Rust - Removal or steer clear?

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Longhead23

Longhead23

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Morning all,

I am wanting to upgrade to all grain brewing, but have limited funds and I am slowly trying to acquire the right items.
I have the opportunity to purchase this 33ltr Stainless Steel stock pot with tap for around £30.00. Is it easy to remove the rust, or should I steer clear of this item and find an alternative?

Thanks in advance for the advice.
 

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An acid based cleaner like bar keepers friend and some elbow grease should do the trick. For £30 it’s well worth a go
 
If the SS base material itself has rusted, rather than just stained or covered with a superficial coating of rust from another source, it would suggest to me that it is very low grade material, and would be subject to ongoing corrosion problems. The only reason SS itself rusts is if it is contaminated with carbon steel which happens at the steelworks. I would give this item a very comprehensive inspection, looking particularly for areas of pitting corrosion, before handing over your hard earned.
 
I would buy it, then replace the bolts on the valve. They're designed to be taken apart anyway.
the rest can be cleaned up as suggested.
The bolts may be salvaged by soaking in citric acid overnight, then a stainless pan scourer would leave them looking good, but may rust again. I had some stainless bolts on a light fitting that went the same way - as there are many grades of "stainless" steel - some do rust.
The vessel itself looks pretty clean of rust, but you may find some rust spots on the welds. A soak with citric acid will work on those.
 
Is it rust or just grime? Stainless steel shouldn't rust unless it's been left outside in a maritime climate.
Look at the thickness of the bottom of the pot. If its considerably thicker than the sides then it's probably a good pot, but if the bottom feels much the same thickness as the sides then don't touch it with a barge pole. I've got a supposedly SS 15 litre pot I bought (cheaply) from a home brew supplier (in France) and it's rubbish- and it rusts, slightly, if I leave water to cool in it overnight. I only use it now for pasteurising top-up liquor.
 
Last edited:
Richie_asg1 said:
I had some stainless bolts on a light fitting that went the same way - as there are many grades of "stainless" steel - some do rust.
Click to expand...
There are indeed many grades of stainless steel, with different alloying and crystalline groups for different applications. However stainless steel does not 'rust' unless it the base metal has become contaminated with carbon steel at the steelworks due to poor segregation practices. Stainless steel may well corrode due to the presence of some chemicals in hostile environments but that is not rusting.

Longhead23 said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/33ltr-stainless-steel-stockpot-with-tap-Kettle-Hlt-mash-tun-Fermenter-tank/223892424910?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=225114&meid=99d1dff343bc4476ac765c9236a3cdfa&pid=100675&rk=4&rkt=15&mehot=none&sd=173375982457&itm=223892424910&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:8de3e128-4bef-11ea-b650-74dbd1800003|parentrq:2ea13ce21700aa18b38a6131ffe7ee0c|iid:1

Please take a look.
Click to expand...
I did. It tells us no more than you have been able to. I suggest you take a look at this item in person having taken on board the advice offered by members. Unless you are able to do this there is risk, just like any other item you buy off ebay like this. It might be fine and then again it might not.
 
Longhead23 said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/33ltr-stainless-steel-stockpot-with-tap-Kettle-Hlt-mash-tun-Fermenter-tank/223892424910?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=225114&meid=99d1dff343bc4476ac765c9236a3cdfa&pid=100675&rk=4&rkt=15&mehot=none&sd=173375982457&itm=223892424910&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:8de3e128-4bef-11ea-b650-74dbd1800003|parentrq:2ea13ce21700aa18b38a6131ffe7ee0c|iid:1

Please take a look.
Click to expand...
It's hard to tell, and he doesn't say, but it looks ok. When looking inside, the "lightweight" ones are normally more curved where the sides join the bottom. Also the handles and lid look robust, which is a good sign. As it's collection only, why not have a look or give the seller a call first?
 
I quote my son back in the 1960's who had just learned to read and asked "Dad, what does 'stainless' mean?"

"Why?" I asked "Because it says it on the rusty part of your diving knife." he replied.

I didn't get rid of the knife and a quick rub over using a stainless steel scrubber should soon remove any surface rust that has accumulated.

To make the steel "stainless" it has to be exposed to the air so that a thin layer of oxidised steel can form to prevent further corrosion. The two most common reasons for stainless steel to go "rusty" are:
  1. The oxidised film is damaged and the stainless steel is covered up.
  2. Someone uses a non-stainless steel scrubber (e.g. a Brillo Pad) or brush to clean the stainless steel.
In answer to your OP, I wouldn't worry about the rust. The handle should respond to a clean-up with a SS scrubber and the rust on the valve is of non-stainless parts.

Enjoy.
 
I suggest that any microscopic iron oxide layer on SS (removed by acid passivation or mechanical damage) is not the same as a noticeable layer or inclusions of 'rust'. If SS has 'rusted' it is of poor quality.
Most people on here will have good quality SS cookware in their kitchens and they don't rust do they? Certainly ours don't.
 
terrym said:
......... If SS has 'rusted' it is of poor quality. ......
Click to expand...

Agreed, but the presence of rust doesn't always mean that the stainless steel is of poor quality.

If you weld stainless steel and then use a non-stainless steel brush to remove the slag or the colouration from the welding, the steel will show signs of rust when it gets wet. The rust will come from the microscopic particles of ordinary steel that come off the non-stainless brush.

BTW, a good test as to the quality of the stainless steel is to try and stick a magnet to it. Top quality stainless steel is non-magnetic whereas poorer quality stainless steels will allow a magnet to stick although not with the same amount of power as ordinary steel.

Here's a site that explains the differing grades of stainless steel.

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=470

Enjoy.
 
Dutto said:
Agreed, but the presence of rust doesn't always mean that the stainless steel is of poor quality.

If you weld stainless steel and then use a non-stainless steel brush to remove the slag or the colouration from the welding, the steel will show signs of rust when it gets wet. The rust will come from the microscopic particles of ordinary steel that come off the non-stainless brush.

.
Click to expand...
Yup.
See my post #3 above.
"If the SS base material itself has rusted, rather than just stained or covered with a superficial coating of rust from another source, it would suggest to me that it is very low grade material, and would be subject to ongoing corrosion problems."
 

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