Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hopefully this is a basic question. We just bought an FSD 4" Modular Pot Still and are getting ready to set it up and clean it.

How much of the copper mesh that came with it should we put in the column and how tightly should it be rolled? I assume it goes in the bend above the top 2" reducer but should we pack the entire bend around to the condenser?

The closest answers I could find in the forums were:

"I have packed the two inch piping at the top of the still with copper mesh that 5Star supplied."

from here and

"I rolled each one so that it was just oversize. Then using another cut off section of mesh I inserted my roll and then tightened the mesh "sock" top and bottom. This compresses the roll just enough to allow to fit inside the column."

from here with a photo here.

I am pretty sure with the pot still its there purely to remove sulphids usually there is a short length of pipe 100-150mm long pack that with copper and put it on boiler first down the bottom between boiler and the pot still.If it did not come with a short section anywhere on the rising vapour will be ok :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I do not think were ya put it is critical,I would make up a firmly rolled roll and put in the top of the first 2-4inch reducer,a snug not tight fit,between 250-500gr will be fine ,ifn ya have not cleaned the mesh with some waste high ABV spirit or metho soaking for a few mins and rinse with hot water and repeat with fresh spirit or metho ,do that first befor ya cleaning and sac run,as it can be quite oily.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

Thanks guys. It looks like like the position doesn't matter too much. I was planning to clean it in metho and citric acid before the vinegar wash, maybe even the dishwasher too.

I am not sure I like the idear of using detergents on copper packing in a dishwasher wich may leave a smell and taste or even worst corrode the stuff,and SWMBO may get upset with oily residue too ,anhooo your choice.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

:text-+1: be careful using detergents some will carry over

hillzabilly wrote:I am not sure I like the idear of using detergents on copper packing in a dishwasher wich may leave a smell and taste or even worst corrode the stuff,and SWMBO may get upset with oily residue too ,anhooo your choice.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

Fair enough. I had seen dishwasher use mentioned a few times.

As a one off,with fresh packing with oil you may be fine as you will be doing a vinegar then sac run wich should get rid of any nasties left over ,what I am more concerned about would be people getting it into their head to do it all the time,instead of vinegar or citric acid baths between runs.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

Hi rahl
The 200g roll we supplied will fit into the 2” bend at the top when rolled correctly .
When I have told people to use the dishwasher it was always without a tablet.
The mesh does need special attention.

Thanks everyone. I think I have a pretty good idea of what to do now :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I found the best cleaner was foreshots.... use metho if you don’t have any yet.