Help needed with a RUST problem on BK

[jaxmoye]

First let me say thanks to all of the folks on this site. I'm a new brewer (4 months/4 brews) and have yet to post any questions because I have always been able to find my exact question asked and answered every time something has come up.

I now have a question that I can't find an answer to (its probably out there but I couldn't find it).

My brew pot has a couple long scratches along the inner side that match up exactly where my long metal spoon scrapes along while stirring. I looked closely when prepping for my next brew and noticed that it looked like the scratch has rusted. I have an el cheapo 5 gal SS pot that I bought as part of a turkey fryer setup for $50.

I tried to upload an image of the largest scratch.

I scrubbed the hell out of this scratch with a paper towel using bar keepers friend and it still looks rusted deep in the scratch. I think what happened is I scraped through the layer of SS and got into the aluminum(?) middle layer, which has now rusted.

I looked at other posts about surface rust spots and everything I find mentions barkeepers friend as a fix. I totally agree that the stuff is awesome and I use it on my SS weber grill all the time. But this rust is deep down in a scratch and not on the surface.

My Questions: 1. Should I use something a little more rough and try and sand the rust off? 2. Is the rust even harmful since I'm boiling it?

Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[cheesehed007]

I've never heard of aluminum or stainless steel rusting. Could it be dis colored from the wort? Maybe try something more corse then a paper towel. Good luck!

 

[jaxmoye]

Thanks - I can do that, I will try something a little tougher like the rough side of a sponge and see if that does anything.

Also, I don't know if it would affect anything but I have extremely hard water here in FL.

 

[jaxmoye]

Also here is another picture (its tough trying to take a pic on the inside of the pot). I'm 99% sure it is rust.

 

[jsguitar]

You might try a scotch brite pad with some Barkeeper's friend. If that doesn't do it, use new, fine sandpaper to remove the rust, rinse, and then rub a paste of Barkeeper's friend on there for a little while before rinsing again.