aluminum pots

[bigbuck]

been reading that its not safe to distill with aluminum products,(such as pots)some say its ok,some say not,which is true

[Husker]

The definitive word on 'safety' on using AL pots, is not in. As a rule, this site pushes safety above all else. Since there is nothing that can assure us that AL pots ARE safe, we will recommend to not use them. There ARE other easily obtainable, and proven safe materials. Why risk usage.

[bigbuck]

yeah i was just curious about it,seen where some have been using alum beer kegs,some are stainless????,some say its completley safe,some say it will kill you,i had a chance to get ahold of a large alum pressure cooker,wasent sure if it would work or not

[Husker]

A SS used keg is ideal. Built like a tank. Will last forever, and will never leach any unknown stuff into your production. Stainless pots can be gotten easily, and for not too much $$. Not as strong as the keg, and the cheaper ones even less so, but they can be turned into fine still boilers.

The jury is still out on AL. Many people will not use them at all, for producing anything to be ingested. Also, they are very likely to leach in acidic environments (tomatoes, booze wash). This is one of the big scary unknowns about using it for distilling.

It is pretty well know, that AL will pit quickly, in a harsh acidic environment, especially, if there is any abrasion going on (like stirring the pot, boiling stones, or possibly even distilling on the grain). The very thin layer of AL oxide (patina) will easily be removed, and once exposed AL corrodes quickly (reforming AL oxide, new patina), but this will quickly form pits, and even pin holes that weep.

It is simply best to stay away from it. For the un'proven' safety (or non safety), and for the problems with durability.

Yes some have used it. No one on this site can stop them. Some use plastic buckets for their boilers, and even for their columns. Again, no one here can stop them, but we can expunge their being able to advertise their usage, on THIS site. I know I would not drink product from a still with an AL boiler.

H.

[junkyard dawg]

Aluminum pressure cookers, especially ones like All American are awesome.

not for boilers, but they are great doing what they are meant for...

they can also be repurposed as steam generators.

Get a keg boiler.

[wheresthereef]

The fact that aluminum has been, and is still being, researched as potentially increase the risks of Alzheimer's Disease makes me not want to use it. There's no definitive answer on the subject, but I'm a "Where there's smoke, there's fire kinda guy".

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056430/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Prairiepiss]

The fact that aluminum has been, and is still being, researched as potentially increase the risks of Alzheimer's Disease makes me not want to use it. There's no definitive answer on the subject, but I'm a "Where there's smoke, there's fire kinda guy".

The link to alzheimers was later found that the test samples used in the research that started this scare were compromised. So it has still not been proven.

Not claiming is good for us to use in our hobby. Just making the correct facts for others to do their own research available.

[wheresthereef]

I did say there was no definative answer, just research.
There are hundred's of websites on the subject.

[bigbuck]

could someone please settle the debate about the oldtimers using natural yeast,me and my buggy have been goin round and round about this,anyone have info on this matter,i guess the real question is can you make ur ow yeast? thanks for any info you may have and happy holidays!!!!!

[Prairiepiss]

What's the debate? There are yeast all around us. In the air on surfaces of plants or whatever. You can't make them. But you van collect them in a culture. Then use them. If they are strong enough. Outcome will vary from area to area.

[Durace11]

Yes BigBuck, some of them did, I think Dunder said it best when he told us they used leftover chunks of raw meat to add nutrients/amino acids and horse urine to add nitrogen into the wash. You can easily capture your own yeast, here's how:

Make up a starter with no yeast added
Place a small amount of the fresh starter liquid into several bowls and cover them with a hops bag tied off so nothing can just drink up the liquid
Put these bowls around your house, yard, barn, garage, basement, attic and/or garden
Mark the bowls so you know where the bowl was placed in case you want more yeast later
Leave the bowls out for 24 hours then bring them back inside
If/when they start to show signs of fermentation add each one to a larger jug or bottle and add more fresh starter liquid
Keep ramping them up and smelling them daily for signs of a "good" ferment
If any of them smell bad or nasty throw them out, when you find one that smells like a "good" ferment, viola, you just captured a local yeast

[Prairiepiss]

I would like to also point out. Doing this in a closed house is not the best option. Air quality in a closed house is not always the best. And who knows what you will collect. Note be a good yeast mite be a bad bacteria? Doing it outside will produce a much better outcome. Now with it being winter here anyway. Air quality is even worse inside. And its to cold to get anything good outside. So your options are limited.

Just something to think about.