Keeping copper shiny

Just starting out and need some advise? then post it in here.

Keeping copper shiny

Postby stubbydrainer » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:34 pm

Hi folks
here's a question for the brains trust
How do you keep shiny copper shiny ? :think: :think: Is there a clear laquer or clear coating you can use on the still that isn't affected by the heat or alcohol ? Do any of you guys use anything ?
thanks in advance

Cheers
Stubbydrainer
stubbydrainer
 
Posts: 728
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:42 pm
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW
equipment: 4" perf. plate bubbler,2 1/2" pot with a triple wall liebig,
Small 8L pot for experiments & Gin, 6Kw 80ltr electric boiler , P.I.D/PWM controller
1/2 share with SBB in a 3" boka,

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby QLD.Andy » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:50 pm

Hair spray
QLD.Andy
 
Posts: 724
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:18 am
Location: andy.lives@qld.au/earth
equipment: Still Spirits T500 with Copper Mesh
McStill made Copper Parrot
McStill made Copper Pot Still

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby maheel » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:03 pm

QLD.Andy wrote:Hair spray


you serious or been drinking ? :laughing-rolling:

i thought Old Dog over on HD often talks about some sort of lacquer / varnish ? not sure what you need to handle the heat of +80c longer term etc ?
maheel
 

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby MacStill » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:11 pm

You can buy a lacquer specially for copper but it's about $30 for a spray can of it, hair spray (extra hold) will keep it from tarnishing but a wipe with brasso brings it up shmick too ;)
MacStill
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 16835
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:40 pm
Location: Wide Bay QLD
equipment: Anything I choose :P

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby Sam. » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:15 pm

Am I the only person on here that doesn't care what it looks like but the product it produces? :think:

P.S. I can see why you want your still shiny, they do look good (AKA copper porn :laughing-rolling: ) or if you are selling a product..
Sam.
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 10405
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:19 pm
Location: South Oz Straya
equipment: Original FSD 5 plate 4 inch modular bubbler SSG with hand crafted plates and parrot by Mac.
18 Gal boiler.
2 x 2400W elements and power controller.
.

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby MacStill » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:34 pm

I give mine a good shine up once first built, but once it's on a boiler I dont care what mine looks like on the outside..... it's the magic indside it that I'm interested in :mrgreen:

Having said that, most of the stills I've sold have been sent out so shiny it'll blind you if your not wearing sunnies.... I take pride in my work and like it to look as good as it can too.

I can understand that if someone invests the time/effort/dollars in building something they're proud of, then why not have it looking the part too.

I wouldnt want my Ferrari covered in mud :laughing-rolling:
MacStill
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 16835
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:40 pm
Location: Wide Bay QLD
equipment: Anything I choose :P

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby 4runnin » Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:40 pm

you could always try the high temp acrylic clear from an auto parts store it's the one used for painting engines just make sure when you spray it that all holes are covered so no overspray goes inside the still.

i think you may also be able to get it from bunnings too
4runnin
 
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:20 pm
Location: Sydney S/W
equipment: 2 inch Pot Still, 50L gas powered keg boiler, 2 inch LM/VM almost ready

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby stubbydrainer » Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:12 pm

Hair spray....... :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling: Fuck I wasn't expecting an answer like that :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Stubs
stubbydrainer
 
Posts: 728
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:42 pm
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW
equipment: 4" perf. plate bubbler,2 1/2" pot with a triple wall liebig,
Small 8L pot for experiments & Gin, 6Kw 80ltr electric boiler , P.I.D/PWM controller
1/2 share with SBB in a 3" boka,

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby olddog » Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:13 pm

All you are doing is sealing the surface of the copper to stop it oxidising. You could even paint it if you want a different color. :mrgreen:
olddog
 
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:57 am
equipment: Flute Mk 11 4 plate column with single 2" bubble caps

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby R-sole » Fri Oct 21, 2011 3:04 pm

1gonzo8.JPG


My second potstill. Caused a lot of discomfort on HD when i joined :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
R-sole
 
Posts: 0
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:15 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia
equipment: Keg based pot stiller. 3" vm for occasionally making product for macerations and redistillation.

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby 4runnin » Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:42 pm

my spirits wrote:You could even paint it if you want a different color.


5Star wrote:My second potstill. Caused a lot of discomfort on HD when i joined


awesome idea think i might paint my pot still (going to take a lot of work to clean it up nice and shiny only had hard silver solder so the whole thing is hard soldered so discoloured a lot from heat lol)

now to decide what colour.
4runnin
 
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:20 pm
Location: Sydney S/W
equipment: 2 inch Pot Still, 50L gas powered keg boiler, 2 inch LM/VM almost ready

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby maheel » Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:51 pm

5Star wrote:
My second potstill. Caused a lot of discomfort on HD when i joined :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:


here is 5Star hard at work putting the orange wonder together
NO WONDER you upset them lol

Image
maheel
 

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby R-sole » Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:29 pm

100% copper and silver solder. :teasing-neener:


AndIt'sDogDickRedPunkin
R-sole
 
Posts: 0
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:15 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia
equipment: Keg based pot stiller. 3" vm for occasionally making product for macerations and redistillation.

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby SBB » Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:40 pm

Is that Gonzo???.........it sure looks like one :lol:
SBB
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 2450
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:12 pm
Location: Northern NSW
equipment: (The Pelican) a 2 inch pot / stripper on 25L electric boiler interchangable with T500 reflux still...... 2 1/2 inch pot still on 50L keg (gas burner).....
3 inch Boka (half share with Draino),...... 4 inch 4 plate perforated plate Bubbler

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby R-sole » Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:28 pm

Yes, the still was named Gonzo. 8-)

The Bourbon girl reckoned it looked like 'rude bits'.... :lol:
R-sole
 
Posts: 0
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:15 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia
equipment: Keg based pot stiller. 3" vm for occasionally making product for macerations and redistillation.

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby SBB » Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:41 pm

Geeze the rude bits would have to be sunburnt to look like that :(
Last edited by SBB on Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SBB
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 2450
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:12 pm
Location: Northern NSW
equipment: (The Pelican) a 2 inch pot / stripper on 25L electric boiler interchangable with T500 reflux still...... 2 1/2 inch pot still on 50L keg (gas burner).....
3 inch Boka (half share with Draino),...... 4 inch 4 plate perforated plate Bubbler

Re: Keeping copper shiny

Postby jamjar » Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:46 pm

Did you use this to spray paint it?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
jamjar
 
Posts: 82
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:11 pm
Location: North QLD
equipment: 2" Boka


Return to Beginners Questions



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests

x