Hello From England

[8ug5y]

Hello From England, I am in the process of building my first pot still, It is not complete yet, as i need to add a temperature gauge and refine the cooling system a little, but it's up to stage where i can do a water run and give it a could clean out, after doing this the first time, I was left with a yellowy coloured liquid in my mash pot and pretty much the same in the distilled collection pot , Which i pretty much expected. After the second water run, the water was clean in the mash pot, and even though the water in the collection pot was crystal clear, it still had a metallic smell, and didn't taste to good !
I've used lead free solder for my copper joining, but also used brass fittings to the pan lid, and a brass compression fitting to the condenser.
I have recently read that brass fittings contain a small amount of lead.
Is this a major problem?
Is the bad taste just down to the newness, and the copper, that adds the taste to the finished product?
I've added some photo's, any open criticism is welcome, this is all new to me but i want to get it right, many thanks

[Samohon]

and Hello from Scotland... Us Brits are getting to be quite popular here...

Welcome to HD...

Yes, there is a little surface lead in brass fittings, it makes the metal easier to work with...
I use 50/50 White Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide for 10 minutes, get the Peroxide at the chemist (£1)...

No need for a thermometer IMO, but some members do have them.
Theres a great Pot Still tutorial in the Reading Lounge...

Your brass will turn the colour of dull gold, give it a good rinse in water and your good to go...
Do not steep for longer than 10 mins or the contaminated mixture will adhere back to the metal...

The yellowy water from the still is spent flux, ect;
All new stills need to have a cleaning run, usually a 50/50 water vinegar run and a sacrificial sugar wash run, that will get rid of any flux, nasties inside your still.
It starts to taste better too..

Hope it helps...

Enjoy you stay here at HD and I like the rig... Very nice...

What size of boiler have you got?

[Prairiepiss]

Welcome aboard from the other side of the pond.

Looks like Sam's got ya covered on the cleaning.

Good luck be safe take your time.

[fullhouse]

Welcome to HD !

[Washashore]

Hello from NEW England!

[Odin]

Hello from Holland!

[OlympicMtDoo]

Welcome to HD 8ug5y, nice looking rig

[heartcut]

Welcome. Like the rig.

[8ug5y]

Hi Samo, thanks for the welcome, and the cleaning advice, will give that ago
When you say steep, does that mean just to put it on and let it work for 10mins?

The boiler is only small scale, it's a 7ltr stainless steal pressure cooker which i picked up at a carboot sale, i mistakenly bought an aluminium one first off, and then realised this was no good for distilling, but put it to good use as my condensor
Thanks again for the advice
By the way not sure if i'm using the posting properly, all seems abit hit and miss at the moment

[Stingrayjay]

Great idea to use the aluminium pot , looks tidy too mate , what part of england you from , ? Anywhere near cambridgeshire ?

[8ug5y]

From Derbyshire, me owd

[Stingrayjay]

From Derbyshire, me owd

Ha ha , and i was working in burton upon trent today , small world eh ?