Rust...

[theCougfan97]

I bought a Mash Tun/Converted Keg from a guy, after I got it home and started cleaning it up, I realized there are some rust spots on the home-made mesh screen. I am told this is a product of poor MIG welding skills... Is there anything I can coat the area in to protect my wort from the rust, I am thinking some sort of silicone caulk or something along those lines, or is the rust not a big deal.

Thanks in advance

 

[day_trippr]

Ugh. Don't try to coat rust, it'll never hold and who knows what'll leach out of the coating in the meantime. I'd rather contend with a bit of rust than goop.

Sand/grind/remove as much of the rust you can, then get some BKF, make up a thick slurry with a bit of water, scrub the rusty spots and see if that cleans them up...

Cheers!

 

[feinbera]

Iron oxide also isn't so bad for you, and will likely settle out and get left behind in the kettle trub or primary fermentor trub anyway, if you're worried about the "flavor contribution."

 

[augiedoggy]

I second bar keepers friend there's an acid in it that treats the surface to passivate it and help prevent the rust from returning.