cracked brewpot....

[oguss0311]

After no more than 4 batches of extract brewing, my brewpot (which is a $50 16 qt. thing from Bed Bath and Beyond or a similar store) has started to crack. The rim looks like a flipping battle ax. The walls of the thing show signs of cracking as well, but have not been noticed leaking fluids. I'm frustrated.
Has this happened to anyone else? I can only speculate that perhaps my pouring of recently cooled wort from brewpot to carboy (to aerate (sp)) could have had enough temp. difference to cause such a phenomenon.
Regardless- can some one help me identify the cause- so I can modify my current methods so as to NOT destroy my equipment?

 

[WOP31]

Is it Stainless Steel? I haven't heard of this happening before. The only thing that i could think of is if it enamel coated and the enamel is starting to crack other than that I am a bit useless.

pictures would be good too

Cheers

 

[Seabee John]

What type of pot is it? SS, enamel covered, aluminum? Most of what you find in BBB and stores like that for under $100 are actually for show - the kind of stuff you hang on an overhead pot rack in your kitchen so it "looks" like you have a chef's kitchen. On the other hand, I found a 16QT enamel covered pot ($20) at target that I used for my first two brews (then I went and paid almost $200 for a SS mega from Nothern Brewers.) Long story short is; you get what you pay for. Ever think about going full boils? I know some say it's unethical, but you can pick up a keggle on craigs list for under $100 (I scored one for $40 - before I heard about all the "the brewery owns the keg - not the distributer" talk) You may be able to find one already set up from someone getting out of HB. It's worth a look. In the end, $50 bucks isn't alot for a good pot, but it is for a cracked one.
-good luck

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

That shouldn't happen, dude. Get an aluminum or SS pot and you should be fine.

 

[david_42]

The damage sounds excessive, I'd take it back.

 

[oguss0311]

Right- I should have mentioned that this is a s/s brewpot. I doubt I'll go ahead and add pics- I'm not a computer person. I'll will be bringing it back, and spending the money on a real brewpot. I'm even more frustrated that no one has at least the faintest idea what could have caused this. But- like has been said before- you get what you pay for. Too flipping bad $50 can't buy a damn brew pot. (sigh....)

 

[ChrisS]

It almost sounds like metal fatigue. I don’t know who made your pot, but someone or something fell asleep at the wheel there since it seems like your pot was made too brittle.