How thick is the copper on a moonshine still?

1/2 ” copper pipe – 3 ft.

What type of copper is used for moonshine still?

2" copper pipe, type M, for Moonshine Still Reflux or Pot Column.

Do you have to use copper for a moonshine still?

Without copper, the distillate will smell and taste sharp and unpleasant. However, the still doesn't need to be made of copper. There is nothing particularly magical about the pot or column itself being made of copper. As long as copper metal is present somewhere in the still, the beneficial reactions can occur.

How long does a copper still last?

These unwanted and flavor-changing sulfur compounds are chemically removed from the final product resulting in a smoother, better-tasting drink. All copper stills will require repairs about every eight years due to the precipitation of copper-sulfur compounds.

How important is copper in a still?

Copper is the preferred material in the construction of a still to impart flavor into the distilled spirits. According to Broadslab Distillery, both stainless steel and copper are excellent conductors of heat: dispersing the heat evenly across the entire surface of the metal and creating a more even distillation.

Copper Moonshine Style Stills | Understanding Pot Stills, Column Stills

Is copper better than stainless steel for moonshine?

Overall, copper is better for distilling spirits because the material removes sulfides from distillate, which produces a better tasting and smelling final product.

Can you use brass on a moonshine still?

Most brass fittings are not even safe for water use, which makes them even less safe for distilling use.

How often should you clean a copper still?

It is crucial to clean your still after each run to keep it clean and safe for distilling. You can perform a cleaning as often as you want, but good distillers go for a deep clean of their stills about every 3 to 6 months depending on use.

Why is my moonshine blue?

While it may not happen all the time, moonshiners with copper stills may experience a blue batch every once in a while. Basically, this is caused by the alcohol vapor corroding the copper metal. As the copper is literally eaten away, fragments transfer into the moonshine batch, which ultimately gives it a bluish tint.

Does a thumper need to be heated?

Does a Thumper Need to be Heated? Many moonshiners do prefer to heat the thumper. The alcohol does need to stay in vapor form to be able to rise into the condenser. Wood barrels are often preferred as thump kegs because of wood's natural isolative abilities.

Why are Whisky stills made of copper?

Think of copper as a 'silent contributor' to spirit quality; the availability of clean copper inside the still is vital to allow complex chemical reactions to take place, removing highly volatile sulphur compounds – chief among them dimethyl trisulphide or DMTS – and helping in the formation of esters, which tend to ...

Why is the column packed with copper rather than a less expensive metal such as stainless steel?

Question: Why is the column packed with copper rather than a less expensive metal such as stainless steel? Because copper naturally removes sulfates while stainless steel does not.

Does rubbing alcohol clean copper?

There is no problem with using isopropyl alcohol to clean off copper or aluminum.

How much citric acid does it take to clean 1 gallon of copper?

Citric Acid for cleaning copper stills, for cleaning copper packing, copper still parts, and even used in distilling mash to adjust PH, wine-making and sometimes beer brewing. Use about 2 ounces of per gallon of water for cleaning copper stills and have them looking like new again.

How do you keep copper shiny?

Organic clean: If you want to keep all of your copper still shiny, a combination of flour, vinegar, and salt will give you great results. Calculate the recipe for your still based on its size (5 gallon, 10 gallon, etc). For every gallon, combine 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 cup of vinegar.

How much vinegar do you use to clean a still?

Fill the pot of your still to about 20% capacity with a mixture of 50% white vinegar and 50% clean water. That's about 1 gallon of the mixture in a 5 gallon still, or 2 gallons in a 10 gallon still. Use distilled water for this mixture, if you have some available.

How do you clean flux out of a still?

After assembly, the equipment is going to have a lot of flux and bits of solder that need to be removed. To clean the inside of a still, fill the boiler with a gallon of white vinegar, attach the column, and boil for about an hour. After boiling the vinegar for an hour, carefully dump out the the vinegar.

Does ethanol react with brass?

As mentioned Page 2 Recycled Paper 2 Please Recycle above, ethanol is not compatible with soft metals such as zinc, brass, copper, lead, and aluminum. These metals will degrade or corrode in contact with ethanol and possibly contaminate a vehicle's fuel system.

What is the onion head on a still?

The onion head: The narrowing bulb at the top of the pot, which resembles an onion. The condenser coil: The long copper tubing that attaches at the top of the onion head and slopes downward to an open spout.

Is it safe to drink out of brass?

The amounts that circulate into the brass water vessels would not harm humans, Reed adds. According to the researchers, even a person drinking 10 litres of such water in a single day would take in less than the daily recommended dose of copper or zinc.