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Thread: Copper pipe fittings?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2022
    Location
    Essex Junction, VT
    Posts
    297

    Default Copper pipe fittings?

    Does anyone have any qualms about copper pipe and fittings in the evaporator flow such as from pan to pan or the drawoff? (from food safety or flavor standpoint)? Looking at a sort of backyard setup on marketplace with copper fittings visible in the pictures.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    North Grenville, Ontario
    Posts
    980

    Default

    I wouldn’t worry about a fitting here or there as long as they are not lead soldered joints. Copper used to be a safe metal to use in the food industry because of its qualities. But it has been phased out in recent years. Not to sure why. It’s naturally anti microbial and isn’t full of chemicals like plastic pipe that can leach into products.
    600 taps on vacuum
    Lapierre mechanical Releaser
    CDL electric releaser
    2.5 x 10 CDL Venturi ( new for the 2024 season )
    Home made modulating auto draw off
    Homemade RO 2 x 4" membranes
    CDL 16 x 16 bottler
    Wesfab 7" filter press
    Delaval 73 vacuum pumps

    12 hives of bees

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Essex VT
    Posts
    409

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    All types of copper are not acceptable in maple sugaring. Copper pipe, fittings, valves not labeled lead free, and pans. Copper can contain up to 5% lead and due to the acidity of maple sap, lead can leach out of the copper.
    2004- 470 taps on gravity and buckets
    2006- 590 taps on gravity and buckets 300 gph RO
    2009- 845 taps on vacuum no buckets, 600 gph RO
    2010- 925 taps on vacuum new 2 stage vacuum pump
    2014- 3045 taps on vacuum, new 1200 gph RO
    2015- 3104 taps on vacuum
    2017- 3213 taps on vacuum
    3' x 10' oil fired evaporator with steamaway

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,671

    Default

    Just use leadfree components. The copper is all leadfree, you only need to watch fittings and valves. You might need to use SS valves.
    Dave Klish, I recently bought a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

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