Essencia scrubbers

[SMOKEU]

I've used these Essencia brass scrubbers for a few years now as my still packing. Can anyone here confirm with any degree of certainty that these don't contain any/dangerous levels of lead? And do these count as copper when it comes to removing sulphides, seeing brass is a copper alloy? Apart from these I'm having a hard time finding any reasonably priced scrubbers. I might otherwise try a supermarket for some stainless pot scrubbers then have some copper in as well.

[Kimbo]

I've used these Essencia brass scrubbers for a few years now as my still packing. Can anyone here confirm with any degree of certainty that these don't contain any/dangerous levels of lead? And do these count as copper when it comes to removing sulphides, seeing brass is a copper alloy? Apart from these I'm having a hard time finding any reasonably priced scrubbers. I might otherwise try a supermarket for some stainless pot scrubbers then have some copper in as well.

Simple answer mate is NO and NO.
We simply cant confirm ( or Deny) what levels of lead those scrubbers may or may not have. So, we err on the side of caution and advize that you fuck them off quick smart. As for sulphide removal, refer to previous statement ;-)
Stick with S/S or Copper and you cant go wrong :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Ken]

Yep, get rid of the brass. Lead is added to brass to improve its machining properties, it's called leaded brass (surprise surprise).
Bascially, the lead accumulates around the crystal boundaries of the brass (a copper zinc alloy) during manufacture and allows the individual metal crystals to be cleaved more easily by a cutting tool, so it is free metallic lead you're dealing with here.
It's certainly no good in your whisky to be sure.
Either change them out for some pure copper scrubbers if you can get them or some stainless steel ones or some ceramic chips.
You can tell if you've got good stainless steel by putting a magnet to the scrubbers. High grade (high chrome content) stainless steel is NOT magnetic and a magnet will not stick to it.
If the magnet sticks, keep on walking...
Cheers
Ken

[AndyCapp]

Before throwing the baby out with the bath water, why not just send Essencia an email and ask? Given that they sell this stuff for distilling purposes and it's a long-standing NZ company, the chances are good that this stuff is Ok.

There are hundreds of brass alloys and only a small fraction of them contain lead.

Also lead in your boiler and column is NOT going to evaporate and collect in your drink (unless you are running at 600+ degC :teasing-tease: ), so so the scrubbersshould be safe regardless. Having said that, remember that any lead in your condenser is a different matter and can be washed down into your collection vessel.
Andy

[Urrazeb]

You can find copper mesh out there easy enough, but it ain't cheap. 5 Star stocks it and it is a very good product - the favoured mesh for distilling.

Failing copper mesh, stainless will help with reflux but wont help with sulphide removal, so you really do need some copper in the vapour path but note, it does not HAVE to be a lot. I have of 500mm of tightly rolled copper scrolls in my packed section, but only because I had access to it for stuff all. If I didn't I would just have one copper scroll (~1kg) in there and the rest SS scrubbers.

Be careful when buying SS scrubbers as some of the cheaper ones are just coated in SS looking stuff and this soon comes off exposing the cheap stuff underneath.

Trying to do it cheap for the gear you use is not going to do you any favours, sometimes the initial outlay can save you a truckload in trial and error costs.

Savings to be had elsewhere IMO, the rig is definitely not one of them..

[bt1]

You can find copper mesh out there easy enough, but it ain't cheap. 5 Star stocks it and it is a very good product - the favoured mesh for distilling.

:text-+1:

This mesh has made a significant improvement in my washes. Early days but for it's age the new Irish batch is notably better.

bt1

[TheMechwarrior]

New Irish batch bt1? Which recipe?
Cheers, Mech

[SMOKEU]

I can't afford to pack the still completely with copper, so I want to have a bit of copper (maybe like 20% copper, and the remaining scrubbers stainless steel). I went into hardware stores with a magnet and all the SS pot scrubbers stick to a magnet. It's just a real mission to find good quality SS scrubbers.

[Urrazeb]

Try a good hospitality supplier :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Yummyrum]

I went into hardware stores with a magnet and all the SS pot scrubbers stick to a magnet. It's just a real mission to find good quality SS scrubbers.

That's about what I found...still...they should only be lightly attracted ,not slam onto it .

Here is a Pure distilling SS Scrubber I got to replace my old 2 year old+ stuff

Misc 045.jpg

Heres one of the old Supermarket scrubbers I took out .Its about the same .I bought scrubbers originally when I packed from two supermarkets from different manufacturers.After a few years some look like they have the slightest brown tinge in some light ...the others have the slightest blue tinge ....both look shiny silver still

Misc 044.jpg

Oh yeah ...these are my stinky ,greasy tails infested scrubbers that haven't been washed for an embarrassing period of time so I could not say if the colouration is due to scum....There certainly was no signs of Rust in the still

[SMOKEU]

Do I have to clean the scrubbers before I use them in the still? I read up on a "how to" still cleaning guide for new stills, and it said to remove the packing before putting vinegar and water in the boiler to clean out the reflux tower.

[Urrazeb]

Yeah mate I would. There can be some stuff on them from manufacturing

[SMOKEU]

Yeah mate I would. There can be some stuff on them from manufacturing

Cool, and one more thing, is vinegar + water really any better than using citric acid + water for soaking my scrubbers in, or for putting in the still boiler to clean out the insides of the still?

[Urrazeb]

I use vinegar others use citric acid, suppose you could squeeze 30 lemons and get the same result

I use 4l vinegar and cover my elements. About 25l water

[SMOKEU]

I use vinegar others use citric acid, suppose you could squeeze 30 lemons and get the same result

I use 4l vinegar and cover my elements. About 25l water

I've already got vinegar so might as well use it, but citric acid is much cheaper than vinegar so next time I might use about 2-3tbsp of citric acid with maybe 6-7L of water.

[Jed]

So does any one know what brand scrubbers scourers from coles or woolies are good to use. I have enough copper but could still use some more stainless packing. I tried some home brand ones and they stuck to magnet like glue.

[OzKev]

I thought these were the ones to use

http://www.bunnings.com.au/mr-clean-tuf ... s_p4465903

[MacStill]

I thought these were the ones to use

http://www.bunnings.com.au/mr-clean-tuf ... s_p4465903

Yep, they have a jumbo version too.... the ones in the Blue pkt. are the go :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[OzKev]

I thought these were the ones to use

http://www.bunnings.com.au/mr-clean-tuf ... s_p4465903

Yep, they have a jumbo version too.... the ones in the Blue pkt. are the go :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Is this the stuff?

http://www.bunnings.com.au/sifa-500g-gr ... -_p1667875

[pulsetech]

I thought these were the ones to use

http://www.bunnings.com.au/mr-clean-tuf ... s_p4465903

Yep, they have a jumbo version too.... the ones in the Blue pkt. are the go :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Is this the stuff?

http://www.bunnings.com.au/sifa-500g-gr ... -_p1667875

That's just steel wool not Stainless Steel. it will rust in 2 seconds flat