Rusty Stainless!?

[BadRock]

What causes stainless steel to rust? I have just built my own 3 tier sculpture and I have noticed that my keggle is beginning to rust. It seems to be where I used the wire brush on it. Anyone have any suggestions on how to make it stop? I thought stainless didn't rust! Thanks in advance!

[Thirsty Mallard]

Actually stainless steel can rust... it is not rust proof, just more resistant to rusting. It is just an alloy of steel, after all.

I wouldn't think cleaning SS with a wire brush is neccessary and you are probably doing more harm than good. If you have some stubborn gunk, try letting it soak in PBW solution overnight before breaking out a wire brush.

Or it could be low quality stainless steel. Try putting a magnet on it. If there is any magnetic attraction there, you probably have very low quality stainless steel and that is more prone to rust.

[Thirsty Mallard]

A quick search on Wikipedia brought up this, if you want something more technical...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

[The Finn]

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB-1.html
A step by step guide to remedy your kettle.

[bergerandfries]

Was it a regular steel brush? If so, you have regular steel bits embedded in your stainless. Once the rust has a seed start in those bits, it will rust out the stainless too. You might contact John Palmer on what to do since he is a metalurgist by career and brewer by obsession!

[mfischer2]

What causes stainless steel to rust? I have just built my own 3 tier sculpture and I have noticed that my keggle is beginning to rust. It seems to be where I used the wire brush on it. Anyone have any suggestions on how to make it stop? I thought stainless didn't rust! Thanks in advance!

Besides kissing your own biceps, chlorine bleach can rust stainless I believe.

[BadRock]

Well I feel a little bit ignorant about stainless. I have learned quite a bit from your posts and John Palmer. I guess I need to strip it down to bare metal and start over. Now all I need to do is get a hold of some Bar Keeper's Friend and some green scrubby pads. Thanks again!

[mfischer2]

Well I feel a little bit ignorant about stainless. I have learned quite a bit from your posts and John Palmer. I guess I need to strip it down to bare metal and start over. Now all I need to do is get a hold of some Bar Keeper's Friend and some green scrubby pads. Thanks again!

Walmart has Bar Keepers Friend for <$1. You can use it with a normal sponge as it is an abrasive in itself.