cleaning copper pipe

[Chard]

i guess this is the section to post this in...

well im building my brewery and got an old bit of 15mm copper pipe that im using in my mashtun from a local plumbers merchant.

its a pretty gross bit of pipe so i was wondering how best to clean it. i know it doesnt need to be all sparkly but its not just got the nice uniform oxidation layer on it but all manner of dark spots and i think something on the inside too.

i just dont want my 1st AG to taste like a penny so if there are any good tips on how to clean (cheaply that is) id be grateful

[kay-jay]

hi

just rub it with a scotch pad or any washing up sponge/scourer combo....use the scourer side its exactly the same as the rothenberger and monument tools stuff that gets overpriced and flogged to us plumbers.
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/cleaning-po ... 34-5/10001

this is what i use at work too...the green ones
http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M ... /Scourers/
as for the inside, i would.nt worry just scrub it with a bottle brush. then leave it and it will develop a natural patina from oxidisation and it should form a pretty even coat.

KJ

[kay-jay]

oh..and make sure the scourer is dry or you'll end up with streaks!

KJ

[Chard]

cheers that worked well. ill just ignore the inside of the pipe. out of site, out of mind i guess. ill run some hot water through it first to make sure its cleanish

[brewzone]

Drop some string through the pipe, tie a piece of scotchpad to one end and pull it back through a few times.

If the string is twice as long as the pipe and the scotchpad is tied in the middle of it You can pull it from both ends to save threading it through each pass.

[Chard]

i dont think that would cut the mustard.

as an experiment i put an old penny in some coke this afternoon as i heard in 2 days coke can clear copper really well. turns out it only needed 3hrs... which is worrying as i drink a lot of coke. oh well nice shiny innards for me

i might try this with the next bit of pipe as ill have lots of little connecting bits for my hopstopper. ill bung em all in a small bottle of coke and leave them overnight. take all the trouble out of it

[kay-jay]

hi,

i would reccomend doing a 'test' first. don't go putting your whole strainer into coke without a test on some scrap copper.

remember the copper you are using is a lot softer than a penny (which isn't really copper, i think its bronze??), and is much easier to be taken into solution! (cuprosolvency)
i wouldn't be at all surprised to find that coke is to chemically aggressive for the copper you will be using!

KJ