eric19312

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Yw

EZCyclone

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I like that you soldered those elbows on. I built a double coil chiller but was worried about solder in the wort. Is this really an issue? If not I will do a quick fixer up and show off some new pics of it! Thoughts?

NivekD

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Potable water has been running through soldered copper pipes for decades with no ill effects, use silver solder.

__________________
Bottled: Mexican Cerveza, Irish Stout, some Blue Moon clone
Kegged: Blue Moon clone, Irish Red Ale
Primary: Pepper Ale, My first attempt at Mead (JAOM)
Secondary: Russian Imperial Stout
On Deck: Not sure yet, any suggestions?
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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Tupperwolf

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For any of you guys looking to bend your own tubing, here's a tip: Fill it up with water, then freeze it. As quickly as you can (before the ice inside melts) bend it. The ice will keep the copper from kinking, and you don't need to buy a tubing bender.

whoaru99

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I used lead free plumbing solder and lead free plumbing paste flux.

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Primary: Empty
Bottled: Maibock
Bottled: Edwort's Apfelwein
Drinking: Irish Dry Stout

"Charlie don't surf."

EZCyclone

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I know solder is used, in water pipes, I have installed miles of the stuff. My concern was not even the oh so scary thing "lead" getting into my beer. That is not a concern at all. My worry was the metals in solder tend to give off a flavor, and I was worried about that. Not to mention that the solder being a different metal then the copper... What did we learn in school kids? Two dissimilar metals in an electrolytic solution is a battery! And a battery in said unbalanced solution, means there would be electrolysis going on and displacing copper, lead and/or zinc ions into our precious wort.

Sounds like an off flavor to me, anyone ever suck on a penny? Yeah, copper ions taste like poo!

To the OP, let me make VERY CLEAR, I'm not attacking you, not even close I LOVE that you did this and want to do it very badly! In fact I have the stuff and plan to very soon. I was just hoping others had a specif answer about using solder in a 212 deg f unbalanced solution we intend to drink. Not just potable water.

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~~~~
Galactic Geonauts Brewing Co.
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In fermentors: 8 batches of beer and 3 batches of wine
In Bottles: Chocolate Stout, Hoppy Wheat Amber, Tripple IPA, Red Beer, Malty Goodness, Heffe, Cider

Jbird

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Well I just looked up copper pipe on-line and to by what I want would be like $80. Then I still have to buy the clamps and plastic tubing. I might be able to look for a deal to buy, it just would save me time to just buy it pre made. A few dollars more is not to bad. I like the idea of making it for sure right now I think the price of copper is to high.

half_whit

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Could just be that my tap water comes out especially cold, but that 20 bucks of 3/8 copper got my chill time down to 8 minutes!

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Planning: Roasted Nut Brown Ale
Primary:
Secondary 1:
Secondary 2:
Conditioning: "Summer SMaSH" faux-pils
Consuming: Slut-Gaarden, Nutella Stout, "Hey, Blinkin!" ESB?

Jbird

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That's really good!

CaptMogul

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I have built two, the last one for the 15 gal kettle. The 1/2 " tubing was old and had problems sizing it to the kettle. I did get a few slight kinks though, not enough to restrict flow much. I ended up with the OD about an inch clearance from the kettle. My question is would a much smaller diameter, say 2-3 inch clearance cool any faster? As many have been built some one should have an answer. I do have insulation on the electric pot though.


Ed