It's pretty spiffy, but I'm still waiting on a pot to connect it to. In the mean time, I've ordered some chore boy copper scrubbers to fill the main column with, but I'm not quite sure what the best way to clean it out is. I've left it so that the cap (pair of 90's) can pop off so I can clean out the 2" steam column and the 3/4" condenser column easily enough, but what about the scrubbers?
I'm considering just capping the top and bottom after putting the scrubbers in then swashing around some lemon juice, then distilling a few gallons of water to get out whatever is left behind. obviously I plan to boil the scrubbers *before* i put them in, and maybe I'll boil them with some lemon juice and salt, too, but I'm still not convinced that the alcohol wont leech out something.
All of the pipes were cleaned out with a copper scrubber on a drill and a coathanger/pipe before assembly, so they're shiney-clean.
Has anyone here tried brake cleaner? The stuff eats any/everything and evaporates 100% clean, so I'm curious.