Copper ploumbing from tanks-evaporator

[farmall h]

Question: Is it ok to use copper tubing to plumb from tanks to evaporator? Does sap have a chemical reaction to copper? I have seen evaporators made of copper so I assume it is safe. Of course I would use lead free solder (aqua-solder).

Yes...I fat fingered the word plumbing.-

[Bucket Head]

Its probably "safe" for the moment, but I would be proactive and plumb it with a food grade hose or stainless steel. Is there a dairy supply near you? They have hose that would be safe to use. I would imagine that stainless or food grade hose will be mandated and will be part of the inspections that are coming our way. Have you heard about having to register with the FDA by the end of the month? Oh yeah, its the start of things to come. Eventually food grade nylon, polyethelene and stainless will be the only things allowed to come into contact with sap and syrup. Save yourself a future headache.

Steve

[spencer11]

you could use black water pipe, thats what im doing for this year

[CBOYER]

Come on guys, every sap pre-heater is made of copper...
https://www.leaderevaporator.com/p-286-parallel-flow-sap-pre-heater.aspx

[Bucket Head]

For now they are...

Steve

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

Come on guys, every sap pre-heater is made of copper...
https://www.leaderevaporator.com/p-286-parallel-flow-sap-pre-heater.aspx (https://www.leaderevaporator.com/pkm-286-parallel-flow-sap-pre-heater.aspx)
No they are not, force five is stainless.

[noreast maple]

leader 30p 1 1/4 inch , works for sap !!!

[Bucket Head]

And oddly enough, 30P is made of food-safe polyethylene!

Steve

[western mainer]

They say 30P is safe now , what will the Gov. say in a few years? They change with the wind.
Brian

[Brian]

Copper is ok for now,but it does create copper sulphate during the off season.(the green powder)I use it but make sure you flush it with water good each spring.

[farmall h]

Thanks for the comments guys...I had some 1" copper left over from back when my house was built..I will use black water pipe for now. Ya never know....copper maybe worth as much as gold some day! :)

[Four D Acre Farms]

Hey it may be worth looking into dairy ops that are closing or have closed, i have found a farmer that i have been upgrading my feed line to stainless with quick clamps, easy disassembly/reassembly for cleaning. I am able to purchase for half of new price on straights and 90s and clamps and he even throws some stuff in the deal. it has been pretty affordable considering i will be able to use indefenatly even if upgrading the rig just adding some in the future or changing the routing wont require new purchase of all pieces again.


nate

[The Sweet Spot]

I used potable water hose, you know the white stuff you get for your R.V.. I used plumbing hangers to hang it on the wall. I can take it down and put the whole 25' in the sink to wash it.