Scorched element

[juggabrew]

So it happened. I was cleaning with PBW in my kettle then transferred that to my MLT and forgot to turn off the element. Scorched pretty good but I don’t think its fried. Some of it was wiping off but does anybody have a good way of cleaning this burnt mess off?

 

[sicktght311]

Overnight warm PBW soak, then run the element at full power in the morning followed by a heavy scrub. Maybe even a strong acid rinse afterwards as well

 

[Bobby_M]

Oven cleaner

 

[mongoose33]

I just had a little scorching on an element I use in my rims; several soaks with hot PBW and some scrubbing with a scrubbie worked it off.

 

[IslandLizard]

Oven cleaner

The lye it contains does the job, much better than sodium carbonate.

 

[juggabrew]

Cool I will try the oven cleaner. I tried just scrubbing it with left over cooled PBW and it’s coming off but pretty labor intensive. I’m out of PBW. What about bar keepers?

 

[IslandLizard]

Cool I will try the oven cleaner. I tried just scrubbing it with left over cooled PBW and it’s coming off but pretty labor intensive. I’m out of PBW. What about bar keepers?

PBW works better at higher temps. You can make your own homemade version for around $3 a pound.

If the elements aren't stainless there's a black coating on them. BKF may remove that. Some but not all elements can be fired dry, that would burn off the cake too, but it creates nasty smoke.

Really, soaking/immersing or slow simmering in a hot lye solution (1% lye is probably strong enough) should take care of it. Ace Hardware sells gallon jugs of 17% lye solution for ~$2. Or a teaspoon of drain opener in a gallon of water.

Lye is dangerous, be very careful! It's caustic, it dissolves skin and can (will) cause blindness if you get it in your eye if left unrinsed properly and untreated by a professional ASAP. Wear goggles or a full face shield and protective gloves. Not kidding.

 

[juggabrew]

PBW works better at higher temps. You can make your own homemade version for around $3 a pound.

If the elements aren't stainless there's a black coating on them. BKF may remove that. Some but not all elements can be fired dry, that would burn off the cake too, but it creates nasty smoke.

Really, soaking/immersing or slow simmering in a hot lye solution (1% lye is probably strong enough) should take care of it. Ace Hardware sells gallon jugs of 17% lye solution for ~$2. Or a teaspoon of drain opener in a gallon of water.

Lye is dangerous, be very careful! It's caustic, it dissolves skin and can (will) cause blindness if you get it in your eye if left unrinsed properly and untreated by a professional ASAP. Wear goggles or a full face shield and protective gloves. Not kidding.

Thanks. I may get the lye because I also have a cast iron pan I need to clean as well. I know you’re not joking I’m very aware of the dangers of chemicals. I used to work at a chemical plant in Cleveland and was on the hazmat team

 

[PrrCabin]

I soaked my scorched element in Oxyclean for about 2 weeks and that took most of black crud off

 

[tellyho]

Thanks. I may get the lye because I also have a cast iron pan I need to clean as well. I know you’re not joking I’m very aware of the dangers of chemicals. I used to work at a chemical plant in Cleveland and was on the hazmat team

Huh, I always just use a wire wheel on the cast iron. Usually only when I get a "new" one from garage sale. Other buildup over time is just seasoning!