using sheetrock for gypsum

I would be cautious about substituting an industrial product for a food grade product, especially when said product is intended to be dissolved in your beer. Impurities that are OK for construction may not be OK in your beer. I doubt there would be a big differences on mash pH and beer flavor; I'm thinking more about serving something to a guest with confidence that there is nothing in it that they would cause them to turn their noses, or worse. FWIW, here is a link about gypsum contaminants, including a section on sheet rock. https://www.natureswayresources.com/infosheets/gypsum.html

"Also, metals such as lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium in even smaller amounts may be present but well below the EPA 40 CFR Part 503 regulations."

Those regs appear to relate to standards for disposal of sewage sludge. Not an indicator of food grade.

 

For as easily as drywall/sheetrock grows mold when it gets wet, I'd say it's too risky to use in beer because I have a feeling that some of the mold spores may already be residents in the gypsum or its paper surface.

 

If it doesn't work at least you'll be in the running for a Darwin Award.

 

As an added benefit there is a thing known as Toxic Chinese Drywall. Not only is regular drywall not safe to eat, this particular variety gets its very own toxicity.

Just pass on the gypsum, ok?

You can't make this shit up.

 

Yeah, if you win a Darwin Award with a beer, let it be for some other reason and that the beer is at least still drinkable.

 

You mean like this one?

"(19 August 2007, Serbia) It's well known that alcohol impairs judgement. It's well known that carnivorous wild animals and humans don't mix. What happens when we combine all three? One might expect men, beer, and bears to combine with lethal consequences. Such was the case for a 23-year old man who inadvertently fed himself to Masha and Misha at the Belgrade Zoo. Serbia | It's well known that alcohol impairs judgement. It's well known that carnivorous wild animals and humans don't mix. What happens when we combine all three? One might expect men, beer, and bears to lead to lethal consequences.

Such was the case for a 23-year old man who fed himself to Masha and Misha at the Belgrade Zoo. His untouched clothes suggested that he approached the bears bare-naked by choice. The bears, fearing that his intentions were as dishonorable as they were ill-informed, meted out a quick justice.

The man's mauled corpse was found inside the bear habitat along with plenty of beer cans. Masha and Misha "reacted angrily" when keepers tried to recover the man's corpse, but were eventually persuaded to give up their prize.

The Zoo director said, "Only an idiot would jump into the bear cage."

Cheers!

 

Doesn't this thread beg a question? How do we know the gypsum we use doesn't contain the contaminates mentioned in this thread? The gypsum I buy from the brew stores typically only says its CaSO4 and has the price on it. It doesn't say anything about being safe for human consumption. Maybe we're all in the running for a Darwin award.

 

This is what's in sheetrock:
Drywall (also known as plasterboard, wallboard, sheet rock, gypsum board, buster board, custard board, or gypsum panel) is a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum), with or without additives, typically extruded between thick sheets of facer and backer paper, used in the construction of interior walls and ceilings.[1] The plaster is mixed with fiber (typically paper, fiberglass, asbestos, or a combination of these materials), plasticizer, foaming agent, and various additives that can reduce mildew, flammability, and water absorption.

The CaSO4 part is okey-dokey:
A non-toxic mineral, gypsum can be helpful to humans, animals, plant life, and the environment. While the majority of gypsum produced in North America is used to manufacture gypsum panel products or building plasters, gypsum can also be used:

• As a soil additive (sometimes called land plaster) to improve the soil’s workability and receptivity to moisture, and to overcome the corrosive effect of alkalinity. Gypsum specifically benefits such crops as alfalfa, corn, cotton, wheat, and peanuts where substantial amounts of sulfate sulphur are required.
• As an additive to turbid water, particularly ponds, to settle dirt and clay particles without injuring aquatic life.
• As a food additive. Gypsum (calcium sulfate) is recognized as acceptable for human consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a dietary source of calcium, to condition water used in brewing beer, to control the tartness and clarity of wine, and as an ingredient in canned vegetables, flour, white bread, ice cream, blue cheese, and other foods.
• As a color additive for drugs and cosmetics.
• A primary ingredient in toothpaste.

Besides, to win a Darwin award the recipient must have died as a result of ineptitude (or have genitalia so mutilated to prevent reproduction) . . . we know Vikeman uses gypsum and he's been around forever.

 

Not to mention my not mutilated genitalia.