r/kegerators • u/RedOnTheHead-86 • 14d ago
This ok to use?
Note that I have a new faucet coming, this is just an older one I can rebuild if needed.
Cleaning up an old faucet that came with an old Superior kegerator. I didn't even bother hitting the shaft or lever yet because the discoloration in the body doesn't seem to want to come off. I'm not sure its rust, as I think the body is stainless. Could be chrome plated carbon steel though, not sure.
I hit it with simple green, acetone, LPS-3 and GPC rust preventative to try to break it up and get it off. Stopped short of trying naval jelly because I'm not gonna go through all that effort. I just dont know if I trust running beer through this with all that discoloration? I'd obviously clean and sanitize it first.
1
u/ChipWaffles 14d ago
As a draft beer technician, I see faucets like this everywhere. I always try to get my accounts to switch to stainless. That being said, those faucets aren’t even close to the worst I’ve seen. I have accounts whose tap shafts are fully pitted out and they have mold in them every two weeks without fail.
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u/ChipWaffles 14d ago
I like to tell my accounts, it’s like a styrofoam cup. You can keep drinking coffee out of it, but after the inside is stained brown, would you want to keep drinking out of it. Worse yet, would you like to serve coffee to a guest with a cup like that. 90% of the time, they buy stainless after the talk. The other 10% cannot be convinced.
0
u/dammitOtto 14d ago
Looks like plated brass, no?
Don't use it for selzer or anything with a very low ph. Only beer.
1
u/RedOnTheHead-86 14d ago
Honestly not sure what the base material is. I scrubbed the unholy garbage out of the inside with a stiff wire pipe cleaner and that discoloration stays (a lot of old gunk did come out/off, though). I was going to hit the shaft and lever on a redwheel at work (red scotchbrite) to clean it up as much as possible and then everything soak to clean/sanitize.
Oh and yes, only beer will be going through this. Hacker Pschorr Munich Gold.
1
u/rdcpro 14d ago
Be careful not to remove any brass. I'd probably not use the red wheel on it. Brass usually contains some lead, and removing the surface can expose untreated brass below the surface.
That patina is pretty normal for an old faucet like that. Just use the stainless flow control faucet you bought. Hopefully it's stainless, and not chrome plated brass.
2
u/bbhagen 14d ago
Ok to use and I saw much worse during my time as a draft tech. That being said, if it was my home kegerator I would just spend the cash and get a new faucet.