jlevac Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 There is a bankruptcy auction going on with a lot of stainless tanks that were used in the perfume industry. Can these SS tanks be reclaimed and cleaned to be used in our distilling industry? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoscape Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Foreshots can be used to clean just about anything. They did a great number on a skunky smelling tote we had. We rotated the tote every few days letting the foreshots soak in on each side and it got rid of the smell. I think it would do the same with SS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swede Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Stainless will be more forgiving than plastics, so based on Panoscape's advice I'd go for it provided the price was right and the tanks are actually useful in a distillery environment. Plenty of distillers store their new make spirits in HDPE white plastic drums until ready for use. This may be a more cost effective solution for a new startup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkbodine Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I once came across a small stainless tank that had been used for perfume... nothing seemed to remove the smell; which did seem strange but there you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Coast Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I believe Old New Orleans Rum started with an old tank from the perfume industry. They might be able to give advice on removing the smell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevea Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Caustic cleaners, properly applied should do the job on stainless. Any gaskets, o-rings, even nylon fittings likely need to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CopperPig Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 A couple of my first fermenting bins were food oil IBC totes. It was easy enough to clean off the oil residue, and it took some steaming to reclaim a neutral cent. Point of the story...if they are a good deal, in decent shape, and you don't mind taking a little time to clean them (granted you could try to a vinegar solution), than you can easily get away using them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dehner Distillery Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 Be sure to never put bleach on stainless!!! It will destroy the alloy that makes stainless not rust! I personally would try micoabels or the nuclear last option is nitric acid. Be ultra careful!! It will remove any impurity a in or on stainless. Another note: take a magnet with you when you buy your tank. Cheap stainless a magnet will stick to,and if it sticks to it it has less nickel and more steel it the metal and can or could rust easy. Good luck! Joseph Master Distiller www.dehnerdistillery.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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