StillSmart

After yesterday's spirit run scorch marks have appeared in the bottom of the boiler, I did use ceramics and a few copper coins

It's quite normal in both the T500 and the Grainfather to find scorch marks. I have the same concealed element in my sparge heater and it leaves a heavy deposit just heating water.
I just sprinkle with vinegar and leave for a few of minutes before cleaning off, whatever you do, don't use a scourer pad, not even scotchbrite.

Thank VT quite worrying when you first see it.

Will any vinegar do?
I have malt and white wine

What bad thing happens VT?
I always use a Scotch brite type scourer.
It always gets it clean.
Is the arguement that it opens up tiny scratches for future staining?
I always thought that the reason SS didn't stain or rust was due to wear, tear, surface scratches and oxidisation of the outer layer?
Do you know something that I don't?

You probably know loads of stuff that I don't, and vice versa, LOL

Robert

OH NO ! Mine is completely crackered then:)
I have been scouring it for years - will I need to through all the alcohol away?


C'mon Vino - spill the beans.

What I said was just what I've picked up by working with SS, on the forums and from experience.
It's possible that I am completely do-lally and barking up the wrong tree.

I do know that shinny SS has only a small % of Chromium making up a layer of oxide which can be worn through. I don't know if you've seen an old kettle with the concealed element surface worn out, it looks like brass. I know that satin or brushed finishes get better over time as constant cleaning flattens the surface making it more shinny.

Keeping polished SS shinny is important but using scourers makes it go dull over time and the duller it gets, the more cleaning it needs. My Grainfather is going dull after only say 20 brews, but I did read somewhere that cleaning it doesn't effect it's resistance to corroding only to staining, when I say staining i'm talking short term and not permanent.

Salt and bleach are also a NO, it will corrode SS. A mild acid similar to SS descaler or any type of vinegar is an ideal cleaner.

Easydrinker wrote: You probably know loads of stuff that I don't, and vice versa, LOL

But a lot is rubbish accrued over 65 years of learning

I also have a good collection of utterly pointless gatherings.

Thanks

I fill in the gaps of what I learn from wherever, with stuff that the internet pixies plant in my head.

Robert.

Scratching or pitting would be a built in boil enhancer.

Read a thread somewhere else about these marks appearing in the boilers after use. I also read somewhere about modding the boiler with a piece of copper sheet between the boiler and the element to transfer the heat more efficiently and preventing the scorch marks.

Anybody here done this mod. If you have did it solve the problem.

I'm wondering if this happened because I let a wash that wasn't 100% cleared settle in the boiler before I started the run. Now if I've had wash sat in the boiler for any amount of time Ill give it a stir before starting.

Yup, yeasty crud settling on the bottom will do it.
You are gonna have to be pretty good with the stirring to move it.

Robert.

Don't pour the crud in. It won't do your boiler any good AND it is likely to produce off flavours.

Brewers friend is a very good cleaner for stainless

Also I have not used any coins since and its been fine so could have been that..