OK, There are over 830 replies when this is searched and I still haven't found what Im after.
A dash of pepper, some salt, fresh garlic, and some lea and perrins. will that season it properly?
Naw, really. I just got a new bunch of structured packing, and since I screwed up my first batch by not covering with enough vinegar between uses I would like to clean it good before puttin' er to use.
Is a good vinegar soak and boiling water rinse just before use good to remove production oils or is there a better way?
If it was easy everybody would do it.
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thanks fourway, sounds like a plan. gotta do a steam run first anyway, i just soldiered some spacing legs on my coil to keep it more stable. got that coil full of vinegar and baking soda as we speak. what a pain to get a good dose of baking soda in a 3/8 coil.
If it was easy everybody would do it.
Please join the Partnership For an Idiot Free World.
Hillbilly;
If your structured packing is copper mesh, don't worry about cleaning it.
On your first run, take off your forshots and discard, then the heads will start coming over. Taste frequently and run a little of the hearts in with the heads. You are not loseing anything because you will recover it on your next run. Actually any contaminant that may have been on the copper will usually come out with the forshots.
Good luck -- Are you making corn whiskey ?
DBM, I'm makin corn and rye sour mash cooker, no sugar, 2nd round of mashin back. Also got some molasses goin to beat the band. First time I've seen anything go like this. Guess I know how I'm spendin the next couple Saturdays.
And yes, it is copper, new and red and clean. Pure stuff I garantee!
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Ain't molassis great ! ? That S&@& goes chuggin like casey jones runnin' a freight train with a hot date later that night !
Not only does it ferment fast, It gets consumed as a beverage almost as quick. It became so popular with myself and my friends that I only have a little left. I thought that the backset operation on molassis really made for nice flavor. I had to run it all through my rig when I moved for the summer, but I started another go. I just don't know where I can set up the copper kettle.... but I will find a way.
I know it sounds silly, but did you try licking the mesh to see if it NEEDS cleaned ? If it tastes funny, it probably does need it. It might be ok with a steam bath, I dont know what they cover that stuff with, if it gets covered at all.
have not licked it. those pubes might cut my tongue. I think I'll give it a vinegar bath, then a good steaming. gotta do it for the coil anyway. nothing like free insurance.
love the casey jones reference.
thanks for all replies
If it was easy everybody would do it.
Please join the Partnership For an Idiot Free World.
pothead wrote:If you have a dishwasher, Put it in there on the sterilize setting....you should be fine after that.
I know this is a really old thread but that’s a great tip. I’ve been searching (HD Google Search) on how to clean new copper mesh before putting it into the still for a spirit run. I’ve read over a dozen threads now on the subject but most address cleaning previously used mesh. My initial thought was to soak it in some water with citric acid or vinegar but from reading, it sounded like that wasn’t needed. From my reading, a couple boils in water were enough to clean any oils from brand new pure copper mesh before first use and some said, that wasn’t needed since the oils will be cleaned out with the Fores and early heads. Still, I’d want to err on the side of caution and since the run using the new mesh will be a neutral run from previously stripped low wines, I’d like the mesh to be clean as possible going in. Since I have 13 or 14 pounds of the mesh, boiling could be a bit of a pain. My dishwasher has a high temp scrub and sanitize setting and I am going to give that a go followed by the high temp dry. If anybody has any other advice for cleaning new copper mesh, I’d love to hear it.
Nunyo, the dishwasher method hasn't been improved upon, at least not lately.
Seems I remember someone filling the little soap dispenser with vinegar, too.
fizzix wrote:Nunyo, the dishwasher method hasn't been improved upon, at least not lately.
Seems I remember someone filling the little soap dispenser with vinegar, too.
Thanks for the reassurance. That’s funny you mention the vinegar. I was considering doing just that and adding some to the soap trays though it would only be a minimal amount given the amount of water used in the dishwasher but I’m sure it can’t hurt. I had also contemplated adding some citric acid instead of the vinegar but that is likely overkill though it would be more concentrated than the vinegar when mixed with the water in the dishwasher.
I just got through cutting up my 10 pound roll into lengths that will fit my 4” column sections and was surprised by the amount of oil in it. Granted it wasn’t a terribly large amount of oil but it was enough that I could feel the oil on my hands when I was done handling the stuff. As such, the dishwasher will certainly come in handy when it comes to getting rid of the oil before it ever sees the still. Do you think adding some citric acid would be a good idea as opposed to vinegar or am I just wasting the citric acid?
