Using copper heating pipe for food use?

[zigg]

I have some copper piping that was used in my central heating system that I want to use for my, shall we say, "brewing hobby". They look pretty clean inside ie, no obvious scale build up, so I wondered if there was any underlying reason why I shouldn't use them? Any comments, guys?
Thanks
Dave

 

[Nozzle]

Even if you were using brand spanking new virginal copper pipes, they'd need some sort of treatment before brewing/distilling. Perhaps find out what that process is, and carry on with the material you have.

Nozzle

 

[zigg]

I believe that home distillers make a first run with white vinegar to clean the eqpt out.

 

[Nige F]

I have some copper piping that was used in my central heating system that I want to use for my, shall we say, "brewing hobby".
Thanks
Dave

Watch out with that you can go blind drinking it.

 

[zigg]

I have some copper piping that was used in my central heating system that I want to use for my, shall we say, "brewing hobby".
Thanks
Dave

Watch out with that you can go blind drinking it.

If I was venturing into the world of distilling, I would be so full of the ins and outs of the possible consequences of not making the proper cuts during the actual distilling process, 'cos there is no shortage of info available out there, in terms of forums, help groups, videos etc. But as we all know, it's illegal, so I wouldn't be doing that, would I?

 

[Brigade77]

I'm seriously thinking about not giving it a go myself

I understand that what is distiilled is effectively a 'beer' wash & if I fell over my head could land in any one of 3 micro breweries that exist somewhere here-a-bouts

 

[zigg]

@Dork Lard, this is an excellent forum to learn about distilling, you can lose yourself for hours.....
http://homedistiller.org/forum/index.php

 

[Doggit]

White vineger, being an acid, may not be the best thing to clean it with, but I doubt it'd do too much harm either. Flush well before actually using the equipment though, or it'll taint the mixture. But as copper has fallen in price, I'd be tempted to invest in new 10M x 10mm pipe.

As most whisky is made using copper stills, it's a time honored material to use. Don't use potatoes, and throw away the first and last half cups of the distillation.

 

[Agile]

Home brewing is legal.

Any distillation is illegal.

Apart from possible dangerous fractions it can taste horrible!

 

[Jackrae]

Any distillation is illegal.

Only if you do it without a licence. There's plenty of small distilleries being set up for "specialist" spirit production see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/spirits-duty on how to get a licence.

 

[Agile]

I don't think you have read that.

It implies they will not give approval to small stills, only commercial sized stills.

 

[Jackrae]

Who said he had a small one
I don't think you've read it either, it implies HMRC may decline a licence
When I worked in the food industry we had a really small one -- which they came to inspect periodically

 

[Agile]

Yes, only commercially sized/used stills.

I don't think the OP wants anything commercial.

Many home designs use a coil of copper tube.

 

[oilboffin]

What else did I read could make you go blind

 

[Agile]

Because the first fraction includes some methyl alcohol which can make you blind.