Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Post by **Still Life** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:53 pm

<Can't find a suitable answer.>
I'm sure Still_Stirrin will, and blast me...

Running a pot still currently.
But got a new CM still coming (building is out of the question) and I'm wondering how often the copper scrubbers have to be replaced.
Do you go by so many runs, or when they start turning blue, or how do you do it?
Talking Brewhaus copper pads, so purity's not an issue.

I will be distilling every weekend and just want to know so I can stock up appropriately without having to damn stop over this.
Thanks, good folks.

Post by **Euphoria** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:04 pm

If you clean them by soaking them in a Citric Acid solution after each use, they'll clean right up. Take care of them and you can reuse them for years.

Post by **Still Life** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:06 pm

Thank you, Euphoria. Will do.

Post by **still_stirrin** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:12 pm

Still Life wrote:<Can't find a suitable answer.>
I'm sure Still_Stirrin will, and blast me...

Ha! That's funny stuff right there. Is your "sittin' down spot" a little sore?

Still Life wrote:I'm wondering how often the copper scrubbers have to be replaced.
Do you go by so many runs, or when they start turning blue, or how do you do it?

If they start to look black or your product is starting to stink more, then you should service them. If they're real copper, an acid wash and water rinse, followed by an air drying should be adequate. If they've lost a lot of mass or they have become "crumbly", then they should be replaced. But by then I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to acquire replacements.

Personally, I use glass marbles (and I know where they all are).
ss

StillerBoy · Post by **StillerBoy** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:26 pm

Euphoria wrote:If you clean them by soaking them in a Citric Acid solution after each use, they'll clean right up. Take care of them and you can reuse them for years.

Yes citric acid bath after using them helps clean them up, but you also need give them an baking soda bath to neutralize the acid, then allow to air dry, don't repack them.. otherwise just a water rinse will not stop the acid from working unless neutralized.. by neutralizing you will extent the life of your copper srubbers.. a vinegar wash will also clean them up, just not as quickly, and with vinegar a water rinse is good to go..

Mars

Post by **Still Life** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:55 am

Ha! That's funny stuff right there. Is your "sittin' down spot" a little sore?

Nope. But you ARE keeping me researching before I dare post a question.
Just poking the bear.
Appreciate the answers, everyone.
Citric & baking soda. Got 'em.

Can't wait for the new still, and willing to take on the challenge of a CM.
Wish DAD300 was still hanging around. Learned a lot of CM operation from reading his stuff.

joeymac · Post by **joeymac** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:16 am

I haven't replaced mine in a couple years... I switched to glass marbles and the copper scrubbers have been sitting in an old shoebox ever since. So I can't see a reason to switch the copper scrubbers out for new ones cause they look just the same as they did the day they got put away.

cob · Post by **cob** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:00 pm

Seems I read somewhere about some folks putting their scrubbers in their backset and rinsing to clean them up.

could have been this place; http://homedistiller.org/forum/index.php

Post by **Still Life** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:46 pm

heh! Thanks, cob.
You takin' over for still_stirrin? or Rad?

Home Distiller

Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

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Re: Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Re: Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Re: Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Re: Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Re: Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Re: Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?

Re: Copper Scrubber Replacement How Often?