genuine question for the plastic police...

[whiskymonster]

disclaimer: i am in no way advocating that anyone uses plastic anywhere in their vapour path. i am not suggesting i or anyone else should do this.

with that out of the way.....

lots of people have said that things like silicon and latex make good seals, and the data sheets say that alcohol wont damage them. i understand entirely that data sheets tend to be written from the wrong point of view.

but why cant we pickle such a rubber seal in feints before use?

surely this would safely remove all plasticisers and general nasties, making the seals safe to use?

in most applications this would be a moot point, as it's so easy to wrap everything in a few layers of ptfe, but monkey curiosity has got me again!

*ducks and covers*

fire!

j

[rad14701]

whiskymonster, that's not a bad question at all and it might help that it be addressed so that others understand the rationale behind the use of questionable synthetics...

Synthetics actually won't benefit from "pickling" like brass does... As any components are removed the synthetic will become porous and start to shrink which may or may not cause deterioration and further leaching to accelerate... And every synthetic will react differently... Combine that with the fact that once out its original packaging there is usually little hope in accurately identifying one seal from another even though they may look identical yet are made from vastly differing materials... This is what makes using synthetics problematic...

Let's say you purchase a known tolerant seal and start using it on your still... Then a buddy stops by and sees your rig and decides to build on of his own, without your knowledge... So he heads off to the hardware store and buys what he thinks is the same seal you are using without knowing that there is a difference... It should be evident that this could potentially prove problematic... Best case scenario is that he accidentally got a compatible seal... Worst case scenario is that he gets the worst seal possible and you end up drinking some of his christening spirits with him which causes permanent and irreparable damage to your internal organs...

But it looked like the same colored seal when he bought it... Is it his fault, your fault, the manufacturers fault, or someone else's...??? We just want to make sure it isn't the fault of the Home Distiller website... Whenever you can avoid synthetics, avoid them... When you think the only solution is a synthetic seal, expend every alternative... And if you do end up using a synthetic seal, I'd suggest keeping the packaging - just in case... It could come in handy during a poison control investigation...

So, should the "plastic police" try to scare people away from using synthetics...??? In my opinion, Yes...

Should people be trusted to make their own decisions that may effect the safety of themselves and those around them...??? Yes, but with reservations...

And should we make every effort to convey the potentially hidden dangers to those who may not otherwise consider them...??? Yes, definitely...

People can, and will, ultimately make their own decisions regarding the use of synthetics... My concern, and I believe that concern is shared by the majority of the membership here, is that it is an informed decision not to be taken lightly...

[Prairiepiss]

Very nice reply Rad.

[whiskymonster]

so it's the (completely justifiable) fear of the unknown evils of the plastics industry?

sounds right enough.
belt and braces never hurts.

and "plastic police" really wasnt meant in a derogatory way at all. just i couldnt find this info anywhere at all, so i figured id use the vehemence of some of the flame wars roun here to my advantage!

and i suppose i hadnt factored in the ingenuity of average joe public to hurt themselves, although all my mates are lazy buggers. none would build their own set, much more likely to crash on my couch, play xbox and drink my hooch!

probably for the best.

thanks for that rad.

j

[LWTCS]

Heard a stat the other day that 1 out of every 6 folks livin in the western culture contracts some form of cancer.......and a huge percentage of everything we purchase is in some way, shape or form in contact with plastic.

Corporate society gonna kill us all in the name of profit.

[blind drunk]

Hey, LW, Woody Guthrie said it best way back when -

You just watch this river, though, pretty soon
Everybody's gonna be changin' their tune;
The big Grand Coulee and the Bonneville dams
Run a thousand factories for Uncle Sam.
And everybody else in the world. Turnin' out
Everything from fertilizers to sewing machines,
And atomic bedrooms and plastic --
Everything's gonna be plastic.

Except our stills

[blanikdog]

Will this ever end?

People may use as much plastic as they wish. However, until this forum is presented with positive proof that it is harmless, nobody will endorse its use allowing claims of negligence and bad advice when they - or others - are poisoned. That's why it is in our rules.

Well said rad.

Stay Safe <sigh>

[whiskymonster]

blanik, i really didnt want to start this one again.
really!

however, it occured to me that there was a very simple answer to a question i couldnt find.
it was pretty much the answer i expected, but i wouldnt be doing myself justice as the curious monkey if i didnt ask.

and with the all pervasive addiction to plastic in our society, i dont think this one will ever end.

i still had to ask.

i can see how much this kinda thing must piss you guys off after the thousandth time, but at the end of the day, google just doesnt do these things justice. i apologise for another kinda idiot and semi repeated question, but i did have a good reason for asking, and a semi reasonable theory to follow. i never suggested it was a good idea, i asked WHY it is a bad one. monkey curiosity has taught me many things, for good and bad.

however, one day the gods of synthetics will invent something that is safe. this can only be a good thing, because when average joe can build a still from plastics for a fiver cash, the govt wont have much of a choice but to legalize and accept what we are up to. (and then find some way to tax it.) think along the lines of the danish tolerance laws concerning weed and prostitution.

here's hoping plastic gets that good!

*raises glass*

cheers!

j

[theholymackerel]

No worries Whiskeymonster.

Actually, I think this was one of the more polite and openminded plastic threads ever.

Drive on. Drive on!

[OlympicMtDoo]

I agree with all said, good discusion and very well put rad!!! I might through out my plastic food containers and start storing my egg salad in a mason gar )

[rad14701]

I agree with all said, good discusion and very well put rad!!! I might through out my plastic food containers and start storing my egg salad in a mason gar )

I sure hope your eggs aren't that toxic... You best be standing downwind of me after you've eaten that egg salad if it's that bad...