| Author |
Message |
    
Tom
Member
Username: Benchbrew
Post Number: 102
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.103.167.27
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 08:33 am: | 
|
Is starsan safe on aluminum? I left 5 gallons of starsan solution setting in my boil kettle for 3 weeks and today found this white film left in the bottom and large deposits built up along the sides. (Calcium?) Not sure how im gonna get this off.
Also, I had my IC sitting in it too and it didn’t do anything to that.
Any suggestions on how to clean this or is my aluminum pot trashed? |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 3951
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.229.8
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 01:37 pm: |
|
Diluted Star San is safe for aluminum, but I would keep the contact time to less than three weeks.  The undiluted sanitizer will definitely corrode it.
Try an abrasive cleanser (Comet, etc.) on the aluminum (again don't let it soak too long). The pot may be too badly pitted to salvage, but it's worth a try. |
Sean Richens
Member
Username: Sean
Post Number: 197
Registered: 04-2001
Posted From: 142.161.107.33
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 12:51 am: |
|
Take-home message: Don't leave two dissimilar metals in contact with an electrolyte between them. I assume your chiller is copper. |
Tom
Member
Username: Benchbrew
Post Number: 103
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.103.161.117
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 06:34 pm: |
|
yeah sean, copper. It pitted the pot pretty bad. So bad that I now have tiny leaks. It this just because of the aluminum or can this happen with stainless too.
It didnt effect the IC at all, in fact it shines brighter then the day I got it! |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 3960
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.229.8
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 06:51 pm: |
|
Stainless is pretty much impervious to the acids in sanitizers, although very long exposure to bleach will pit it. Aluminum, on the other hand, needs to be treated more gently (but will work if some care is taken). There is a reason stainless is used in commercial breweries, food processing plants and pharmaceutical facilities. |
Sean Richens
Member
Username: Sean
Post Number: 198
Registered: 04-2001
Posted From: 142.161.105.222
| | Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 01:40 am: |
|
Well, there is a traditional cure for tiny holes in pots - stick a dry straw (not the drinking kind) through and it will swell and plug the hole when you use the pot.
In my experience copper and stainless are OK under normal use, no excessively acidic or basic solutions for extended periods, and a good rinse and air dry. They're not as far apart in the electromotive series, and the oxide layer on stainless is stable under acidic conditions (sulphuric acid excepted). |
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