Epic Passivation Battles of History.....Spike Vs SS Brewtech

[TechFanMD]

OK, I just got a brand new SS Brewtech brew kettle. Very nice piece of metal!

SS Brewtech says that passivation is necessary. https://ssbrewtech.zendesk.com/hc/e...at-acids-can-I-use-to-passivate-my-Stainless-

Spike says it's a lot about nothing, with some university research to back it up https://spikebrewing.freshdesk.com/...-i-need-to-passivate-my-equipment-before-use-

So what gives? Millions and millions of people have stainless cookware and don't purposely passivate. I have lots of stainless other stuff from my grill to cups, cookware and utensils and it all holds up great without this step....is the need to acid wash for passivation really necessary?

Are those preaching purposeful, acid passivation the flat-Earthers of the brew world or is this a necessary step?

Who wins? Who's next? You decide. (I had to.....sorry)

 

[Keith81]

I have a SS Brewtech Brew Bucket. Never passivated it. Haven't noticed any problems.

 

[Bobby_M]

Fill the kettle up with water and let it sit over night. If you get a few spots of surface rust at the kettle welds, scrub it a bit with bar keeper's friend and call it a day. If no rust, no problem. When stainless is heated to weld temps, the chromium layer can get disprupted and expose some iron to the surface which can rust. With adequate gas shielding or post weld polishing, repassivating is unnecessary.