Steel barrel still?

[fragglemasterflow]

I have access to some 5 gallon industrial barrels and would like to know if it would make a good still? They once had lacquer thinner inside it but I assume it wouldn't be hard to clean and sanitize it out. I had thought maybe I could solder a copper cooling coil. Any advice?

[ipee7ABV]

dont do it. would you drink the laquer thinner? you need to do a lot of reading.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=33
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =35&t=5090

[fragglemasterflow]

I don't understand why it would be like drinking thinner? Steel is not exactly a porous metal so it wouldn't be that difficult to remove the chemical residue.

[fragglemasterflow]

Why can you make a still from a stainless steel pot but not a steel barrel? I want to know the scientific reasons?

[ipee7ABV]

Why can you make a still from a stainless steel pot but not a steel barrel? I want to know the scientific reasons?

Fe2O3·nH2O
FeO(OH)·Fe(OH)3

[Sparhawk]

corrosion and porosity are the most basic. Steel is way more porous than stainless steel and you will not get all the lacquer thinner out of it by cleaning unless you use other chemicals you don't want to drink to do it.

Steel will corrode at an extreme rate when exposed to vaporized alcohol. Mmmm rust flavor.

Stainless is "non-reactive cookware" steel is not.

If you want to see for yourself go fill your wifes cast iron pan with lemon juice and let it sit. She'll tell you the reason in a hurry! (yes i know cast iron isn't steel, but the effects are similar)

[fragglemasterflow]

Alright that sounds pretty convincing thank you.

[Prairiepiss]

I'm not real sure how hard it is to look at something that held something poisonous. And still need someone to convince you its not good to use. Let alone a sub par material at best.

It's simple stainless and copper are the only things you will see recommended around here. Glass is not for safety reasons at a hobby scale. These recommendations are for the safety of all of those that may read this forum. And to help to get the hobby legalized. If there is a bunch of yahoos using scrap steel barrels that held who knows what. That's not a very good indication as to whether it should be legalized. More of an indication it shouldn't be.

Good luck with your endeavors. I hope you soon realize this forum is trying to look out for your best interest. And take the suggestions as such.

[Marshwalker]

How about aluminum?? lol.. jus jokin..

[monochrome]

How about aluminum?? lol.. jus jokin..

And what about aluminium? It has protective Al2O3 coating which can only be eaten of by alkaline solution(or mechanicaly) , mostly (if not all the time) mash is acidic and Aluminium passivates in contact with acidic solutions(and in conntact with atmosphere's oxygen ). And if you are concerned about health condition I can tell you that there is no proven link between Alzheimer's and Al. And lets be real, you can consume up to 50 mg Al per 24 h without real health risks(And its no bioacumalative).
Sory about my bad english.

[Samohon]

Try boiling some nice creamy milk in an aluminium pan, watch it turn grayish, then ask your children to drink it. No friggin way...
High alc vapour will cause AI or steel to break down quicker...

Why can you make a still from a stainless steel pot but not a steel barrel?

Why is it that all commercial distilleries only use copper or stainless steel ?
Seems you need to study some safety precautions fragglemasterflow...

Welcome to HD...

[ipee7ABV]

How about aluminum?? lol.. jus jokin..

And what about aluminium? It has protective Al2O3 coating which can only be eaten of by alkaline solution(or mechanicaly) , mostly (if not all the time) mash is acidic and Aluminium passivates in contact with acidic solutions(and in conntact with atmosphere's oxygen ). And if you are concerned about health condition I can tell you that there is no proven link between Alzheimer's and Al. And lets be real, you can consume up to 50 mg Al per 24 h without real health risks(And its no bioacumalative).
Sory about my bad english.

do a search and find out why

[Marshwalker]

goodness gracious... it was a joke... A joke that I shouldn't have typed... and by the way, i've seen pictures of what alcohol vapor does to a aluminum boiler.... it won't last... think the pictures were on this site somewhere a few months back... anyha.. just use copper or stainless to be on the safe side..

[NcMoonLight]

Go to Craigslist, Buy a SS Pot or a Empty Keg, Its a cheaper and better route to go.

[monochrome]

Try boiling some nice creamy milk in an aluminium pan, watch it turn grayish, then ask your children to drink it. No friggin way...
High alc vapour will cause AI or steel to break down quicker...

Why can you make a still from a stainless steel pot but not a steel barrel?

Why is it that all commercial distilleries only use copper or stainless steel ?
Seems you need to study some safety precautions fragglemasterflow...

Welcome to HD...

Hello!

With all due respect, I, my relatives and many, many other peaople have used Al cookware and tableware for decades and we are still healthy and have no health issues related to Al poisoning. I realy dont know what kind of Al you all are using but mine milk can is still as good as new fine and i have it used for countless times for distilling!
I agree, Al isnt the best solution, I am going to build SS tank for my still myself, but it isnt so bad as you all say...

Samohon, and what about sports cars engines which run on ethanol? At temps. and engine cycles Al parts in engine system would be malfunctioning in minutes.

Cheers!

[Ruddfan]

Very informative was wondering about aluminum my self thanks

[Prairiepiss]

Try boiling some nice creamy milk in an aluminium pan, watch it turn grayish, then ask your children to drink it. No friggin way...
High alc vapour will cause AI or steel to break down quicker...

Why can you make a still from a stainless steel pot but not a steel barrel?

Why is it that all commercial distilleries only use copper or stainless steel ?
Seems you need to study some safety precautions fragglemasterflow...

Welcome to HD...

Hello!

With all due respect, I, my relatives and many, many other peaople have used Al cookware and tableware for decades and we are still healthy and have no health issues related to Al poisoning. I realy dont know what kind of Al you all are using but mine milk can is still as good as new fine and i have it used for countless times for distilling!
I agree, Al isnt the best solution, I am going to build SS tank for my still myself, but it isnt so bad as you all say...

Samohon, and what about sports cars engines which run on ethanol? At temps. and engine cycles Al parts in engine system would be malfunctioning in minutes.

Cheers!

With all due respect. This being your second post around here. Seams a little trollish. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. That maybe you haven't had the time to properly research this forums feelings towards aluminums use in a still. Or maybe you don't understand that this is a sore subject. That can het out of hand from comments like yours. If you RO some looking in past threads about the subject you will see what I'm talking about.

But aluminum is not recommended around here. Mainly for structural reasons. In the fact that it does pit from use with liquids like hot washes. Not really the alcohol in it its the acidic stuff that does it. See my link below.

And galvanic corrosion. Aluminum and copper are far from each other on the galvanic scale. So they will not mix good. And should not be used together.

Here is a link to a post I made showing why I would never use it again.
A good reason not to use aluminum.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... m#p6987140
And I forgot I even posted this one.
Aluminum Boiler Hazard!
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... t=Aluminum

You are free to use what ever material you so choose. And there are a few that do use aluminum with some success. But I would look around before you challenge a post about materials safety around here. Especially that of a moderator. Do a search and find out why they posted what they did. Otherwise posts like this will get you labeled as a troll. And quickly get out of hand.

[monochrome]

Try boiling some nice creamy milk in an aluminium pan, watch it turn grayish, then ask your children to drink it. No friggin way...
High alc vapour will cause AI or steel to break down quicker...

Why can you make a still from a stainless steel pot but not a steel barrel?

Why is it that all commercial distilleries only use copper or stainless steel ?
Seems you need to study some safety precautions fragglemasterflow...

Welcome to HD...

Hello!

With all due respect, I, my relatives and many, many other peaople have used Al cookware and tableware for decades and we are still healthy and have no health issues related to Al poisoning. I realy dont know what kind of Al you all are using but mine milk can is still as good as new fine and i have it used for countless times for distilling!
I agree, Al isnt the best solution, I am going to build SS tank for my still myself, but it isnt so bad as you all say...

Samohon, and what about sports cars engines which run on ethanol? At temps. and engine cycles Al parts in engine system would be malfunctioning in minutes.

Cheers!

With all due respect. This being your second post around here. Seams a little trollish. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. That maybe you haven't had the time to properly research this forums feelings towards aluminums use in a still. Or maybe you don't understand that this is a sore subject. That can het out of hand from comments like yours. If you RO some looking in past threads about the subject you will see what I'm talking about.

But aluminum is not recommended around here. Mainly for structural reasons. In the fact that it does pit from use with liquids like hot washes. Not really the alcohol in it its the acidic stuff that does it. See my link below.

And galvanic corrosion. Aluminum and copper are far from each other on the galvanic scale. So they will not mix good. And should not be used together.

Here is a link to a post I made showing why I would never use it again.
A good reason not to use aluminum.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... m#p6987140
And I forgot I even posted this one.
Aluminum Boiler Hazard!
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... t=Aluminum

You are free to use what ever material you so choose. And there are a few that do use aluminum with some success. But I would look around before you challenge a post about materials safety around here. Especially that of a moderator. Do a search and find out why they posted what they did. Otherwise posts like this will get you labeled as a troll. And quickly get out of hand.

I realy want to see some clinical or in vivo trials about Al poisoning from organoaluminium compounds or Al salts.
Ok, maybe i havent noticed pits yet, maybe my tank is lot thicker than most kegs or whatsoever containers you are using, but mine is still ok. I promise to not argue about that any more It is just interesting, because mostly folks around my native place have used Al milk cans for disstilling purposes for dacades and i havent heard anyone saying anything about any leaks in tank....ok enough of that. I agree SS and cooper is the way to go anyway. Soon i will post my new build of SS 60 mm (~2,35'') and 1,2 m (~4') (effective packing) Boka (LM).


No hard feelings. Cheers!

[rad14701]

Go do the research yourself... We shouldn't have to spoon feed all of the facts... Take it at face value that stainless and copper are the only two metals we will be recommending in these forums... No novice member is going to sway us based on their own ignorance...

Ignorance can be cured with research and education... Stupid goes clear to the bone and there is no known cure...

[monochrome]

Go do the research yourself... We shouldn't have to spoon feed all of the facts... Take it at face value that stainless and copper are the only two metals we will be recommending in these forums... No novice member is going to sway us based on their own ignorance...

Ignorance can be cured with research and education... Stupid goes clear to the bone and there is no known cure...

There is myths and there is hard proof (clinical trials etc.) you realy should know the difference.....

And why do you think that novice member can't be smarter than you, if you are novice in virtual forum, that doesn't mean that you have to be novice in real life!

And you post is totaly useless, can't even see your point.

[Prairiepiss]

I realy want to see some clinical or in vivo trials about Al poisoning from organoaluminium compounds or Al salts.

Your the only one who brought up health issues. And this has been discussed way to much around here. To have the same discussion come up time and time again.

[monochrome]

I realy want to see some clinical or in vivo trials about Al poisoning from organoaluminium compounds or Al salts.

Your the only one who brought up health issues. And this has been discussed way to much around here. To have the same discussion come up time and time again.

OK, thanks, SS or copper, no more Al. Just wanted to know, thats all...

[Copper Thumper]

if its not stainless...stay away!!