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Author Topic: Do I need to use BKF to re-passivate?  (Read 2061 times)

Offline blatz

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Do I need to use BKF to re-passivate?
« on: December 31, 2010, 11:08:45 am »
I just acid washed my conical with DAC (basically super strength beer line cleaner) then acid soaked with ALC (Acid Line Cleaner) to finally rid myself of a hideous beerstone ring.

Question is, do I need to now scrub with BKF to "re-passivate"?

Can't hurt I imagine, but should I?
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

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Offline blatz

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Re: Do I need to use BKF to re-passivate?
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2010, 11:29:58 am »
Looks like Palmer says its a good idea:

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB-1.html

The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

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Offline mabrungard

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Re: Do I need to use BKF to re-passivate?
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2010, 03:44:10 pm »
This is something that John is expert in.  Go with the pro.
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Offline johnf

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Re: Do I need to use BKF to re-passivate?
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2010, 04:49:28 pm »
DAC appears to be sodium and potassium hydroxide which is different than BLC but in either case wouldn't have harmed the passivation on the stainless. Any acid that will remove beerstone can probably passivate stainless anyway.

It won't hurt to rub her down with oxalic acid (BKF) but it isn't going to be necessary.

Another way of looking at it is that a lot of draught faucets and shanks are stainless. If passivation were required after using the line cleaners that micromatic is selling I can guarantee you micromatic would recommend and sell a third product for passivation.

Offline blatz

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Re: Do I need to use BKF to re-passivate?
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2010, 04:52:41 pm »
If passivation were required after using the line cleaners that micromatic is selling I can guarantee you micromatic would recommend and sell a third product for passivation.

hehe - absolutely right on that count!

I followed John Palmer's recommendation in the book and gave it a good scrub down with BKF then rinsed well, toweled off and let dry in the sun for a few hours.  doesn't look like the BKF did anything different, but what the heck.

that said, I am so happy now to have a conical that looks as good as new again - I tried everything to rid myself of beerstone, and this did the trick.

thanks for the advice and happy new years all!
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

BJCP National: F0281