Brewing with Bobby_M - Polishing Stainless

I polished my keg based boil kettle on a whim last year using Gator Grit finishing pads, Polishing pads, and metal polish sticks all found at Lowes. Since then a lot of people have asked me how I did it and if I had any ideas for other materials that could be used. This video is my experimentation while polishing my hot liquor tank (HLT). Sure, dirty kegs make beer too but I like to be half classy.

[@BobbyFromNJ]

@FireBrew63 I find that residue shows up when you use too high of an angle and the edge of the backing pad melts. It will buff off, but you can use acetone or lacquer thinner on a rag to wipe it off.

[@GarnettM]

An old camping trick cooking over open fire even open flame will leave soot , Rub dish soap all over bottom before liberally leave on do the cooking or whatever it will dry on then when you clean the pot it will come clean same thing doing mechanics rub on your hands before working hands will come spotless after . Try it it works .

[@BobbyFromNJ]

That's a good question. I'm not 100% sure what the gatorgrit stuff costs. I think It's about $7 per two pack on the finishing pads and $9 per two pack on the buffing pads. With the polishing compounds, you're looking at $20-25 per 1/2BBL keg if it doesn't need a first pass with the more coarse pads first. The jury is out on the caswell stuff because I don't know how much each keg needs for that stuff.

[@salvatorokocim]

Great video, Bobby. I have a couple kegs I am planning on shining up a bit and was doing some research of my own as well. What sort of cost comparision would you anticipate there is to get a complete keggle with the Lowe's stuff compared to the products you were trying out? I am not trying to get a "hey ma, look at my brand new All-Clad $500 pot" shine. As long as I get it shined up a little it will be a lot better than what it looks like now. Thanks again. Appreciate the video.

[@Pezlandia]

If you want your kettle as shiny as Bobby_Ms plan on spending some time with the grinder, I have been working on mine and it takes patience and a lot of buffing compound-so far, what I have done looks great-Thanks Bobby. Love the Vids. Whats next?

[@FireBrew63]

First off, thanks for all your videos, they have been very inspirational to me in making the move to all grain brewing. I don't have my system up and running yet, however, I have acquired 4 kegs (2 sankes and 2 Hoffs) this past week and am in the process of shining them up. I followed your steps but have run into a small problem. After using the polishing compound, there is a lot of black residue left. Do I keep buffing til it's gone or just try to wipe it off? Thanks in advance.

[@Jmgumballhead]

6 pads total for just one keg? i have 3 to polish for a friends system that's retiring in his brewery

[@amandocardenas4712]

green is actually "Chromium Oxide" the "Rouge" (Red in French) will be the redish colored blocks, I forget the actuall micron of Oxide but it's finer grit than the rouge. Nice work none the less, Thanks Bobby

[@salvatorokocim]

Did you buy the Arbor Kit from Caswell or get the pads seperately? Looks like the Arbor Kit can be connected to a drill as well as a grinder. I wonder if you connected it to a drill and turned down the speed if the wheels would perform any better. Guess that is something to potentially try.

[@Jmgumballhead]

Where did you get the Caswell from? Lowe’s doesn’t have the gator

[@kevbou911]

gator stuff aren't available here, so what can I use to polish my keg? should I use my grinder or my Orbital Sander or an Air Dual Action Sander?

[@bdiamond6199]

Where can I get old kegs on the cheap?

[@dankhimself]

The "Super Cheap Stuff That's Really Expensive" store. Also, small bars leave empty kegs outside. You could burgle em!

[@makinmoney614]

what is the red design from on the keg?

[@severedtesticles]

Where in hell can you get Gator Grit pads? It seems that they are very hard (ie: impossible) to find here in Canada and I don't even see them on the American Home Depot website! :(

[@andrewkakritz6874]

Lowes

[@vigilante76]

Just use the stuff from Canadian Tire... will work as well. Might not last as long but pads are cheap.

[@hebs007wrx]

Are you using an angle grinder, or a polisher or what.

[@CFHpantera]

6:21

[@Pezlandia]

If you want your kettle as shiny as Bobby_Ms plan on spending some time with the grinder, I have been working on mine and it takes patience and a lot of buffing compound-so far, what I have done looks great-Thanks Bobby. Love the Vids. Whats next?