirit runs in future. Thanks! I'll probably only use the steam scrubber for stripping, though.

I came across a couple old, glass, 1-gallon cider jugs in the garage attic yesterday. I'm so anxious to try my scrubber on something boozy I mixed up a couple 1-gal washes using old cereal (Corn Chex and Rice Chex)from the pantry. Spent all afternoon getting things going and just pitched my champagne yeast (I have a bunch left over from winemaking a couple years ago). I hope I see bubbles in a couple hours.

Another thing I learned was how to use my air still to heat my water. Put a gallon of tap water (from a batch I had drawn off and put in a bucket to air a couple days ago). It was 71F when it went in. 20 minutes later it was 114.6F, which warmed up the cooler water I'd run into the jugs so I could dissolve the sugar and add my cereal. My work area (and resources) are kind of cramped, so I was glad to find a way to make what I've already got work even better for me.

There is no practical reason to use packing (copper or otherwise) in a stripping run. Even on a sprit run I only use packing when aiming for a high ABV such as required for vodka or gin. I do not want reflux running rum.

Oh, you contrarian, you.