Rusting bottle caps

[kev]

Only started capping bottles in the last few months and am noticing that they are rusting very quickly.

Is it likely that sanitiser will make them rust quickly? any ideas on how to avoid it?

[Jacob]

Instead of using sanitiser put them in the boiling water for few minutes.

[DEMPSEY]

Rusting caps have being a problem that we hear about from time to time. Could be the starsan reacting with the metal. :-/

[kev]

Sound thanks

I used three different colours of cap from one of the big homebrew suppliers here... I'm presuming they are bog standard caps, so wouldn't have thought it was them.

I'll try hot water the next time

[Ciderhead]

where are you storing, my bottles condensing like mad in garage with temps all over the place at the moment.

[kev]

Storing them out in the shed, they were only out there for a few weeks but maybe that's it

[Ciderhead]

Storing them out in the shed, they were only out there for a few weeks but maybe that's it

Thats not it then and as Dempsey says is probably the starsan, as mine are sweating like a 70's BBC childrens presenter in a line up.

[newToBrew]

sweating like a 70's BBC childrens presenter in a line up.

love it !!!!

sweating like an Orange Man walking through Portlaw !!!

Sweating like Gary Glitter in a barney Suit !!!!!

as an aside ... I noticed some  caps I got before semmed to loose the (paint?) not rusty as such but quiet scratchy lookin -i guess the scratches do look a little rusty

I've always just  threw a bunch into the star san and any i didn't use just flung back in a bag ( wet)

so I guess may be the caps are kinda scratching each other when in the solution (maybe it gets itchy in there) and  thats how they are getting kinda scratchy/ rusty

I know my skin gets a little dry from putting my hands into the solution 

[DEMPSEY]

Quote from the Starsan tech steet,

STAR SAN HB is a blend of phosphoric acid and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.  This
synergistic blend provides a unique synergistic system that is unaffected by
excessive organic soils.  STAR SAN HB is also a self-foaming acid anionic detergent.  It
can be applied through a foamer to produce self-adhering foam or manual
application.  Cleaning with STAR SAN HB on a daily basis will leave equipment in an
acid condition that will eliminate water spotting, mineral build-up, and corrosion.  It is
not recommended to use STAR SAN HB on soft metals because of the acid nature of
this product.

The part about not recommending use on soft metals may be the clue to the question. :-/

full tech sheet here,
new to brew read about skin ,
http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/Star-San-HB4.pdf

[newToBrew]

ah - who reads manuals these days ?

[newToBrew]

jaysus - why did I do that ?

If on Skin or Clothing: Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call Poison Control Center for treatment advice.

I'm presuming this is refering to the Concentrate ?

I stick me arms into the five gallon mix quiet frequntly - looking aroung for bottle caps, bubblers - bungs - all those little things I fling into teh mix at the beginning

[DEMPSEY]

You could always borrow my new assistant,

[newToBrew]

 

send her down on the Express !!!!

[JimmyM]

haha, I love the filename - taking no chances of misplacing that one!

[Spud395]

I've had gold caps rust on me before, never used starsan