Can I use this old kettle?

[JediMeister]

I was at my father's today and while helping him around the shop we came across his old crawfish pot. Looks to be a 15 to 20 gallon aluminum stock pot. He has replaced it a year or so ago and it has some age to it. Its not rusted up bad but there are spots here and there that are best described as rust or stained.

Is there a product out there that can make this pot usable for a boil kettle. I'm trying to move to all grain and my current 5g pot wont cut it. So this would be the last part I need.

 

[JRems]

Use some bar keepers friend (bkf) to clean the pot. It will remove all the old crap and will shine like new. Then follow the directions to boil water to oxidize the pot before your first brew.

 

[JediMeister]

where can I pick up some bkf?

 

[Golddiggie]

where can I pick up some bkf?

Most grocery stores will carry it in the cleaning products section... If not, get some from Amazon...

 

[JRems]

Either the supermarket or most good hardware stores.

 

[outside92129]

homedepot has it in the cleaning section.

 

[JediMeister]

nice. thanks guys this will speed up my transition to all grain by months

 

[wilserbrewer]

If the pot is as old as I imagine, you may need something more aggressivve than BKF. BKF is great stuff, but it is more of a polish type abrasive. I cleaned up a very old 20 gal alum kettle that looked like it was used for clam bakes. What I found to work well is a green scrubby pad, medium then fine sandpaper. Sandpaper will be coarse enough to "brighten" the pot up, then use a scrubby, then BKF if you desire. Recondition the pot with boiling water to provide the oxide layer.

I love BK for cleaning and polishing SS, with aluminum not so much. Don't be afraid to tear into it, then polish a bit. Lastly re-oxidize.