Brass treatment?

[DIYhooch]

Hi all,

I was just wondering how brass should be treated to remove the surface lead that may be present.

On the parent website on the offset head pictures page: http://homedistiller.org/photos-ns.htm under the topic of "Matt's Offset-Head Still" there is a section referring to brass treatment but the link: http://www.brewinfo.com/mybrewery97/mybrewery3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow no longer has the information on it.

I was just wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to how to treat brass properly prior to using it in the still, I am not using much, just a couple of threaded couplers to allow removal/cleaning of the head. Unfortunately here in Australia it seems that no one sells threaded copper couplers.

Thanks for the help.

[CoopsOz]

Hi DIY, the subject has been covered at length, here is one of the threads....enjoy and welcome.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... +treatment

[DIYhooch]

Hi,

Thanks for that. I did do a search, obviously not good enough though......................

Cheers

[CoopsOz]

No probs, the search function is a little difficult. It helps when you know what you are looking for. I spend far to much time in this forum so I kinda knew where to look.

[Bob E]

this is out of a beer brewing magazine I read "Brew Your Own":

De-leading Brass
The surface lead on brass is easily removed by soaking the parts in a solution of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. You can get these at the grocery store or drug store. You can use white distilled vinegar or cider vinegar; just check the label to be sure it is 5% acid by volume. The hydrogen peroxide should be 3% by volume. To make the solution, mix them at a 2-to-1 volume ratio of vinegar to peroxide. Simply immerse the parts in the solution and watch for the color of the parts to change. The process takes just a couple minutes to clean and brighten the surface. The color of the brass will change to buttery yellow-gold when the lead is removed. The vinegar-peroxide solution should remain clear and colorless. If the solution starts to turn blue or green and/or the brass turns dark, it means that the parts have been soaking too long, the copper is dissolving and subsurface lead is being exposed. Make up a fresh solution and soak the parts again. This treatment only needs to be done once before the first use of the parts.

[HookLine]

I'd also recommend you soak your fitting in plain vinegar overnight and then use a wire brush on it to clean of any crud, then rinse with water, before doing the de-leading treatment.

[DIYhooch]

I will be using this helpful info on the weekend.

Thanks guys!

[Pita]

I have what was called a copper union. the nut is what looks to be brass. When I put the brass nut in the solution, it starts to turn blue immediately. So I am confused. Since if it turns blue that means the copper is desolving..and the lead is exposed. So then do I just keep soaking it (in new batches of solution) until I don't get the blue anymore?

[Hawke]

Are the two mating surfaces of your union copper? If so, you don't need to treat the nut (Which may be bronze and not brass)

[Pita]

Are the two mating surfaces of your union copper? If so, you don't need to treat the nut (Which may be bronze and not brass)

Yea, they are. I thought they were all like that, I guess not. I was kinda wondering why you guys were making such a stink about it

Ive got all the parts for my pot still now, with exception to dealing with the water in/out attachments on the liebig. Pics tomorrow probably.

Pita