how dirty is to dirty copper plates

[austenpowers]

I have run my 4 plate glass bubblier only once for a full 45l stripping run the the capps and the plates look light brown all over, brown copper look to them.

do we strip then down after every run and clean or is it only a problem if green?
they turned to that color towards the end of the run ... will they clean up a bit on the next run or come clean on there own . ive only used stainless steel products till now

how dirty is to dirty?

[woodduck]

Yep they'll go black mate. They won't clean up themselves unfortunately. I clean mine every so often (6-12 months depending on use) when I think they need it.

I too have a glasser and they are a pain to pull down so I made a blanking plate to triclamp to the bottom of the column then fill it with citric acid solution, let it sit overnight or so, empty it out and rinse. Seems to work ok for me.

[Doubleuj]

I’ve only ever pulled my still apart for a clean once I think in the last couple of years :teasing-neener:
She still looks clean enough and I find that the fores and heads do a good job every run

[austenpowers]

excellent. can you tell me the solution ratio of citric acid you use woodduck? also do you need to do a cleaning run after the solution bath? i think not but the ocd inside made me ask

give it another couple of weeks and she will be back up and running.

thanks guys

[woodduck]

My mix isn't very precise, a few good shakes into a bucket of water :laughing-rolling: the stronger it is the faster it will work I guess?

I don't do a sac run after I let the fores sort that out :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[bluc]

Sacrificial run more for after soldering has been done to clean out flux etc

[austenpowers]

thanks very much guys :romance-kisscheek:

[andybear]

I have had a good result by removing the top u tube assembly and pouring hot dunder straight after a rum run down the column. I repeat this for about 5 minutes. Use gloves as it's all hot. Not as good as a strip down but heaps easier.
I've also soaked the whole column in a bucket of hot dunder with good results too. Just need a really big bucket :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Of course you have to rinse well after.