Using a cork for a chamber reducer?

[brickfollett]

Well, I figured I'd ask. I've been thinking about doing a simple chamber reducer for my RSST, and it seems like a wine cork, either synthetic or natural would be a very easy material to work with.

I want to make sure that this is completely safe. Does a natural or sythetic cork put off harmful fumes when exposed to heat? My top cap gets very hot, and how will the juice react to the cork? It just seems like such a material would work beautifully given the similar diameter to my top cap and the material would probably stick in there pretty well.

Thoughts?

 

[State O' Flux]

I wouldn't recommend it. Although it's hard to determine the level of heat a cork reducer would have to tolerate... have you ever seen someone use burnt natural cork as face camouflage? It leaves a jet black, sticky coating. And synthetic... what is that made out of, plastic, rubber? At sufficient temperature, I suspect either are carcinogenic.

You'd want to use something that does not burn or out-gas when confronted with heat. Glass, stainless steel... porous ceramics, like those use in aquariums, are non-toxic, heat resistant and fairly easily carved with a dremel or die grinder.

 

[Rat2chat2]

Ditto to what State O' Flux said.

 

[Rickajho]

The smell of burnt Beaujolais is the only thing that comes to mind. Bad idea.

 

[Dominique Hoogduin]

cork was used as a protective heatshield for spaceshuttles.. so i guess its heat resistant. But unsure about fumes coming off it.

 

[Tbev]

Personally I'd try it and see if you taste cork, it's only wood. But I tend to live on the edge...

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[brickfollett]

unfortunately I got my hands on a synthetic one, and was able to craft it beautifully. Just finished about 10 minutes ago. I've only taken a few toots on it, but after your responses, I think the wise choice is to scrap it. Natural cork is something i've seen here and there with fair success. I had a solid aluminum one built out of a beer can that i destroyed to try to make a liner for the cork reducer.

Aquarium ceramic isn't a bad idea. I'm a aquarium PRO FYI. Freshwater, saltwater, plants, reef's you name it, I've owned it. Besides cichlids though. The Ceramic bio rings tend to be on the small side though. Nobody makes a big enough piece to match the top cap, but the principle would work beautifully if Fluval's Biomax rings were about double the size. I've seen people suggest marbles too. Think I'll just go back to the beer can method for the time being, that was working pretty well

I also did see the delrin kit that is in production specifically for the RSST. Not interested at the price tag, and seems to delete the option for the fill cap. Bring on the suggestions though!

 

[brickfollett]

According to a VERY scientific article I read, Cork (natural) starts to lose its... springyness at 200 C. I don't believe we're experiencing temps anywhere near that high as the boiling temp is 100 C. My top cap gets hot, but not enough to boil water lol. I found an old natural cork and redid it.



Edit: The natural cork did seem to add a bitterness to the flavor. No more cork for me. I settled on the beer can method. Just cut it to fit, and stuffed the excess area with cotton because I know I didn't get a perfect seal (with the negative screw and fill plug) Here is the final design for now





Here you can see my sloppy cutout for the negative screw.



And I just had to share my fancy new drip tip, courtesy of Drip Tip Designz. Quality stuff from those guys. Really rounds off my whole Semi Hybrid Provari + RSST + GrModders beauty ring

 

[Tbev]

Good looking setup b bud.

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