Need to find out SS milk can grade for safety

[artooks]

Hi Everyone,

My two boilers that I am using are actually Stainless Steel, milk cans, I wanted to find out what grade they are but there was no mention in their websites, so I sent them an email regarding this question, anyway Today I made a magnet test to see if the boilers are really stainless steel, one of them attracted instantly not 100% but lets say 60-70% the small one attracted it even less feels like touch and go, so this got me into thinking, all my spools are made of 304 Stainless Steel they do not attract magnet, they are ok, but I am not really sure about the boilers, I have searched the site find out some information regarding grading in Stainless Steel, some attracts like 400 grades and some not like 304 and 316, what I could not find is whether the milk cans that attract magnets are suitable for distilling, this is rather important because I do not want to poison myself or anybody else, is it ok to use SS milk cans for distilling that attracts magnets ?

I know that many companies are selling milk cans but I do not know what grade they are made of in US

I also checked inside my boiler, I am using a heat band from outside, at that level I see some color change towards yellow due to the high heat I guess, so is this also normal ?

Up until now I have been using them for 3-4 months I do not see any rust for the info.

I hope someone who is knowledgeable in the subject could help because if it is in anyway harmful I would find a solution for it.

Thanks

[still_stirrin]

... I do not want to poison myself or anybody else, is it ok to use SS milk cans for distilling that attracts magnets? ... I know that many companies are selling milk cans but I do not know what grade they are made of in US.

Well, if it's stainless, most likely it is a 300 series stainless. If there are welded seams, most assuredly it is. And 304 stainless is the most common "weldable" stainless. 316 & 318 are harder and more expensive to produce. And those are often used for surgical and cooking utensils because of their hardness. Beer kegs are typically 304, and 303 is very similar in properties. Both 303 & 304 are a little softer than the alloys with higher chromium content. And 303 and 304 stainless is easily weldable, so it is widely used in brewing, refining and production, and the dairy industry.

Personally, I think you're worrying too much for nothing. If you bought commercially made "milk can" boilers for your still, they are most likely an acceptable alloy to use for distilling.

Don't be such a "worry wart".
ss

[artooks]

Thank you very much SS, Safety is something which I need to be 100% sure so that I can share the product that I produce with friends and family, thanks to this site, which helped me get rid of many silicon and EPDM gaskets and now using %100 PTFE on all my spools, I even dismantled the sight glass and there was silicon as well, so I made one suitable in lathe machine with PTFE block, it is this site and you all people that helped me to learn the importance of Safety, but I really appreciate your help thanks, so now I am relieved with your answer, just wanted to be on the safe side.

[moosemilk]

Like SS said, you don't need to worry. The more common stainless is usually slightly magnetic. Some stainless silverware even like you see in the "greasy spoon" type restaurants is fairly magnetic. The stainless steel wool I use for packing my column is slightly magnetic, and never had an issue if that helps ease your mind.

[artooks]

Thank you very much moosemilk this really helped me, now feeling that I am on the right pat as SS said, maybe I worry to much about it but the main reason is like I said is not to make a mistake in terms of Safety, thanks.

[moosemilk]

Thank you very much moosemilk this really helped me, now feeling that I am on the right pat as SS said, maybe I worry to much about it but the main reason is like I said is not to make a mistake in terms of Safety, thanks.

Always better safe than sorry if you aren't sure. Good call.