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**Reverend JC** · 01-18-2007, 10:39 PM

My brother cleaned up a few things during our last brew day and he was incharge of the CFC. Well, he must have run starsan in it and did not rinse with water. There is now a nice light green coating i can see on the inside of the copper when looking at the ends!!!!
Please tell me there is a solution i can run through it to clean that out. I dont want to have to pay for another 20ft of that crap.

**Reverend JC** · 01-19-2007, 12:30 AM

BUMP

Sorry, i had to bump it. I am trying really hard not to drive over to my brothers house and have words.

Orpheus · 01-19-2007, 01:19 AM

It sounds like oxidation of the copper. Usually that type of oxidation takes a long time with exposure to the elements to occur. I suppose he could have sped it up by filling it with a liquid, but I'm not sure if star san would speed this process or not.

As for removing it. I did a preliminary search for removing copper green or removing copper patina. One site suggested silver polish, but that doesn't seem practical. It may not have any effect on the taste of the beer, but I don't know for sure. Hope this is a good starting point for you at least.

Found more info. for you:

Quote:

Acid Cleaners

Acids help remove hard water deposits. Some acid cleaners help remove discoloration from aluminum, brass, bronze, and copper. Other acids remove iron rust stains. Acids are typically found in toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, metal cleaners, and kitchen and bath cleaners that remove mineral products.

* White vinegar, a weak acid, is about 5 percent acetic acid. It may remove hard water deposits from glass, rust stains from sinks, and tarnish from brass and copper.
* Lemon juice, another weak acid, contains citric acid, which can be used in much the same way as vinegar.
* Oxalic acid is effective as a rust remover.
* Phosphoric acid is often found in cleaning products that remove hard water deposits.
* Hydrochloric and sulfuric acids are sometimes used in diluted concentrations in toilet bowl cleaners.

Rust stains present a special problem on plumbing fixtures. Commercial rust removers contain oxalic acid. If you purchase oxalic acid at full strength, dilute it with 10 parts water. Follow all precautions when using oxalic acid, as this is a highly toxic product. A commercial product like ZUD may be effective on rust stains because it contains oxalic acid. When surfaces have become rough or pitted from repeated scrubbings with an abrasive cleaner, ZUD or a similar product may be mixed with water to form a paste and left standing on the stain for several minutes, then rinsed off.

For fixtures that are not acid resistant, clean with trisodium phosphate to remove the rust. Cream of tartar, a mild acid, may be mixed with water to form a paste rust remover.

and

Quote:

Green, blue-green stains (from copper or acid water)

* Soap suds and ammonia, then rinse
* or
* Mixture of half water and half ammonia; rinse well and flush pipes with water after using

dibby33 · 01-19-2007, 01:31 AM

I have no idea what chemicals to use but...

I would thread a length of string through the pipes (tie a bolt on or something heavy that fits) and then some cloth onto the end of the string, then attach some more string to the other end of the cloth. This way you can pull the cloth backwards and forwards to clean out the pipes.

Might work?

How about Brasso? ..do you get that in good ole US of A?

**olllllo** · 01-19-2007, 02:14 AM

Wort makes it shiney. I think you'll be fine.

**Reverend JC** · 01-19-2007, 02:25 AM

Well, i suppose i will try the vinegar/water solution through it and then some soap, them maybe some PBW and then a bit of boiling water. I hope it will not poison the beer and me some how.

**Hopfan** · 01-19-2007, 02:39 AM

I would just run more StarSan through it then rinse. It is a mild acid (just ask my countertops

) I wouldn't worry about it if it doesn't come off completely. I get a slight green on some of my copper tubes and after doing a brew and sanitizing, they're nice & shiny again.

**olllllo** · 01-19-2007, 02:40 AM

Wort will make it better.

**Reverend JC** · 01-19-2007, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olllllo

Wort will make it better.

That is so true, AND, can be applied to many things in life.

**Gabe** · 01-19-2007, 04:13 AM

Hey Reverand, use Phospharic acid in it's whole form. I work in a fab shop and we clean huge amounts of copper and SS. We just heat water to 180 deg and add a few table spoons of pure PA and it's new again. use your HLT for this concuaction and run it through your chiller slowly. I gaurentee this will work! Get it at welding shops in a 16 oz bottle! Good luck