PBW & the Chemistry of Clean

Delta3DStudios

Delta3DStudios

Well-Known Member
Accessory Maker
Try doing shorter soaks with less PBW - I had some hard stains from before I started using Rez-Block (Cranberry Extract) - they were a bitch to clean. Took me over 20 PBW soaks to get them back to brand new condition - but just keep soaking it, eventually it works on even the toughest stains
 
CrimsonKing

CrimsonKing

The Destroyer Of Worlds
Update 5 I win :rockon:after a couple more soaks and a little help from a rubber tipped dental pick I have defeated the mystery stain!
Also I think I forgot to mention that this was my daily driver combustion piece for about 2 years until I saw the light, but to all of those who say a piece that was used for combustion will always have an off taste and not be "pure for vapor" hasn't tried this cleaning method.

*Protip #1 for those that want to do longer soaks and not get rings I did 3-4 6+ hour soaks and never got the PBW rings (although I know what you are talking about we leave carboys full of PBW for weeks and it happens) I was using pretty high concentrations but only filling to just cover the ice pinches on this piece so about 1/4 full YMMV.

**Protip #2 If you do get one of the dreaded PBW rings and don't want to soak with more PBW to get rid of it any acid should take care of it since PBW is an alkali cleanser I've used star san and plain old distilled vinegar with about the same level of success let it soak or wipe / scrub it off. Also useful as a rinsing agent for those who want to insure all PBW residue has been removed from the item being cleaned (should not be an issue with a proper rinse)
MBJrmgN.jpg

jazBL4w.jpg

XFxpH0K.jpg

VkTRcr6.jpg

Protip edit
Got my SCS nice and clean too :D
 
Last edited:
MinnBobber

MinnBobber

Well-Known Member
TommydCat said:
Awesome "glass reclaim"!


Hoping this part's a joke? bad bad things tend to happen with alkaline-based cleaners and anodized metals...
Click to expand...
.......................................................................................................
I hope someone clarifies..... I was thinking PBW and SCS is bad but don't really know.
Please confirm so no one wrecks their SCS grinder...
 
CrimsonKing

CrimsonKing

The Destroyer Of Worlds
TommydCat said:
Awesome "glass reclaim"!


Hoping this part's a joke? bad bad things tend to happen with alkaline-based cleaners and anodized metals...

Edit: pro'lly time to bring out the gruesome photos again?
Click to expand...

It got a good splashing sitting next to the sink and then got an iso bath it's fine.

MinnBobber said:
.......................................................................................................
I hope someone clarifies..... I was thinking PBW and SCS is bad but don't really know.
Please confirm so no one wrecks their SCS grinder...
Click to expand...

PBW is designed to attack and clean metal, that being said its probably not the best idea to use it on annodidized surfaces especially if the surface has any dings or nicks as the PBW can eat away at the color layer. That's the worst case really, is it comes out a little lighter or you lose some flecks or chucks of anno off of it. The grinder may not be the prettiest anymore but it would still be more than functional. All that being said unless you have a bear metal grinder I'd recommend sticking to iso or whatever method you currently use to clean it if you want to keep it looking pretty .

Edit: spelling / grammar
 
Last edited:
CrimsonKing,
t-dub

t-dub

Vapor Sloth
It took seconds for that to happen, you can see where some of the individual crystals hit.
 
t-dub,
MinnBobber

MinnBobber

Well-Known Member
hafalump said:
Sweet, I got some in the basement! Will that work on an old nasty cumbustion piece?
Click to expand...

PBW will work on it. It may take more than one cycle though. Start with hot water mix which is more effective, let it work a couple hours, dump and scrub what you can reach. You can microwave the water to very very hot and mix in PBW. Then soak.
Repeat until clean.

?? Before and after pics??
 
Last edited:
MinnBobber,
Enchantre

Enchantre

Oil Painter
hafalump said:
Sweet, I got some in the basement! Will that work on an old nasty cumbustion piece?
Click to expand...
I bring distilled water to nearly a boil, mix in the PBW, and pour into the glass pieces. Takes less than 15 mins to power through stuff... rinse with hot distilled water... rinse several times.

I had one piece that needed three such sessions, and now it is perfect. (not combustion, but some really caked in crud.)
 
Delta3DStudios

Delta3DStudios

Well-Known Member
Accessory Maker
hafalump said:
Sweet, I got some in the basement! Will that work on an old nasty cumbustion piece?
Click to expand...

Yes, but as others have said - do multiple rinses - use less PBW, and less soaking times for better results - I usually only let the PBW soak for 5 minutes before I dump and rinse with hot water before restarting (I've had to do 7 or 8 rinses on some pieces to get them clean enough for my standards, but now that I use cranberry extract, I rarely need to do more than 2 or 3 PBW rinses at a time)
 
John Lewus

John Lewus

Well-Known Member
I have a stainless steel coffee mug that has some baked on coffee stains I just can't get out no matter how hard I scrub. I had been using a half vinegar/half water nearly boiling solution to get it out. I am tempted to try PBW but that seems to rip apart any anodized coating on metal based on pics I saw in this thread but what would it do to just stainless steel? I want that clean sheen from the metal on the inside. Thoughts?
 
EverythingsHazy

EverythingsHazy

Well-Known Member
From homebrewing.org

P.B.W. is a buffered alkaline detergent that has been proven to be more than an effective substitute for caustic soda cleaners. Because of its unique formulation of buffers and mild alkalis, it is safe on skin as well as soft metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, and on plastics. P.B.W. uses active oxygen to penetrate carbon or protein soils and is not effected by hard water. The oxygen also helps in reducing B.O.D. and C.O.D. in wastewater, which is an added environmental benefit.
Click to expand...
 
Enchantre

Enchantre

Oil Painter
John Lewus said:
Was it a stainless steel coffee mug or glass? I am just concerned what it will do to stainless steel.
Click to expand...
Stainless. shiny inside. Rinse well. Don't slop too much on the outside when you start.

I also use it in the dishwasher.

It really is only painted & anodized surfaces that you need worry about.. oh, and keep it off wood, just for principle.
 
CrimsonKing

CrimsonKing

The Destroyer Of Worlds
Enchantre said:
Stainless. shiny inside. Rinse well. Don't slop too much on the outside when you start.

I also use it in the dishwasher.

It really is only painted & anodized surfaces that you need worry about.. oh, and keep it off wood, just for principle.
Click to expand...

what I bolded there is what is important to remember if its painted or anodized pbw will destroy anno on aluminum and can take of screen printed images or stickers (logos on stuff). When we brew we always have a bucket full of a PBW solution and one of star san to keep everything clean and sanitized we throw many wooden brewing tools in with no ill effects it might dry the bare wood out a bit but that can be fixed with a little beeswax I have never seen issues after long term exposure YMMV. Now its probably not a good idea to dump a 5 gallon bucket on a nice stained or painted deck.

Edit: readability
 
Last edited:
El Barto

El Barto

Well-Known Member
Impressed by the thoughtfulness that went into this thread. I had great results with PBW and much prefer it to ISO. One thing I did a bit differently than @t-dub but still inspired by his original post, was warm up the glass and then use boiling water with the PBW and let it soak for a few minutes. Boiling water + PBW + dirty glass + time was a great combination. Worked really fast and was neat to watch. Thank you @t-dub!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom