Thread: Tea/'metallurgy' query

I've tried asking about this on 'tea forums' without much success, so thought I'd try here.

I picked up a Le Creuset enamelled cast-iron tea kettle at a second hand shop for a modest price (I've been kettle-less for a number of years, boiling water for tea in a saucepan). Unfortunately, there is some chipping to the interior enamelled and subsequent rusting of the iron. Le Creuset does offer some sort of guarantee, but in theory this doesn't apply to second-hand purchased items, and anyway I've read that even brand new Le Creuset kettles have problems with interior enamel flaking off, so I'm hesistent to bother with that route. [I don't seem to be losing any more enamel, just continuing to develop rust in the same spots.]

I know with cast iron tea pots the tannins in the tea actually convert the 'red' rust to (less flaky) 'black' rust. So I've tried boiling tea directly in the kettle and leaving it to sit for a few days. This does indeed convert the 'red' rust to 'black'. But after rinsing and boiling plain water a few times, the black rust seems to dissolve and then the rusting problem begins again.

So my question is, is there any way to "fix" the black rust in place, to keep it from washing away? Should I actually 'season' the interior with oil after developing black rust? (Is it worth it?)

No worrys,is a good source of iron.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

No worrys,is a good source of iron.

Well, I'm not actually worried about it per se. But I would like to 'fix' it.

Well rust only forms when iron is in direct contact with moisture. I would check up on some food-safe enamel repair kit. Oil would boil out into your tea, so that is perhaps not the best solution

A quick Google has revealed lots of heat proof paints and enamels. Your location isn't set so there is little point in me posting any links but a suitable product looks widely and readily available

Originally Posted by mike1011

A quick Google has revealed lots of heat proof paints and enamels. Your location isn't set so there is little point in me posting any links but a suitable product looks widely and readily available

Thanks. I'm in the US. I haven't seen anything which seemed to be explicitly for patching up enamelled cast-iron, but perhaps I'm just not searching the right things. (Though I was also trying to find a solution which didn't involve buying anything else too.....)

Originally Posted by emacsomancer

(Though I was also trying to find a solution which didn't involve buying anything else too.....)

Inn which case I'll say in the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy: Duct tape will fix that!

In a pot used to boil water,is no way to fix it,JMO

If it makes you feel any better the iron oxide (I'm presuming that is what it is), according to this link won't do you any harm and may do you some good Eating food from a slightly rusting cast iron dutch oven...is it safe? - Seasoned Advice

How big are the spots you are talking about and is there many ? Personally if it doesn't make your brew taste funny then I'd just leave it.