copper crimping sleeves as packing

[Tōtōchtin]

After an hour of reading on a search for copper packing I gave up. Has anyone here used these to pack a column? I was cleaning up some tool boxes when I came across a bag of them. Quick search and I found some to be 99.9% pure copper. It seems to me they would dissipate heat well and be easy to clean. Thank you for your time.
JK

[NZChris]

Suitability would depend on size and shape.

[Tōtōchtin]

I was offered a 3" meter long glass tube which got me into looking at copper for packing. I first looked at the copper scrap but figured the weight blew it out of the water, The copper balls to smooth and uniform. when I first came across the crimping sleeves I thought I could use the in the boiler. They are hollow so that is more surface area, hit with a 5 lb hammer would lower the volume. I believe that chart is from the fishing side of things but would give you an idea of sizes. I have seen them for 8# wire down to 22#.
JK

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[cob]

Option B but cost is an issue. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Ben ... /202526312

[Tōtōchtin]

At that price I agree. I am waiting on a price for 1000 of those sleeves and another quote on copper springs I saw. They would work will but these to might to costly. Using that copper scrap would help with the way the liquid would flow thru it not collecting in areas or just running down the walls of the pipe. Just hard to conceptualize all this with having never seen a part of a regular still in my life. I have a 500mts of fine copper wire I am almost thinking about using a 3/16th dowel in my drill and wrap that and cut into small pieces. I have a month until I can get any parts down here so I have the time.
JK
Thanks for your time.

[squigglefunk]

you can't find pure copper mesh or scrubbers?

[Metalking00]

I got my copper scrubbies on aliexpress. They took a while to arrive, but theyre pure copper and were very cheap

[HDNB]

yeah, i'd wonder if those copper presses are pure copper. i'd wager there is a nickle component in them. likewise with springs...copper ain't naturally springy, it would be alloyed with something.

you can buy copper mesh on amazon on the cheap, it's doesn't last long but nomatter at the price, you could repack every run, or do 4x low wines and then a spirit run and toss it, start again.

[Metalking00]

Why dont they last? The scrubbies i have get a dark patina after a while, but after a number of runs i cycle them through the boiler on a stripping run and they come out clean and ready to go again. I dont see why you would have to repack every run or throw them away after one full cycle?

[squigglefunk]

mine lasts just fine

[Tōtōchtin]

HDNB I thought of that last night and they were made with beryllium. There I ran into redux springs made from 17-7-ph whose shape was interesting. The crimps are 99.9 copper. I added the sizes which they offered, waiting on a price and shipping. That and another chart of smaller pieces.
I wanted to stay away from the rolls because of what people have said. The learning curve on how to pack, the flow thru them, and cleaning. I want something I can pour it in tap it and be done whether its me or my partner. My thinking is a bunch of irregular pieces would disrupt the flow downward.If nothing turn up to be better in my quest I would use the rolls.
JK

[Ben]

Those appear to be tinned, they are for the electrical industry. Seems silly to pay extra money just to have your copper plated when it would be better exposed The jewelry industry uses non-tinned version of the same thing, I don't know if you can get them in bulk or not.

Bandsaw with a stop block and a coil of copper refrigerator tubing could make a batch of those shapes pretty quick, the slow part would be deburring. If you aren't tooled up see if you can find a local to make some for you.

[HiroP]

I made copper spirals from electric copper wire (2 1/2inch by 38 inch column - filled full about maybe 6 lbs of copper), not sure what the makeup of the copper was. They worked ok in the column but they resulted in off tasting product (even at 95%) and caused diarrhea for me and my friends. Swapped out the copper for stainless steel scrubbies and the problem went away completely. Some of the problem distillate had a slight blue tinge which I think was caused by too much copper.

I would recommend NOT using alot of copper as a packing.

Cheers

[SDEngr1]

I cut a 1/2" copper pipe in about 1/2" lengths and slightly flattened the rings. I place them right before the main condenser and they work great.

[Dancing4dan]

I made copper spirals from electric copper wire (2 1/2inch by 38 inch column - filled full about maybe 6 lbs of copper), not sure what the makeup of the copper was. They worked ok in the column but they resulted in off tasting product (even at 95%) and caused diarrhea for me and my friends. Swapped out the copper for stainless steel scrubbies and the problem went away completely. Some of the problem distillate had a slight blue tinge which I think was caused by too much copper.

I would recommend NOT using alot of copper as a packing.

Cheers

95% leaves a lot of room to have a problem.

Doesn’t copper wire for home wiring purposes contain zinc? Would definitely make a person sick if is zinc.

I have used copper wire to do copper plating. It always caused a contamination and poor bonding.

[elbono]

Doesn’t copper wire for home wiring purposes contain zinc?

Almost all electrical wire is made from ETP (electrolytic tough pitch) copper which is 99.9+% copper. If you buy the cheap stuff at the big box store that's what you'll get.

[Ben]

I made copper spirals from electric copper wire (2 1/2inch by 38 inch column - filled full about maybe 6 lbs of copper), not sure what the makeup of the copper was. They worked ok in the column but they resulted in off tasting product (even at 95%) and caused diarrhea for me and my friends. Swapped out the copper for stainless steel scrubbies and the problem went away completely. Some of the problem distillate had a slight blue tinge which I think was caused by too much copper.

I would recommend NOT using alot of copper as a packing.

Cheers

'Copper is pretty common packing, generally considered beneficial.

You should NEVER drink blue distillate, there was an issue there. Can be toxic. It points to a problem in your wash, or a problem in your cleaning run. Distillate should be crystal clear/white. If it isn't something in your process needs looked at.