restoring a keg

[Yob]

I've got a keg that's not in great nick, been through a fire etc, it's a 23lt pin lock, any easy way to restore the stainless? Starsan bath or citric acid do the job?

If it's a write off I could easily make a letterbox out of it

 

[sp0rk]

Citric or oxalic acid would be the go, should remove most rust and marks

 

[highstrike]

Grab some oxalic acid based cleaner and use a ScotchBrite (the one for stainless) and give it a good scrub. It will remove the rust (as well as the oxide layer on the stainless so let it repassivate first). If there are any of the dreaded stickers, get rid of those first so that the oxalic acid clean is the last thing.

You can get Oxalic Acid from a paint store or hardware store except it won't be called just "Oxalic Acid". I've used a Diggers product and I think it was called "Stain & Rust Remover". Also Cabot's Deck Clean. I have used CLR as well on the EXTERIOR of a keg but not sure what the active ingredient in that is.

Cheers
Simon

 

[Batz]

I'll use it for something else Yob, hell they really ain't that expensive.
I have one that was part of a bulk buy, this one is what would have to be called a junker ( I bought four and got ripped with one). Anyway I'm thinking of cutting it in half length ways and making a pool table light out of it.

Batz

 

[Yob]

I hear ya, this one's got some sentimental history to it so will possibly go the letter box direction to it.. It's a fair mess and would take 'a bit' of effort

 

[DU99]

cleaning keg..change the post's..

 

[Yob]

What do you mean DU99?

Naturally if I could get it clean enough to use I'd be changing the posts, what I was after was methods to restore an passivate the ss

 

[DU99]

cleaning keg as in putting a cleaning solution for cleaning your beer lines.that's if i don't clean up to well

 

[Yob]

It needs more than Percabonate mate..

 

[Yob]

1g p/L citric acid bath coming up, it's worthwhile just to give it a go to see how close I can get it. Nothing really to lose as I've got the citric acid just sitting there.

How is the SS pasivated post the acid bath?

 

[thedragon]

Yob, you've got me curious. Can you post a pic of the keg? Never seen one that's been on fire.

 

[Yob]

Will do, it survived (kinda) the bush fires that destroyed my old man's home.. It ain't pretty atm

 

[Feldon]

How is the SS pasivated post the acid bath?

SS self-passivates with exposure to oxygen in the air. Makes all the little chromium atoms in the alloy turn their shiny faces to the sun.

So dry immediately after clean to help the process along.

 

[Yob]

Its got a long way to go before I could put beer in it, inside was better than the outside though

 

[thedragon]

Will do, it survived (kinda) the bush fires that destroyed my old man's home.. It ain't pretty atm

I'm sorry to hear it Yob, and can understand the sentimental value.

Whether it holds beer again or not, it sounds like you've got plans to keep the memory alive.

 

[Yob]

One way or another mate

 

[dicko]

Hi Yob,
I dont know what this is like but it might be worth a try LINK

 

[Yob]

Things you find at 2 am

Top work mate,

Cheers

 

[dicko]

Things you find at 2 am

Top work mate,

Cheers

That is what I get for going to sleep at 7.30 pm.....don't ya hate that. :lol:

 

[highstrike]

Keg 1.JPG

Keg 2.JPG

Its got a long way to go before I could put beer in it, inside was better than the outside though

That's some rust going on there!

My first thought wasn't real positive but then I had a closer look and, despite the apparently plain brown cylinder, I think (hope) there's a working keg in there. You've got no choice but to give it a go but I think persistence is going to be the order of the day.

I've brought back cast iron cookware that rusty so at least you're in with a chance. Yes, I had to be persistent and try many different methods as described on the net.

Good luck!