Copper scrubbers

ol' rummie · Post by **ol' rummie** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:32 am

Just finshed my first run with a reflux, brown sugar/mollassas wash. I used copper scrubbers as packing, and found them black when I was done, as well the distillate was a bit cloudy. After taking them out I found out that they stick to a magnet, so they're not pure copper. the juice cleared up after putting it through a carbon filter, and doesn't taste too bad, just wondering if it is alright to drink??

Jetzon · Post by **Jetzon** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:44 am

I personally wouldn't...
Was this your first run threw your rig? Did you clean it out first?
if not you can use what you just made to clean all the flux and grit out..
Get your self some SS or Real copper scrubbers and move on.
Better safe than sorry

ol' rummie · Post by **ol' rummie** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:52 am

yeah i cleaned it out pretty good, and ran a test run of water for a while, I heard something about the wash being too acidic can make this happen??
the cloudyness was more than likley my fault ( getting used to the temps., cooling , nutrients, & not insulating the coloumn). But I don't know where the blackness on the scrubbers came from.

Jetzon · Post by **Jetzon** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:32 am

The blackness is from your scrubbers not being all Copper 100%. There metal with copper coating. I bought my copper scrubbers from Brewhause. You can probably find them where you food shop. Just make sure they say 100% copper or find SS scrubbers. SS=stainless steal...

nutmg1 · Post by **nutmg1** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:36 am

Are you making rum? If so I don't think you need the packing anyway.

Jetzon · Post by **Jetzon** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:43 am

Good point Nut

missed that...

ol' rummie · Post by **ol' rummie** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:48 am

I did make rum this time, going for neutral next time though.
No packing for rum you say, makes sense, you want all of the rum flavor.(new to this reflux thing).

Jetzon · Post by **Jetzon** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:32 am

Scrubbers will strip taste out. Vapors pass threw them allowing to fall back down to vaporize again and again. None for flavors, use for neutrals..

zymos · Post by **zymos** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:56 pm

I sure wouldn't say my pot-distilled spirits that have copper mesh packing are "neutral"...
...but maybe they'd be even less neutral if I ditched the copper...

tracker0945 · Post by **tracker0945** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:05 pm

The relationship between scrubbers, strength and flavour is all reletive.

More scrubbers, more column height = higher %abv and less flavour.
Fewer scrubbers, less column height = lower %abv and more flavour.
No scrubbers, no column = less %abv and lots of flavour.
Choose your own combination.

Cheers.

DocJohn · Post by **DocJohn** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:40 am

Anybody have a good source for 100% copper ones other than Brewhouse? Lowes, Home Depot? et all...

Thanks,

DOC

ol' rummie · Post by **ol' rummie** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:48 am

i sure don't , got mine at home Hardware, all they say on it is Copper Scourer Pads, but they ain't pure, I guess I'll be bringing my magnet shopping next time, or go with raschig rings.

Post by **Tater** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:58 am

tracker0945 wrote:The relationship between scrubbers, strength and flavour is all reletive.

More scrubbers, more column height = higher %abv and less flavour.
Fewer scrubbers, less column height = lower %abv and more flavour.
No scrubbers, no column = less %abv and lots of flavour.
Choose your own combination.

Cheers.

Your flavor has to do with ratio of water to alcohol the flavor is in the water .Thats why pot still have more flavor.And reflux trying for neural have less.Contact with copper takes I think its sulfates outta the vapor improving taste. Long as packing isn't restricting vapor flow wouldn't mater how many or few scrubbers you use.