Cheap copper packing idea

[EventfulAnimal]

A single copper scrubber costs $10 at my local home brew place. Looking to save money I made up a bunch of these little copper packing nuggets using a lathe to turn some scrap 1/2 inch pipe into swarf. I then pounded the loose swarf into nuggets inside a 50mm pipe. Nice and dense, but seem to let plenty of air through. Will report back.

[still_stirrin]

I hope you don't puke in that stuff. It'll be a bitch to get out and clean.
ss

[cob]

if you in fact have a brew store that charges $10 for a single copper scrubby

they need to be bulldozed and used for a compost pile.

don't deal with rippoff's for any reason.

[Still Life]

Necessity is the mother of invention.
If you can make copper mcnuggets, go for it.

[EventfulAnimal]

Pulling 96% ABV with these little babies in my column today. Very pleased with the results.


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[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

Pulling 96% ABV with these little babies in my column today. Very pleased with the results.


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Cleaning run, I hope. But good job. Love innovation

.
copper mcnuggets.

... gave me a fine chuckle

I hope you don't puke in that stuff. It'll be a bitch to get out and clean.
ss

Come on sour puss. Make happy thoughts. I don't strip with packing, so it ain't a problem as I see it. But you could easily boil it or put it in a bucket with oxy clean and then rinse.

Or say screw it and clean it with the fore vapors from the next run.

Either way, I think it's great. I had to go get fine copper wire and bunch up for a dick spout before my new shotgun came with a proper take off. Couldn't imagine tying to fill a column with it.

[OtisT]

$10 a scrubby? Holy cow, that's a ripoff. You can get a pound of copper mesh on Amazon for around $14. Just search for "copper mesh" and look at your options. I typically cut a 1 lb role into 8 equal sized pieces to roll up, 7 roles for packing my 2" column with 35" of packing, and the last one for misc. packing needs.

[Stargazer14]

Sure you could pay the $10, or order off eBay,
but to me, just the idea that YOU made the copper mesh adds that much more craft to your final spirit.

[der wo]

You should buy a copper mine.
And start a thread "homemade PTFE tape".

[kiwi Bruce]

Very cool idea...glad it works for you... and do please keep us all posted

[Pikey]

I was going to buy some of them cheap coppers scrubbies off ebay - but I messaged the guy and asked if they were in fact real copper or copper plated - he came back rather sheepinshand said they were "plated" though he didn't mention that in the listing itself.

[rgreen2002]

Ingenious...

I will agree with Otis though... 1. $10 is a COMPLETE ripoff... 2. Amazon sells copper packing cheap. Look up "copper rodent fence" though since the brewing places still try to mark up "copper mesh". I found 30 feet for $12 with a 5-second search. Ebay can do the same search as well..

[EventfulAnimal]

The problem for me was that all the cheap, pure copper mesh seemed to be in the USA. The postage to Australia doubles the cost of the item at least.

I would recommend this as an option for anyone with access to a lathe. These little mcnuggets (or Cu-nuggets) are surprisingly heavy, but they let plenty of vapour through and have tonnes of surface area. They also cling reasonably tightly to the inside of the column, which I would think means they are wicking the condensate back into the packing instead of letting it run down the sides.

I soaked them in citric acid to clean off the oxide crap, then boiling water, then ran some old feints that I have been holding on to. Came out drinkable, so I tried it on a fresh birdwatchers last night, pulled 96% easily.

Plus they're free if you have some 12mm pipe bits lying around.

[Pikey]

........Plus they're free if you have some 12mm pipe bits lying around.

Er - and a lathe !

Great idea - I want some

[rgreen2002]

Maybe a quick video to show how you are turning those nuggets out...?