Tech question re saddles in a T500

[PoorBoyJack]

Hi All,

So I have a technical question with regards to the T500.

Mine has the copper condenser and I just wanted to know why 90% of the saddles are stainless saddles, with only the very top of the column containing copper saddles?

Would it be better to have it all copper?

I am new to distilling, so getting my head around all the tech.

Cheers
J

[Saltbush Bill]

The older ones had ceramic saddles and only copper at the top, even with those it seemed to be enough. Having said that I don't believe you can have too much copper. Doesn't hurt to have a bit of copper in the boiler either.
Maybe they changed from ceramic to stainless for ease of cleaning, The old ceramic ones used to stink after a few runs and needed cleaning, they where a bugger to get the stink out of.

[PoorBoyJack]

Yeah right!

I wonder where I could get all copper from? hmm...

[PoorBoyJack]

Ok... So I can source the copper saddles - and not to expensive. Would it be worth changing all the saddles to copper?? My condenser is copper too!

[Saltbush Bill]

Is this one of the newer all copper T500 reflux stills, both column and condenser made of copper? or just the product condenser ? or for that matter which condenser ? product or reflux?
A photo would be handy.

[PoorBoyJack]

It's the full copper condenser unit - as in this link....

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0475/ ... 1568697670

[Saltbush Bill]

The condenser is the thin tube ..the fat one is the column , they are both copper.
For that reason I see no advantage of adding yet more copper, your just spending money for nothing imo.

[PoorBoyJack]

Ok... Sorry - re my terminology. Still learning all the terms.

So, the last tip that I got "you can never have enough copper" should be ignored in this case?

I get that it goes to removing sulphates etc... So when is enough, enough? How much copper is enough, and why?

[Saltbush Bill]

So, the last tip that I got "you can never have enough copper"

As a rule of thumb. Remember at that stage I hadn't seen the still, we see many here with little or none in them.
If you want to add more , try putting a bit in the boiler.

[PoorBoyJack]

Thanks Bill,

Just some feedback (from someone like myself that is new to the game and spending hours trying to learn - Which I love), saying something like... "If you want to add more , try putting a bit in the boiler" without any reasoning or explaining why that may or may not be a good idea, just leaves me open to have to come back and ask.... Why do you say that? What will that do? And why not in the column?

I really do appreciate the help, but as an educator, it can be frustrating when someone gives you advice, with no explanation whatsoever. It just creates more questions than it answers.

Please - I mean no offence. Just trying to learn.

[Saltbush Bill]

If my answers are short at times its because Ihave a life outside of answering questions.
In short it does a similar job to copper in the vapour path.
Have you noticed that many the large commercial still boilers are copper.?
There are links on the forum to scientific studies that cover these subjects.
You can search for them or maybe someone else will put up a link for you.