My pot still boiler is made of stainless and the column is mostly copper. I bought it as a kit and If I could I would have prefer to have a copper boiler as well but it was WAAAAY to expensive for me. The kit came with about 15 feet of copper mesh. I was able to make two rolls which I jammed in the column. On the seller's site, in the mesh description they say to wash it in a water/vinegar/salt solution after each use and before the first one. I've soaked it in half vinegar/half water (no salt) before doing the vinegar run.
First, I don't think it will be necessary to clean it after each use. I have difficulty imagining the mesh getting dirty enough to require cleaning on a 8G boiler... even after a couple runs. But let's say it is, it seem fastidious to have to do so.
Second, even if I would like to have a full copper still I don't really know if it would actually be beneficial. Is there a limit to adding copper in the vapor path? Should I even use the mesh or the column should be enough?
Finally, can I simplify things and do something like this? Put copper pipe segments in copper mesh "bag"
Loop the ends using a thread from the copper mesh itslef.
Who said thermometers on boilers were useless?
Let dangle in the vapor path.
What do you think? Has this been done/tried before? Should I patent this.
