Is this weld sanitary?

[Jarreau82]

I just got my keg back from the welder. He welded on a 4” triclamp ferrule on top and a 1/2” nipple down towards the bottom so I can screw on a stainless ball valve to drain. I’m looking at the inside of the keg, backside of the nipple. Is this sanitary?

[zed255]

No it is not. Looks like your welder didn't back purge the keg, so what you see is called 'sugar' or 'sugaring'. That is the chromium that got oxidized out of the stainless. Looks pretty significant too, will likely rust a bit in that area no matter what you do.

I do my own welding now but when I started I had to be sure the shop I chose knew what a sanitary weld was. Not all welders are familiar with all materials and procedures.

[Jarreau82]

Dang I was afraid of that. Is there any way to fix this?

[zed255]

I'm no expert, but short of cutting the fitting off and going a size or two up to cut away the sugared area and welding with correct sanitary procedure, there is no 'fix' for what is there. Some might suggest sanding or grinding the sugar off and trying to passivate the area, but I've never successfully saved a heavily sugared area though your mileage may vary.

[witch]

Had same problem got my keg back same as your photo. I got small sander took of all the sugar from the weld made sure no flakes been using it now for six or so months just before RUN make sure still no flakes or rust run sander over. basically just keep your eye on it

[Jarreau82]

I’m not able to get a sander to it. I’ll have to do some cutting and go a size up like you suggested zed. Thanks.

[witch]

Yes in my case i had 6" sight glass in top of keg for filling cleaning. best of luck

[richard1]

I did an installation the other day where I had to cut out someone else's weld and redo it. In any case here is the photo.

[Salt Must Flow]

Grind it away. Watch it over time. What else can you do at this point other than that? The alternative is to cut it out and have it welded again.

[bunny]

Had same problem got my keg back same as your photo. I got small sander took of all the sugar from the weld made sure no flakes been using it now for six or so months just before RUN make sure still no flakes or rust run sander over. basically just keep your eye on it

I have zero experience with your type of problem.
Considering that, what if after you cleaned it all up you "tinned" the area with Stay-Brite 4% and Stay-Clean liquid flux?

[Ben]

I would just knock off the excess sugaring and run with it. It isn't "sanitary" but for our purposes it doesn't really matter, the trace iron oxide won't do you any harm, exposure time is low, its going to take many, many years for it to rust through... if it ever does. Grind it flat, hit it with bar keepers friend, run it.

It would be nice if it were cleaner, and if you were a food grade business where someone was inspecting you it would be a problem. If you were doing something where contact time was longer it might be an issue, but for a brewing boiler or a still duration it will be fine. If you were fermenting and storing in it there would be an issue with harboring bacteria and cleaning, but either boiling or stilling is going to kill anything that's alive.

[LWTCS]

Have to agree with Ben in that redoing is optional.
It's just not critical to have sanitary welds on this stuff.

[Windy City]

If you have a 4” ferrule get someone with a small enough arm in there to operate a grinder with a flap wheel to clean it up.
Repasivate it with a 10% solution of citric acid and you will have no problems

[The Baker]

If you have a 4” ferrule get someone with a small enough arm in there to operate a grinder with a flap wheel to clean it up.
Repasivate it with a 10% solution of citric acid and you will have no problems

Can you sort of put a long handle on the grinder?
It would have to be soundly done for safety...

Geoff

[howie]

If you have a 4” ferrule get someone with a small enough arm in there to operate a grinder with a flap wheel to clean it up.
Repasivate it with a 10% solution of citric acid and you will have no problems

Can you sort of put a long handle on the grinder?
It would have to be soundly done for safety...

Geoff

a dremmel with extension shaft on a stick?
or just a dremmel on a stick

[cob]

I have 3 sandblasters the nozzles are the same size, A pipe extension would not be hard to fab

or use The apparatus would be sort of sacrifical, but so are nozzles you only need to use it

once (hopefully). Does the ferrule weld look the same?

[Jarreau82]

Cob - the ferrule welds look pretty good as far as I can tell.

My wife has small enough arms to get in there, but I don’t think I can convince her to participate

[RimaNTSS]

Is this sanitary?

It looks ugly! I am not a professional welder, just do that for home needs, but my welds look more sanitary with no sugar inside, I mean not at all.

I am pretty sure, your welder is using too much current. Just tell him that.