"I am building my first still. It is a Valved Reflux and I have a question about packing. Some distillers use stainless steel scouring pads to pack the column and I was wondering if one could use stainless steel wool to do the same. It is available in course, medium or fine. This material is primarily used to stuff custom motorcycle or auto mufflers and comes usually on rolls 4"" wide and 18' or so long. I was just wondering if this might be acceptable providing it is not packed too tight.

tbird"

I am jumping to the wild conclusion the young man in question is building the hooch maker out of copper. If so..think it would work just fine to stuff it with SS scrubbers. Now if it being constructed of SS would vote for copper scrubbers..and take all the previous stuff back of course.

Ok the Rachling Rings thing is a attempt to peddle Rachlings rings. Like the man say you need some copper in the path of the distillate. I know the design seems like. The slow pokey plumber is supposed to be making me one since I aint mechanical minded. Glad he works cheap and has a scrap pile of copper which all that was needed was to snag a short run of three inch copper for the condenser shroud. Not sure about the density of the SS scrubbers. I have a roll of the copper chain mail stuff which was leftover from the real still aka the three inch Brewhaus Model. Best of fortunes on the deal.

copper mesh is a few times more effective than raschig rings. again in makin vodka we want many times re distillings to occur in the column.-- some copper is suposed to remove sulpher in any type of distillation so even in the pot mode some copper is still wanted. :)

"

Yeah--Vodka essence sounds like baloney too. Its good to talk about these things. HMMM maybe ill package some essence of water $$$$$$$$$$"

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ok what shal we call the water company??"

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Actually i dont think thought is really in this conversation"

If your gizmo is built like mine the rings could only go in the bottom segment of the tower cuz that the only place they wouldnt fall out. Would guess the copper goes in the top section. Im all copper packing and the general game plan is to roll it to where it fits snug enough to where it dont fall out but not overly aggressive snug either. Dont want any blockage. Think my rulebook said about 15 feet on a 3 inch column. You sorta got to roll it up and eyeball it. I have two plugs top and two plugs bottom. That stuff can be cut with scissors but it sure makes a mess in the house with little copper dingleberries flying every whichaway. Not real popular if you happen to have a house mouse. Might want to cut it outside.

Now who can afford a bank loan to buy all them Rachling Rings? Prez Osama has not got around to stimulating us yet. You sure it wouldnt be ok to just throw the little mystery chain down in there? Thanks.

Ok gotcha..however much is a liter. About like a quart in Americka right? I was figgering they need to be poured in there an inch deep or so. Now when it come time to dump the backset how do you fish them out of the boiler? Enquiring minds need to know this kinda stuff. Thanks.