Using Copper

[Phador]

hello all,
I posted a thread about a wine tasting good, but having that all to recognizable rotten egg smell. I splash racked a couple times and the smell has decreased quite a bit. I bought some 3/8 copper tubing often used in refrigeration, and I'm wondering if I clean and sanitize properly if it would be useful as a sort of racking cane or tube. Would using it during racking be enough time for the copper to work it's magic? Anything else I should know if I follow this avenue?

 

[jswordy]

There are people who do this as a matter of course. I know one winemaker who uses copper tubing everyplace I'd use plastic tube. You should be fine.

 

[djrockinsteve]

More importantly why does your wine have this issue. Usually from stressed yeast caused by any number of factors such as too hot a fermentation, lack of oxygen caused by fermenting in a carboy too long, lack of nutrients etc.

Figure out why this occurred to avoid the problem in the future.

 

[mavisstwineco]

I did this exact thing for my racking cane. I pinched the end and rolled it over itself a couple times to seal one end. Then drilled a hole through the copper about a half inch above the folded end. ( this is to keep the flow off of the sediment when you get to the bottom) I bent the cane on the other end and attached my hose to it. I had to use a blow dryer (heat gun) to stretch the hose over the copper tubing. It works beautifully, and I know a plumber so I didn't even pay for the copper.

 

[vacuumpumpman]

I also have a copper racking cane that I have made - But I don't use it much at all.