Intro from Adelaide

[RoytheBoy]

Hi All,

Just thought I would introduce myself.

I have been “lurking” in the background for a few weeks busily devouring all of the technical info whilst on a parts sourcing mission. The intent is to build an offset head column that will eventually sit on a 50lt boiler (type M coupler). Column height will be 1200mm with a 200mm condenser packed with stainless scourers. A few more bits and pieces to get and then fabrication time!

I do have one question though... the “boiler” I managed to lay my hands on was last filled 11/2018 and has sat in someone’s garage up until 3 weeks ago. I have since removered the spear and cleaned with approx 40ltrs of hot water and 4 finish dishwasher tablets.. I sealed he4 up and let sit for 48 hrs aggitating several times a day. After draining and rinsing I can see that the inside is spotless and smells clean with very beer odor. However, the interior finish appears to be a dark grey to brackish in color - before and after cleaning. Is this normal? I had assumed the the interior would be a bright stainless appearance. Can I assume that the stainless has been passivated?

Look forward the any insights. :-B

By the way... love the Site!!

RtB

[woodduck]

Hi there and welcome :greetings-waveyellow:

Sorry can't help with the keg question.

Good luck with the build mate.

[Doubleuj]

I’d say the dishwasher tablets might have affected the inside. Probably won’t hurt.
Maybe try some cold water cleaner from the brew shop.
Welcome here btw :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[The Stig]

I would just use Napisan
Works a treat

[RoytheBoy]

Hi there and welcome :greetings-waveyellow:

Sorry can't help with the keg question.

Good luck with the build mate.

Thanks Woodduck

[RoytheBoy]

I’d say the dishwasher tablets might have affected the inside. Probably won’t hurt.
Maybe try some cold water cleaner from the brew shop.
Welcome here btw :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cheers and Thanks

[RoytheBoy]

I would just use Napisan
Works a treat

Thanks Stig.
Will give it a try.

[RC Al]

This will be the coating inside the keg, what its for, as i was informed by a vineyard owner a couple of weeks ago, is to keep the product carbonated longer, apparently bare SS reacts with the bubbles adversely, this link claims its to stop metallic tasting product, both make sense, https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtop ... =2&t=36003

What its made of i dont know (some sort of epoxy?) but we probably should, i'm just about to jump over to an old 80l keg without said coating, so im not too stressed about it for myself

[scythe]

I wouldn't think there was coating inside a stainless keg there isn't in mine at least.
The liner/coating they are referring to is to do with aluminium kegs for beer.

[RoytheBoy]

I don’t think is a coating per se. it’s more like a Passivation treatment. I will try to take a few images over the weekend. Hopefully it has had time to dry since the wash. It’s a fairly new keg by the appearance of it and is manufactured in Europe.

Cheers

[Lowie]

Once you've started stillin the inside of your keg is going to change, especially if you make rum! I wouldn't be worrying about it myself.

[bluc]

If your just talking dull silver vs highly polished yea my guess is passivated...

[Triangle]

The interior should be dull grey but not dark if stainless and in good condition.

Stainless steel is stainless when there is a chromium oxide layer formed by exposure to oxygen (hence the dull finish).

Black is from being left in a wet environment and/or caustic material esp. salt......dishwasher tablets/chlorine bleaches etc. Best always stored dry and exposed to oxygen.

I don't know the makeup of the SS used in kegs, if there is Nickel then that will turn black if exposed......

Can you get a picture up?

[RoytheBoy]

The interior should be dull grey but not dark if stainless and in good condition.

Stainless steel is stainless when there is a chromium oxide layer formed by exposure to oxygen (hence the dull finish).

Black is from being left in a wet environment and/or caustic material esp. salt......dishwasher tablets/chlorine bleaches etc. Best always stored dry and exposed to oxygen.

I don't know the makeup of the SS used in kegs, if there is Nickel then that will turn black if exposed......

Can you get a picture up?

Yes will post an image this weekend. It is a dull gray. Based on the previous comment re Passivation I m feeling that this is the case.

[Professor Green]

Welcome to AD RoytheBoy.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

[RoytheBoy]

Welcome to AD RoytheBoy.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Thanks Prof. Green

[db1979]

Once you've started stillin the inside of your keg is going to change, especially if you make rum! I wouldn't be worrying about it myself.

:text-+1: although I have no experience with rum. Only volatile substances make it out of the boiler and into the column so what's in the boiler is less of a concern than what's in the still, especially the product side of the still.

[RoytheBoy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I had a bettter look now that the keg is well an truly dry inside and what I thought was a dark grey surface colour, is now more of an lighter satin type finish. I think the wet interior had looked much darker. :roll:

Happy days!!