Cleaning Up

Copper

Tarn-X cleaner???

Wash with soapy water first.  Rub on, wipe off.  Use cotton ball.  Then rinse in cold water and wipe dry.

States on Tarn-X bottle:

“Do not use on stainless steel, chrome, pewter, aluminum, brass, zinc, artificially oxidized silver, knife blades, lacquered surfaces, pearls opals or porous stones.  Avoid spilling on laminates, countertops, Formica or synthetic surfaces which may be affected, clean surfaces immediately.  Use in well vented area.”

Also states:  “DO NOT SOAK ANY OBJECTS IN TARN-X FOR OVER TWO MINUTES.”

Forget about it!

DIY “Tarn-X”

Make your own “Tarn-X” — Cheaper …. Safer …….

Mix 500 ml ( 2.1133 US cups) of water, 100 ml of hydrogen peroxide (a 100ml shot glass, or 3 oz, or 6 tablespoons), and 30 grams (2 teaspoons) powdered citric acid.  Lemon juice will work but a second best.  Hydrogen peroxide by itself will not work.It works a little slower than Tarn-x when applied but gets it just as clean.

Cleaning the 1/4 inch copper tubing in the condenser— 1. Put a stop on the bottom of the copper tubing.  2. Use a small funnel or a hobby syringe and fill the copper tubing with the cleaning solution.  You can partially fill the tube, but make sure the solution travels the length from bottom to top and back a few times … by turning the tubing numerous times 180 degrees, pause, then turn it back.

Copper has great heat dissipation – avoids scorching 

Copper removes the sulfides (ONLY if it is in the vapor stream)

People can tell if copper was in the vapor stream by the lack of a sulfur taste

Pure copper only — NO STEEL MESH THAT IS COPPER CLAD!!!!!

Fruits very likely to have lots of sulfides, grains & sugar wash less present

When copper gets a dull look it is only a protective coat for the copper.  It is still OK

If a black substance develops, that is poisonous.

The green-blue substance that develops, that is also poisonous.

You can instead use Glass marbles, Ceramic ration rings to trap sulfides.

Stainless Steel

Calcium buildup in Stainless Steel pots= use CLR cleaning solution available everywhere. Don’t use it on copper (it says that right on the bottle).

Wipe it on with a cloth. It removes it right away. Rinse with water.