Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
Moderator: Site Moderator
Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
I am in the process of building my first desent still and am considering using a turkey fryer for my burner and pot. All the turkey fryers I have found have an aluminum pot. Will the aluminum pot be ok to use as my boiler or do I need to use stainless steel or copper? Any help would be appreciated.
Re: Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
go with stainless or copper. do a search on here and you'll find all the reasons why.
Re: Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
Welcome,
I'll forego the 'read, read, read' lecture.(HINT)
Stainless or copper are the two best choices.
Aluminum will corrode very quickly in the high heat and acidic conditions inside a boiler.
Have heard of some that only got 3 or 4 runs before getting pinholes.
A stainless stockpot can be had for pretty cheap at Target or other chain store.
I'll forego the 'read, read, read' lecture.(HINT)
Stainless or copper are the two best choices.
Aluminum will corrode very quickly in the high heat and acidic conditions inside a boiler.
Have heard of some that only got 3 or 4 runs before getting pinholes.
A stainless stockpot can be had for pretty cheap at Target or other chain store.
It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.
Valved Reflux, 3"x54" Bok 'mini', 2 liebig based pots and the 'Blockhead' 60K btu propane heat
Valved Reflux, 3"x54" Bok 'mini', 2 liebig based pots and the 'Blockhead' 60K btu propane heat
Re: Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
Welcome to the forums. Freeman... Read, read, read (couldn't resist)... You can get 20 - 25 liter stainless steel stock pots for $20 - $50 here in the US... Good luck...
-
smokerscully1
- Swill Maker
- Posts: 211
- Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:35 pm
- Location: Northwestern Ontario
Re: Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
I got dozens of 'em here from a catering company I used to own. 3 or 4 sugar washes and you develope pin hole leaks in the bottom. Not Good.
Re: Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
Is it ok to use regular steel in a still? I have a keg pot still, and I have welded a short steel nipple to the top of my mixing bowl. I did this because I could not get my solder to stick to the stainless, so instead I soldered a threaded copper piece to my arm, and then screwed that to the nipple. Also, I want to add a valve to the bottom of my keg to aid with cleaning. Can I weld a steel nipple here and then screw a valve on? Thanks!
-
goinbroke2
- Distiller
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:55 pm
- Location: In the garage, either stilling or working on a dragster
Re: Aluminum boiler. Good or Bad???
Man the older guys are gonna be all over you like white on rice! Like was said before, read,read,read.
No don't use steel or iron or plastic or cardboard or organic multifibre cellulose encapsulated tubing....use copper and Stainless Steel ONLY!
SS pot with SS lid and copper piping/tubing with lead free solder. Unless you were using the correct paste, you won't get silver solder to stick to stainless steel. And if you are trying to solder using lead free plumbing solder, that won't work. That only works on copper. (where you MUST use lead free solder)
If you have a SS keg, then yes you can silver solder or weld a SS fitting onto it. Don't try to solder/weld any other fittings. If you welded a steel/iron threaded fitting to the mixing bowl, take it off and get SS pieces.
Do it once and do it right! If done correctly the first time, then this properly built (and safe) still will last a lifetime. If you experiment or try to do it then find out later...you will be sorry, or will be doing it again.
Again, safety, safety, safety and of course read, read, read!
Welcome aboard
No don't use steel or iron or plastic or cardboard or organic multifibre cellulose encapsulated tubing....use copper and Stainless Steel ONLY!
SS pot with SS lid and copper piping/tubing with lead free solder. Unless you were using the correct paste, you won't get silver solder to stick to stainless steel. And if you are trying to solder using lead free plumbing solder, that won't work. That only works on copper. (where you MUST use lead free solder)
If you have a SS keg, then yes you can silver solder or weld a SS fitting onto it. Don't try to solder/weld any other fittings. If you welded a steel/iron threaded fitting to the mixing bowl, take it off and get SS pieces.
Do it once and do it right! If done correctly the first time, then this properly built (and safe) still will last a lifetime. If you experiment or try to do it then find out later...you will be sorry, or will be doing it again.
Again, safety, safety, safety and of course read, read, read!
Welcome aboard
Numerous 57L kegs, some propane, one 220v electric with stilldragon controller. Keggle for all-Grain, two pot still tops for whisky, a 3" reflux with deflag for vodka. Coming up, a 4" perf plate column. Life is short, make whisky and drag race!