using rubber

[Vin@r]

Hi all,

My question is,... is rubber for food industrial safe for use in destilation of spirits proses?

[dougyethanol]

vin@r welcome to hd.
perhaps you can give hd an introduction(welcome centre) where your at eg. have built, in the process of, id like to make rum...
where do you want to use this rubber.

[Odin]

Might not be good to use rubber in a hot, alcohol rich environment. When I started, I have used a small rubber ring to seal of a screw (?)I used to connect a copper pipe to my product condenser. After distilling two times, this rubber was hard as stone. Turned out I could do without (I now only have copper contact). The question that arose in my mind was: "what changed the rubber and - what changed - how did it affect my drink? Something leaked out of the rubber ring (softeners?) and got in my booz. Only conclusion and I did not like it.

Odin.

[Bushman]

Here is a good thread on using synthetics and probably worth your time!
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... r#p6906981

[rad14701]

Hi all,

My question is,... is rubber for food industrial safe for use in destilation of spirits proses?

That description is relatively vague, which is why we frown upon synthetics... Only a synthetic, like Teflon, that can be proven safe via MSDS and practical applicacation can be deemed safe... That means that any other synthetic that cannot be proven safe, isn't from an open forum standpoint...

The case of silicone comes up regularly... There are many different types of silicone and not all of them are safe in harsh enviroments... And the biggest problem is that you can't tell by looking at two products, side by side, if either of them is safe... Therefore, as a collective membership, we have a stance of no synthetic is safe because we don't want a new member or a visitor to come here and think they can use whatever synthetics they want... What you do in the privacy of your own domain is up to you but what the world can see and read is subject to scrutiny... I, for one, wouldn't want to discover that I had poisoned myself, family, or friends by using the wrong synthetics...

Some people use the phrase "plastic police" and that phrase shouldn't be considered a bad thing if it means that people are thinking more about health and wellbeing than an individual might otherwise think by themselves...

[The Baker]

I put rubber bungs in my 2-litre flagons and after a while the spirit took on a stink of rubber.
Silicone bungs are good but they are about ten dollars each (!).
I have used cork bungs, they are really good. If you can't buy them in the stores you can sometimes find them in
second-hand shops ('op shops') in cheap jars, and spend a little time with a wood file to get the size you want.

[Vin@r]

ok...thanks for the answers.I know that using rubber is not adviced but..as I mentioned those rubber rings are for use in food industry ... and after ...more than 10 runs nothing is changed on gasket... same flexibility... no damage.

and this is what about i am talking... but to be honest... I dont kno what type of rubber is.

http://www.hygienic-processing.com/nav/ ... s2v0050935" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Vin@r]

this is exactly what i use

http://www.dwt-munk.de/produkte/dichtun ... ungen.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Coaster]

@ Vin@r,

I see from the referenced link you posted in your above posting that one of the choices of O-Ring material is EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber). For what it is worth the Amphora PDA-1 Still uses EPDM column seals.

Regards,
Coaster

[rad14701]

I'd still need to see MSDS for a specific part number to be sure the product was truly rated as safe with high temperature high proof alcohol vapor and liquid... It doesn't really matter whether or not someone uses a component or not, what matters is whether or not it is rated as acceptable via MSDS... And there may be a difference of opinions ralting to "potable" versus "non-potable" use of the alcohol coming into contact...

We've had members who have called a manufacturer and asked whoever was on the other end of the line whether a product was safe with alcohol or not and the response was "yes"... But was that truly an educated response based on temperature, %ABV, alcohol type, and whether in liquid or vapor form...??? Or was it just some dumb schmuck on the other end trying to prmote product...???

I just saw a segment on the news today about a Vietnam veteran who was exposed to agent orange for 10 years and now has a grandchild with 12 fingers, 12 toes, and suffers from a mental condition that may or may not be autism... Personally, if I was of procreation age, I wouldn't want to potentially be cranking out three-peckered billy goats instead of healthy children simply because I didn't care about anything... But that's just me, and I don't want others, or society, to bare the hardship of doing so either... But I digress...

Stay safe... Simple as that...

[Mud Mechanik]

Rad, thats funny but true.

Vin@r, have a glance at HD forums rule #8, don't chance it.

8. These forums take a very strong negative view on the usage of plastics/ synthetics in distilling. It simply is not safe to use in any area of hobby distilling (however HPDE buckets are acceptable for fermentation.) There simply are too many types of plastics and lack of reliable information about plastics, for us to reliably advocate their use anywhere in the distillation apparatus. Also, from past posting history, this topic seems to quickly boil down into an almost religious flame war. Thus we simply will not put up with it, and posts about any form of plastic use will be edited, deleted or locked. There is a forum for proven info for or against any material (material/safety.)

[The Baker]

You can wrap the rings in plumber's teflon tape.
Takes a fair bit and a bit of time too but...

[Vin@r]

Okk....thanks to all, now I understand that no one can be sure ...when use synthetic...is that synthetic safe for distiling or no, so its more safe to not use synthetic material.
Now I am goint to read about making a good flour paste

thanks again

[Vin@r]

but... Baker's advice sounds very good.Vhatever is gasket material if u wrap plumber's teflon... seems to be ok.
Thanks Baker

[Husker]

but... Baker's advice sounds very good.Vhatever is gasket material if u wrap plumber's teflon... seems to be ok.
Thanks Baker

That is not 100% correct, but the wrapped plumbers tape (if pure PFTE), greatly reduces possible contact, and as long as the material already has a very small surface area in contact with vapors/condensed liquid, then this helps mitigate the unknowns.

You had mentioned flour paste. Some people poopoo it a little, because it only lasts 1 run. Well, flour paste is one of the best and safest options for a seal, and it WORKS so good. It only takes a few seconds to build some dough, and some 'runnier' paste, and can be applied to a still in a very short time. I personally highly recommend using this form of seal. I can make a seal for my easy-flange in about 20s, and mixing of the dough takes just a few seconds also. Has NEVER let me down, and I have 100% assured safety of product. A nice thing about paste, is if there ever are a leak, weep simply daub on a little more paste, and it stops.

H.

[Vin@r]

thanks Huster, I just want to add....I do 5-6 runs in a year...so even flour paste is only for one run...seems worth to use it .

[Prairiepiss]

I simply wrap my easy flanges with 4 wraps of PTFE tape. I do both sides then clamp it. Do the same at the keg connection. Have not had a leak yet. Down side is if I tear my still all the way down. It takes a whole roll to seal my still. And its a one time use. But the tape is cheap. And I know it works. Easy cleanup just pull it off in one piece.