Starsan and Copper

[Antler24]

So I dabbed some straight starsan on a paper towel and wiped down a piece of scrap copper and it almost instantly turned nice and shiny. Is it safe to wipe down our stills with this to remove the patina? What about mixing as directed and soaking the still head and condenser in it?
I'm all for the patina look but will be modifying my setup soon and would rather see it all look shiny than a mixture of shiny/patina.

[freefall]

katsup works and is cheaper.

[contrahead]

I would say hell yes, it should be entirely safe to polish your still with Star San. I’ve never used the product but it appears to be a food grade commercial sanitizing agent made especially for your purpose. Rinse everything afterwards, regardless of advertising claims.

The active ingredient in Star San is phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is used as a food additive, rust inhibitor, sanitizing agent and for other things. You drink this inorganic mineral acid in Coke or Pepsi and other soft drinks. Yes, colas are sometimes used as metal polish.

Acidic acid (comprising 5-20% of vinegar), oxalic acid, muriatic or hydrochloric acid and several others will clean tarnish from metal. Even ammonia, which is a base at the opposite side of the pH scale – will clean away tarnish. The century old metal polish known as Brasso contains ammonium hydroxide. Even electrolysis and DC current can be used to clean copper corrosion.

So the foam from Star San, tomato puree from catsup or paste mixture from a bottle of other metal polish, will hold the active ingredient next to the metal surface longer. Liquid acid or alkali applied by rag or sponge would quickly run off and be less effective.

[Antler24]

I would say hell yes, it should be entirely safe to polish your still with Star San. I’ve never used the product but it appears to be a food grade commercial sanitizing agent made especially for your purpose. Rinse everything afterwards, regardless of advertising claims.

The active ingredient in Star San is phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is used as a food additive, rust inhibitor, sanitizing agent and for other things. You drink this inorganic mineral acid in Coke or Pepsi and other soft drinks. Yes, colas are sometimes used as metal polish.

Acidic acid (comprising 5-20% of vinegar), oxalic acid, muriatic or hydrochloric acid and several others will clean tarnish from metal. Even ammonia, which is a base at the opposite side of the pH scale – will clean away tarnish. The century old metal polish known as Brasso contains ammonium hydroxide. Even electrolysis and DC current can be used to clean copper corrosion.

So the foam from Star San, tomato puree from catsup or paste mixture from a bottle of other metal polish, will hold the active ingredient next to the metal surface longer. Liquid acid or alkali applied by rag or sponge would quickly run off and be less effective.

Thanks for that, great help! I will add that I'm not worried about it lasting. I'm adding a thump keg and the new shiny copper will likely stand out from my well patina'd head and condenser. I just want it all to match lol

[Hound Dog]

Antler, I don't know how much Star San costs, I am sure it is safe but have you ever wet a rag with vinegar and dumped salt on it then rubbed your copper still? Vinegar and salt paste work wonders on copper.