My New Cheap Funnel

Old Goat · Post by **Old Goat** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:31 pm

I found this at the local auto(speed shop) parts store for $7.95. Works for me. It is a racing funnel, has a fine brass wire filter. It is food grade and impervious to acids, etc. Just thought I would share.

Cheers

new_moonshiner · Post by **new_moonshiner** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:55 pm

be nice for a good wash funnel ..not sure that I would want to run any high proof through it though ..nice never the less..

mikeac · Post by **mikeac** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:38 pm

Mine was only a dollar or two more, but it's stainless... Took me forever to find one not plastic. It doesn't even have a home it gets used so much

absinthe · Post by **absinthe** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:18 am

i have 2 stainless ones.. one big and one small and both with filters.. go to a hotel or restaurant supply joint and you can get em from there

Post by **HookLine** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:32 am

absinthe wrote:go to a hotel or restaurant supply joint and you can get em from there

That is where I got my stainless funnel, a catering supply store.

Dutchmancreek · Post by **Dutchmancreek** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:00 am

Try a place that sells canning supplies. They have nice stainless funnels, for 5 or 6 dollars.

Old Goat · Post by **Old Goat** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:51 pm

The plastic funnel I got is used to fuel race cars with alcohol. The screen in it is fine mesh brass. I plan to use it to charge my still and a final filtering. The top part holds a gallon. I doubt that you can get a stainless funnel of that size for under $10. The spout at the bottom is 1" at the smallest end(to fuel race cars) and the black plastic guard at the top is to prevent spillage and splash. I understand the qualities of stainless, but in a funnel, your not going to be cooking in it.
Just out of curiousity, why would you specificly want a stainless funnel?

Cheers

BW Redneck · Post by **BW Redneck** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:15 pm

The same reason most of us won't accept bottling in plastic. It'll still leach stuff out. I've seen a "chemical resistant" proof test jar turn cloudy after 20 uses, each only in contact with the spirit for about a minute.

I've also seen funnels here made from scraps of copper sheet and tubing before. That'd be the best option if ya couldn't find glass, stainless, or copper anywhere.

tracker0945 · Post by **tracker0945** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:35 pm

But - if you are only using it as you originally stated for filtering and transferring wash/mash and not the final full strength drinking alcohol - then all will be OK.
Cheers.

mbasketcase13 · Post by **mbasketcase13** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:55 pm

i got 2 stainless funnels at bed bath and beyond for under $10.00

junkyard dawg · Post by **junkyard dawg** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:57 pm

I've seen a hydrometer test jar turn cloudy instantly... I don't use plastic anywhere in the process anymore.

Old Goat · Post by **Old Goat** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:32 pm

How do you explain the commercial booze sold in plastic?

Cups Up!

CoopsOz · Post by **CoopsOz** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:42 pm

It's at (around here anyway) 37.5%ABV and cool, that is a marked difference than 65% and warm/hot.

Post by **Dnderhead** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:46 pm

They do not care ! they don't drink it and its cheaper

I gotta drive this time of night cant walk

BW Redneck · Post by **BW Redneck** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:11 pm

If ya haven't noticed, the stuff that is packaged in plastic isn't exactly the best you can buy. We're trying to create the best possible product that can be obtained. Plastics have only been used for about, I don't know, 50 years maybe. We don't fully know the impact of plasticizers on human health yet. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pthalate#Health_effects for a little bit of background info. A professional chemist on these boards has found that almost all of the samples he tested in plastic bottles contained this compound: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di%282-eth ... _phthalate I don't think that I want to risk testicular damage because I didn't want to splurge for an expensive funnel.

Glass, copper, and stainless steel have been used for much longer in the distilling industry. We know that they're safe.

Post by **HookLine** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:49 pm

This is what that professional chemist who works in the distilling industry has to say.

As best I can gather from all that I have read:

Small amounts of PTFE anywhere in the process is okay (but some here don't even like that).

Storing room temp, low proof in polycarbonate is okay.

HDPE (and maybe PP) plastic fermenters and funnels for transferring washes are okay.

Everything other plastic is suspect.