What is this rust on my brand new kettle?

[arnobg]

The OPs kettle is a Spike bargain cave purchase.

To clarify on the SS Brewtech kettle, they recommend not using oxy with hard water.

First of all what does bargain cave purchase have to do with anything? Spike bargain cave kettles are normally listed because of blemishes on the exterior and those blemishes are described in the listing. They would be held to the same quality standard as other kettles with the exception of the issues described in the listing.

Secondly how would you know what kettle this is? Maybe based off another thread I posted in, but who's to say I don't have two other kettles? Anyways, that's not the point..... though I do have two other kettles....

I brewed my first batch in this kettle today. As soon as I started heating my mash water the rust came back in both spots. After my brew day I cleaned the kettle thoroughly and with BKF again and it was gone. Seems I am going to have to clean with BKF every brew day which seems annoying. It doesn't rust though until water sits in it.

 

[jsprinceiii]

I brewed my first batch in this kettle today. As soon as I started heating my mash water the rust came back in both spots. After my brew day I cleaned the kettle thoroughly and with BKF again and it was gone. Seems I am going to have to clean with BKF every brew day which seems annoying. It doesn't rust though until water sits in it.

Curious.
Electric or gas?

 

[arnobg]

Curious.
Electric or gas?

Gas

 

[oujens]

First of all what does bargain cave purchase have to do with anything? Spike bargain cave kettles are normally listed because of blemishes on the exterior and those blemishes are described in the listing. They would be held to the same quality standard as other kettles with the exception of the issues described in the listing.

Secondly how would you know what kettle this is? Maybe based off another thread I posted in, but who's to say I don't have two other kettles? Anyways, that's not the point..... though I do have two other kettles....

I brewed my first batch in this kettle today. As soon as I started heating my mash water the rust came back in both spots. After my brew day I cleaned the kettle thoroughly and with BKF again and it was gone. Seems I am going to have to clean with BKF every brew day which seems annoying. It doesn't rust though until water sits in it.

Sorry, I think my tone didn't come off right. Nothing wrong with the bargain cave. I would have purchased that same kettle...but I'm curious what return policies are on a bargain cave kettle. I'm sure Spike would do you right. It's easy to identify the kettle based on your pictures, and I saw you post this in a Spike thread. I do not think you should have to clean with BKF everyday. They say you hit the spot once and it's gone for good. If that didn't happen, I would get back in touch with Spike.

 

[arnobg]

Sorry, I think my tone didn't come off right. Nothing wrong with the bargain cave. I would have purchased that same kettle...but I'm curious what return policies are on a bargain cave kettle. I'm sure Spike would do you right. It's easy to identify the kettle based on your pictures, and I saw you post this in a Spike thread. I do not think you should have to clean with BKF everyday. They say you hit the spot once and it's gone for good. If that didn't happen, I would get back in touch with Spike.

They did say if I had any issues later on to let them know. Right now it is an annoyance more than anything. If it rusted just sitting there for a few days I would be concerned however, it takes putting water in it to do the deed.

I had custom work done to the kettle, so in my book it's as good as a normal purchase just with a discount.

 

[augiedoggy]

First of all what does bargain cave purchase have to do with anything? Spike bargain cave kettles are normally listed because of blemishes on the exterior and those blemishes are described in the listing. They would be held to the same quality standard as other kettles with the exception of the issues described in the listing.

Secondly how would you know what kettle this is? Maybe based off another thread I posted in, but who's to say I don't have two other kettles? Anyways, that's not the point..... though I do have two other kettles....

I brewed my first batch in this kettle today. As soon as I started heating my mash water the rust came back in both spots. After my brew day I cleaned the kettle thoroughly and with BKF again and it was gone. Seems I am going to have to clean with BKF every brew day which seems annoying. It doesn't rust though until water sits in it.

There is ferrous metal contamination embedded into the stainless.. it will continue to rust there for a while at least till its gone.... lIts just cosmetic and wont hurt or effect performance or the beer. a couple years ago we all used steel based electric elements that often rusted in the kettle too.

If it was a discounted bargain cave blem I am not shocked at spikes lack at jumping to replace it...
I dont see how it really matters if you got it from ss or spike though they both seem to normally have tight control over the quality coming from their respective chinese manufacturers (if they arent the same one). again this is a factory second so to speak and they are usually sold without warranty's for cosmetic defects. unless of course its not the spike kettle your talking about but since you decided to not disclose this again we can all just assume and draw our own conclusions then... unless your planning on using that bit of info to try to force spike into replacing it or youll give tham bad press here?

 

[augiedoggy]

Easy to dismissed when you were not the one who paid $250 for the pot. I say hold the supplier accountable to replace. They will, the power of internet bad press on forums like this demands that they do. They may just restock it, and take a chance that the next buyer is Sconnie12 ... because for him it's not a problem.

For that kind of money I would expect the pot to do some fabulous things my regular 15.5gallon stainless kettles with ballvalves couldnt do for $120... Seriously though to pay that much for a chinese made kettle I would expect it to be the vary cream of the crop polished and all with custom fittings welded in... Otherwise what are you paying twice retail for? its certianly not steller customer service..... Unless this is a bargain blem buy in which case the buyer already got a large discount for cosmetic reasons..

Of course since its a mystery pot who knows how much it was and what was included or not included in the purchase.

 

[augiedoggy]

It is an SS Brewtech.

not to get off topic but if its 304 stainless PBW/oxyclean is completely safe and how breweries clean thier 304 stainless equipment.. In fact the whole reason breweries even use 304 stainless is its ability to hold up to even much straonger caustic cleaners they use...

SSbrewtech doesnt make thier products. they may design them but it seems they have a bit to learn about 304 stainless and why its normally used... Its not just for a cool marketing term in real brewery use.

I'm actually having a hard time swallowing that they told you this. Are you sure your not mistaken?

 

[arnobg]

There is ferrous metal contamination embedded into the stainless.. it will continue to rust there for a while at least till its gone.... lIts just cosmetic and wont hurt or effect performance or the beer. a couple years ago we all used steel based electric elements that often rusted in the kettle too.

If it was a discounted bargain cave blem I am not shocked at spikes lack at jumping to replace it...
I dont see how it really matters if you got it from ss or spike though they both seem to normally have tight control over the quality coming from their respective chinese manufacturers (if they arent the same one). again this is a factory second so to speak and they are usually sold without warranty's for cosmetic defects. unless of course its not the spike kettle your talking about but since you decided to not disclose this again we can all just assume and draw our own conclusions then... unless your planning on using that bit of info to try to force spike into replacing it or youll give tham bad press here?

It doesn't matter who it came from...and this wasn't a discounted kettle due to this "blemish" or I wouldn't have asked about it to begin with. Who would buy a dented kettle for example and then post something one a forum asking why a kettle is dented?

 

[augiedoggy]

It doesn't matter who it came from...and this wasn't a discounted kettle due to this "blemish" or I wouldn't have asked about it to begin with. Who would buy a dented kettle for example and then post something one a forum asking why a kettle is dented?

I get what your saying but it doesnt normally work that way though... if you buy a scratch and dent item and then find another scratch elsewhere the store usually sees that as the same defect... its cosmetically flawed period. like a blem tire or car battery the warranty if any doesnt cover any cosmetic flaws that may result from use.
Granted Spike may still replace it especially due to this thread but the fact it you stated you bought a high end kettle and left out the fact that you did not pay the high end price for the full "support" which no doubt is one of the reasons they cost more normally to cover losses from people who want to return them...\ Honestly if they were super quick to replace it with a new one I might question what kind of costs replacement policies like that would have on the overall cost being higher for it... I for one like reasonable prices for quality products with reasonable warranties vs high costs for great return policies.... getting the most for your money is obviously a factor for you too since you bought from the bargain blem clearance section..

 

[arnobg]

I get what your saying but it doesnt normally work that way though... if you buy a scratch and dent item and then find another scratch elsewhere the store usually sees that as the same defect... its cosmetically flawed period. like a blem tire or car battery the warranty if any doesnt cover any cosmetic flaws that may result from use.
Granted Spike may still replace it especially due to this thread but the fact it you stated you bought a high end kettle and left out the fact that you did not pay the high end price for the full "support" which no doubt is one of the reasons they cost more normally to cover losses from people who want to return them...\ Honestly if they were super quick to replace it with a new one I might question what kind of costs replacement policies like that would have on the overall cost being higher for it... I for one like reasonable prices for quality products with reasonable warranties vs high costs for great return policies.... getting the most for your money is obviously a factor for you too since you bought from the bargain blem clearance section..

While I completely see your point, I am not here to try to get a replacement kettle or I would be talking to the company and not sitting here on a forum. After all, this thread is named "what is this rust on my brand new kettle" not "should I return this kettle". I was simply looking for input on what was going on and if it was an issue at all....

 

[augiedoggy]

While I completely see your point, I am not here to try to get a replacement kettle or I would be talking to the company and not sitting here on a forum. After all, this thread is named "what is this rust on my brand new kettle" not "should I return this kettle". I was simply looking for input on what was going on and if it was an issue at all....

Understood... It seemed like you were going to use the thread as leverage against the seller... There has actually been a few threads like that here I've come across.

A couple thingsyou can try if you want to stop the rusting you could leave water in it so the iron rusts faster and you can remove it when cleaning. You can also use a dap of jb weld in the pitted area. (it is food safe I use it myself in a bad weld seam on one of my cheap no name conicals).

 

[Gerry_P]

Reading a previous post about leaving the forum reminded me of an old saying my dear, sweet grandmother used to say, rest her soul. It had something to do with doors making forceful contact with one's backside. I wish I could remember how it went exactly....

 

[Justintoxicated]

not to get off topic but if its 304 stainless PBW/oxyclean is completely safe and how breweries clean thier 304 stainless equipment.. In fact the whole reason breweries even use 304 stainless is its ability to hold up to even much straonger caustic cleaners they use...

SSbrewtech doesnt make thier products. they may design them but it seems they have a bit to learn about 304 stainless and why its normally used... Its not just for a cool marketing term in real brewery use.

I'm actually having a hard time swallowing that they told you this. Are you sure your not mistaken?

Yea, it was on the directions, which of course I read right after cleaning it with oxyclean lol. It didn't do anything to the kettle, but it was certainly on the pamphlet the pot came with. I shrugged it off, I have been using oxyclean for years since it rinses out easier than other cleaners. I think it did say PBW was O.K. though which contains oxyclean anyways.