how safe is aluminum?

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lake
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how safe is aluminum?

Post by lake »

exactly how safe is aluminum when using it for distilling? i have already read a lot of information on this site that says it is safe to use but everyone around me seems to think it is poisonous to use in a still. but it cant be that poisonous i mean it is used in a lot of cooking utensils and aluminum foil and you dot see people dieing from that stuff do you? what should i tell them when they tell me that aluminum is poisonous to use in a still?
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by olddog »

lake wrote:i have already read a lot of information on this site that says it is safe to use
I can't recall ever seeing that. Aluminium should be avoided as the corrosive effect of boiling mash will eat into the surface.
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LWTCS
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by LWTCS »

Problem is,,, it just does not hold up.
Aluminum pot will eventually spring a leak. Thats especially bad over an open flame.

Stainless or copper has an exponentially better service life.... Unless you run your boiler dry over an open flame.
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rubber duck
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by rubber duck »

EHHhh, I don't know that it's poisonous but if you use it in a still it pits out in like 5 or 6 runs. That aluminum is going somewhere, into your spirits maybe? So I guess I would tell them that they could be right.

At the very least it corrodes badly so it's a wast of time to use in a still, you will be replacing it shortly.
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen. John Steinbeck
lake
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by lake »

even a very thick pressure cooker will spring a leak?
toofless one
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by toofless one »

rubber duck wrote:That aluminum is going somewhere, into your spirits maybe?
the idea makes me shudder. lake, just ditch the aluminum. bad news.

ill tell ya, i found a stainless stell pressure cooker at a thrift store for $5.50. look around. eventually you will find what you are looking for.

dont sacrifice safety/life/good hobby experiance in the name of haste. build other parts of your still while looking for a suitable boiler.

be safe and good luck
"Learnin to still is alot like eating a dinosaur...ya gotta do it a bite at a time"
lake
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by lake »

yea i think im going to try to use a stainless steel stockpot that i have lying around but last time i used it it had a lot of leaks that i tried to stop by using oatmeal but it didn't work any other suggestions on how to stop the leaks?
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by rubber duck »

Silver solder works well for small pin hole stuff.
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen. John Steinbeck
toofless one
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Re: how safe is aluminum?

Post by toofless one »

use the search box at the top of the page for "sealing with flour paste". oatmeal is good for eating :lol:

that search box could very well be your new best friend...i know i good acquaitences with it now. saved me embarrassment as well. i know somewhere on here there is a flour paste recipe...hell it may even be FLOUR and WATER. i never used it before. check to be sure.

or better yet, get a keg :ewink:
"Learnin to still is alot like eating a dinosaur...ya gotta do it a bite at a time"
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