Dont use plastic

This hobby is fun & enjoyable, but it is not tiddlywinks. Be safe!

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vinper
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Dont use plastic

Post by vinper »

well I broke my glass vile for testing , But I had a plexi back up . it worked fine at 120 proof . On my spirit run this weekend I tested 1st jar no problem . 2nd jar the vile just desintegrated in my hand and turned cloudy
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Prairiepiss
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by Prairiepiss »

And people wonder why we say not to use stuff like this. :crazy:
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vinper
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by vinper »

1st test spirit was 170 proof
Durace11
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by Durace11 »

Oh wow, I love that you got a pic of this but hate that it happened to you, or anyone for that matter. That is good info on why not to use plastics in high proof. That thing looks like is was too close to a fire!
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vinper
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by vinper »

My glass test cylinder break from the tester/meter slipping down and hitting the bottom . Any idea's how to cushion the bottom of the cylinder
Durace11
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by Durace11 »

put some copper mesh down there, just a small wad about the size of a cotton ball should do it.
Current Evolution:
MrDistiller > 2" potstill > copper 4" perf 4 plate flute

"I seal the lid with Silly Putty, that's OK ain't it ?"
~ kekedog13

"Attach a vibrator to it and hang it upside down. Let it work"
~Mr. P
Hawk_
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by Hawk_ »

This is one reason I love having a parot. coarse I still have to use my tube for aging proofing once in a while but the dilution calculator takes care of having to use it too often.
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rhumbum
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by rhumbum »

I did the same thing as you, I carelessly droped my spirit hydrometer into my sample beaker but the hydrometer broke rather than the beaker. I would suggest you get a more robust vessel for taking your samples. Mine is a 100ml borosilicate beaker from a lab supply store on ebay, it is heat resistant and tougher than normal glass.

As a rule plastic is no good for strong alcohol, although I have yet to find spirit bottles that do not use some kind of plastic to seal the tops. Sometimes what they use looks and feels suspiciously like polystyrene, yet it must presumably meet some kind of govt regulatory standard - for whatever that is worth...
stillin
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by stillin »

I did the same thing. Broke my glass tube a while back by dropping my alchometer in it, was gonna use a plastic tube as a backup until I could get to the brew shop for a glass one. This was after one spirit run. Right after I took the pic I squeezed it slightly and it shattered in my hands. Lesson learned!
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whiskeystill
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by whiskeystill »

Using plastic is worth a try just to prove that it must never be used. I've never used it, I prefer copper. Heard that plastic burns and disintegrates - and with methanol producing invisible fire -- the terror's just too much it aint worth it.
ipee7ABV
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by ipee7ABV »

whiskeystill wrote:Using plastic is worth a try just to prove that it must never be used. I've never used it, I prefer copper. Heard that plastic burns and disintegrates - and with methanol producing invisible fire -- the terror's just too much it aint worth it.
Using plastic is worth a try just to prove that it must never be used.not an expert but i think that is bad advice. when very volatile liquids is running all over. bad things will happen
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Soft batch
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by Soft batch »

Had the exact same thing happen with my plastic test tube, shattered and disintegrated in my hand. Promptly instructed my local brewshop not to sell a proofing hydrometer with a plastic testing tube... I googled this problem and that is what turned me onto this site initially!
LakeLover
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Re: Dont use plastic

Post by LakeLover »

Nice controller by the way.

Here is my test tube during it's cleaning run.
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