keggle rust problem

[RonRock]

I have some decommissioned kegs "on order" from a local brewery. Given what you guys have experienced with plasma cutting and the cleanup, would you still go with a plasma cutter, or go for an angle grinder on a jig?

I've done 6 kegs with my plasma cutter. Never any trouble with slag. I'm real surprised at the trouble MrStrangeBrew has had. Even a bit of slag normally knocks right off.

I would say be sure to fill the keg with water, plasma cut it. Maybe clean up the cut with a grinder, then hot soak with Oxyclean and a quick scrub with Scotchbrite, done.

The round grind stones work very well on edges. Not the disks, they will catch on the edge and are harder to control.

 

[MrStrangeBrew]

I've done 6 kegs with my plasma cutter. Never any trouble with slag. I'm real surprised at the trouble MrStrangeBrew has had. Even a bit of slag normally knocks right off.

I would say be sure to fill the keg with water, plasma cut it. Maybe clean up the cut with a grinder, then hot soak with Oxyclean and a quick scrub with Scotchbrite, done.

The round grind stones work very well on edges. Not the disks, they will catch on the edge and are harder to control.

i figured it was just my luck. thanks for confirming that.

 

[RonRock]

I really hope you can get your keg cleaned up. I'm sure you will, just try not to grind or gouge too deep. It will all work out, just takes a bit more effort than it will on the next one.

Been there, Done that. Many times on many different projects. It's how I learn. I have to Foul (trying to be PC) the first one up, then the next one is better.

 

[MrStrangeBrew]

I really hope you can get your keg cleaned up. I'm sure you will, just try not to grind or gouge too deep. It will all work out, just takes a bit more effort than it will on the next one.

Been there, Done that. Many times on many different projects. It's how I learn. I have to Foul (trying to be PC) the first one up, then the next one is better.

yeah i hear ya. im gonna start goin at it with those green pads in a bit then ill smooth it out with the brown scuffing discs and then give it another soak in bar keepers friend and go at it with scotch brite pad. got two of them to do too. oh well like u said its all about learning. you think oxyclean is better then BKF for something like this?

 

[GrandRiverZip]

Ron Rock is right, as long as there is water filling it, cut away with the plasma, but a grinder using the lip as a guide is how i will do my next one. That way I have a comparison...

 

[RonRock]

Not sure if Oxy is better than BKF. I have just let the hot water oxyclean mix soak usually overnight, then as I'm draining the keg give it a good scrub with a green scotchbrite. Cleans the smoke residue from the plasma cut right up.

As far as the slag goes, I'd try scraping it off first. Then any left over maybe hit it with a sanding disk. If you use a sanding disk it will cause sanding scratches that will need to be sanded out with finer and finer disks. Eventually getting to the scotchbrite pads and a smooth surface.


Maybe you can knock the slag off with a paint stick or plastic scraper? Something that won't scrape the finish as easily as a chisel.

One thing about it. If the slag don't come off easily it is probably stuck there for good if you just leave it. If it isn't too bad maybe just leave it. It's on the Hot Side, what's it going to hurt? Just a thought.

 

[MrStrangeBrew]

Not sure if Oxy is better than BKF. I have just let the hot water oxyclean mix soak usually overnight, then as I'm draining the keg give it a good scrub with a green scotchbrite. Cleans the smoke residue from the plasma cut right up.

As far as the slag goes, I'd try scraping it off first. Then any left over maybe hit it with a sanding disk. If you use a sanding disk it will cause sanding scratches that will need to be sanded out with finer and finer disks. Eventually getting to the scotchbrite pads and a smooth surface.


Maybe you can knock the slag off with a paint stick or plastic scraper? Something that won't scrape the finish as easily as a chisel.

One thing about it. If the slag don't come off easily it is probably stuck there for good if you just leave it. If it isn't too bad maybe just leave it. It's on the Hot Side, what's it going to hurt? Just a thought.

thats what i was thinking. also is it possible that the slag melted the steel a little bit causing it to be a little crater or raise it up so it feels like slag but its really just part of the keg? i was going to use one keg for HLT and the other for BK. so i think i mite be ok since like you said it is on the hot side.

 

[RonRock]

My guess is that the slag was so hot when it hit the keg, that it melted into the metal. Causing a bit of a pit in the base metal rather than a bump. That is why it surprises me that it won't simply pop off. Without actually seeing it myself it is hard to say. But I'd guess that it is not as bad as it seems. You will probably forget about it once you start using the keggles. And if not you can always scrape and scrub a little each time.

I did not notice in the thread. Is this on the bottom? Or sides of the keg? Bottom would probably be easier to sand and smooth than the sides. But it is also farther away from the top where the plasma cut, so the slag should have cooled somewhat before hitting.

 

[MrStrangeBrew]

My guess is that the slag was so hot when it hit the keg, that it melted into the metal. Causing a bit of a pit in the base metal rather than a bump. That is why it surprises me that it won't simply pop off. Without actually seeing it myself it is hard to say. But I'd guess that it is not as bad as it seems. You will probably forget about it once you start using the keggles. And if not you can always scrape and scrub a little each time.

I did not notice in the thread. Is this on the bottom? Or sides of the keg? Bottom would probably be easier to sand and smooth than the sides. But it is also farther away from the top where the plasma cut, so the slag should have cooled somewhat before hitting.

this is the best i could do for a pic. its on the bottom and sides and it doesnt seem to be poppin off at all. i tried metal gasket scraper and chisels and scuff pads. havent used green one yet. still a little scared too lol. plus i have to pretend im working for a bit while im here i guess. i just dont wana grind too much material off for no reason.

 

[RonRock]

From that shot it don't look bad at all. I would not worry about using a green scotchbrite. Those pads aren't very coarse you will not hurt anything. If a "Greenie" smooths it out I'd call it good. Otherwise I'd maybe think about using a sander first, then finishing with a finer grit, then maybe a greenie.

 

[MrStrangeBrew]

From that shot it don't look bad at all. I would not worry about using a green scotchbrite. Those pads aren't very coarse you will not hurt anything. If a "Greenie" smooths it out I'd call it good. Otherwise I'd maybe think about using a sander first, then finishing with a finer grit, then maybe a greenie.

yeah im gonna get started eith the greenie when its done drying out. ill post a pic when done. most likely tomorrow

 

[bluecarpetsample]

To get that stuff off, you should use a flap wheel and then follow that up by using a green scruby with Barkeeper's Friend. The oxalic acid in it (which does the cleaning) will oxidize the stainless, which passivates it. Make sure you get all of the spots off with the flap wheel before using the BKF, so as to remove all of the contaminates from the plasma slag.

 

[RonRock]

That sounds like a good route to take.

 

[MrStrangeBrew]

so finally finished grinding all the stupid slag off. im pretty happy with results and it mite not look pretty but no more slag and i dont think i damaged the keg either i was gentle and tried not to stay too long in one spot. they are bothnow soaking in BKF which i will let sit until thew end of work today. i starting soaking them at around 8am and ill be done here about 5pm so ill rinse and wipe a few times and hopefully that will be good enough no re passivate. if i even needed too.

thanks to everyone for all your helps and tips! now onto the next project.....

 

[RonRock]

Gotta be happy with that. Cool for you.

 

[dmfa200]

Good to hear that.

Stainless steel is very resilient. Otherwise it wouldn't be one of the most commonly used metals.

As far as a keg goes I'd hit it with anything I've got. Just as long as it's clean.

If I had one of those Blichmann kettles or a conical I'd be a little more cautious, but that's only because I wouldn't want to mess up the finish. Not because I'd contaminate it.

 

[russ64]

I recently took the time to make my own keggle. I gave the keg to a friend to plasma cut, i cleaned and removed the spear first when everything was done there was metal splatter and didnt notice it till i did a test boil. Read the forms and everyone was lucky to have beer still im the keg or as other posted said to fill with water. Well i didnt do that so what do i do now? Soaked with hot oxy clean? Didn't work. Bar keepers friend? Nope it helped remove the rust but didnt take off the slag. Used a Scotch-Brite pad? Also didnt help much, what helped for me was getting a metal grinding/polishing pad from home depot. Its not a metal grinder blade its more sand paper grinder wheel. Now this scratches the bottom of the keg but does this even matter? I re-passivication the keg by useing star-san and seems to be fine. I hope this helps some one all that work for nothing definitely sucked but I think I salvaged it.View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1434455624.320147.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1434455645.421126.jpg

 

[helterscelter]

I recently took the time to make my own keggle. I gave the keg to a friend to plasma cut, i cleaned and removed the spear first when everything was done there was metal splatter and didnt notice it till i did a test boil. Read the forms and everyone was lucky to have beer still im the keg or as other posted said to fill with water. Well i didnt do that so what do i do now? Soaked with hot oxy clean? Didn't work. Bar keepers friend? Nope it helped remove the rust but didnt take off the slag. Used a Scotch-Brite pad? Also didnt help much, what helped for me was getting a metal grinding/polishing pad from home depot. Its not a metal grinder blade its more sand paper grinder wheel. Now this scratches the bottom of the keg but does this even matter? I re-passivication the keg by useing star-san and seems to be fine. I hope this helps some one all that work for nothing definitely sucked but I think I salvaged it.

Is that pic a before or an after? (I sure hope it's a before)

 

[russ64]

Its a before ill try to load the after not sure why it didnt up load both here before and after. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1434455758.939773.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1434455769.591376.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1434455779.170846.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1434455788.495457.jpg