Cleaning Question My Build VM Column

[Hebden]

Hi all,

I have recently completed my first keg build with column and I would just like to check a couple of things.

Should I do both a citric acid and a vinegar run and in which order?

Then follow with a sacrificial run of how many litres?
And is the sacrificial run with 10% sugar wash, then low wines and then a product run?
If so, how many litres to start with these stages?

And alternatively, how should I clean parts after a run and new equipment on arrival ie demijohns and stainless steel and big fermenter barrels to be ready for 1st or next use, would that just be a citric acid bath & hosepipe rinse?

[Chauncey]

Do the vinegar run and sac run. For the sac run I like to run a normal charge worth of wash. Discard what you collect or save it Cleary labeled for future cleanings. I only use the citric acid bath for small parts where there's lots of funk that i need to scrub out with an old toothbrush.

[witch]

With my keg build i used a large amount of washing liquid and water after that citric acid soak for full 24 hrs filled to top.
Another wash then vinegar run.sac run. boil water run steamed.

Not had any problems after that

One thing would say if you have any sugar burn from welding inside of keg if your able to remove before doing the above.

As for how much i put 15ltrs in mine 10 ltrs over the elements

[Yummyrum]

Just make sure you rinse the still immediately after the Vinegar run with a hose as Copper Acetate Chrystals start to form very quickly as it dries out .

Run the sac run for at least half an hour but longer won’t hurt and it will help season your new copper .

Don’t clean it with acid afterwards .If you must , just hose out .

[Hebden]

Thanks for clearing that up guys, if I can still see to type in a few few weeks, I'll let you know how it has gone

[Yummyrum]

You’ll be right mate . Enjoy your new toys

[Hebden]

Just found this in case any future newbies would may benefit.

https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... _first_Run

[squigglefunk]

i always started with a quick water/steam cleaning run before anything else to check for leaks as you'll just be cleaning it again anyway if you have to resolder something...

[Yummyrum]

i always started with a quick water/steam cleaning run before anything else to check for leaks as you'll just be cleaning it again anyway if you have to resolder something...

Smart thinking swigglefunk

[squigglefunk]

Smart thinking swigglefunk

hey even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then