SS Cleaning help please

runingkind · Post by **runingkind** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:02 am

Hi gents
I got a boiler made from ss.Best I can figure it will hold 45gall.I met a old friend that works for for a company that sells ss pipe and fittings.I done some work on his house he built me a still. He is a great welder.It stands about five foot high and 16 inches in diameter.The colum is 3ftx2in. It has a drain on the bottom and legs welded on it.Any way all of it is ss. I'm going to pack the colum with copper mesh.The colum is internal reflux.He also made me a lid with a fitting to fit a worm to it so I can use it as a pot still.I am so proud of it.
Sorry I got off track of my ?.What and how much stuff do I need to clean it?
Also how long should I run It to get it cleanbefore making hootch.When I learn how to post pics on here I will post some

as all ways thanks and happy stilling

pintoshine · Post by **pintoshine** » Tue May 22, 2007 7:37 pm

fill it full of water and run it wide open. Steam is a great cleaner. Since it is stainless it shouldn't have any flux residue to speak of. Besides, you will get familiar with its condensing capabilities. Run it until the water is clear and no smell.

MikeyT · Post by **MikeyT** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:40 am

If the boiler is 16" diam. and 5' tall then I figure just a little over 55 gallons if filled to the brim. But, probably don't want it more than half full when doing a run.

Heating it might be a challenge! Probably should get some fireproof insulation like used for a water heater and wrap it good. Make a good base (like a wheel rim heater shown in other posts here) and set it on something solid, like concrete. Probably will need a good wind screen around the base.

Once my 20 gallon SS pot gets up to temp it only takes the smallest of flames to keep the distillation going. Need to be out of the wind, though. It'll start surging if wind bothers the flame and you don't want that.

That guy is a nice friend to have!!