Aluminum tea kettle

[jeff lary]

Hi all I have a question, we have a very old large aluminum tea kettle that has a pin hole in the bottom. I came out a Dam Keepers camp in northern Maine. I has a place now on my wood stove. But she was allowed to boil dry one to many times now she has a hole about a Millimeter round. I have tried Silver solider but it did not last how can I fix the hole? my only option left is Brazing rod and acetylene torches. The pot is very thin and I worry that the torch alone may burn a larger hole in it. I also have jb weld. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jeff (not a pro at anything )Lary

 

[rlitman]

You certainly cannot use JB weld or any adhesive and still expect it to be a usable kettle.

If it were mine, I'd attempt to TIG weld the aluminum, but since you've already tried to silver solder it, that is probably no longer possible. Aluminum brazing rod may work. It's mostly zinc though, and has a much lower melting point than aluminum.

 

[Professur]

If you want it fixed and not destroyed, take it to a skilled welder with a tig. $10 tops. O/A will slag it.

 

[jeff lary]

ok thanks I will take it someplace maybe thanks that's a good idea. I just thought maybe I could cobble something up....cobble being the operative word here.

 

[Zeke]

I'd get a new kettle. Seriously. Why drink water that has been boiled in AL? While research on AL cooking vessels is not conclusive, it raises concerns.

 

[rlitman]

I too wouldn't drink out of it, but I for one keep a cast iron kettle in my fireplace for the sole purpose of adding humidity to the room while burning a fire. If you have a wood stove, having a kettle around is pretty common for just that.
It's also handy when you want to steam a piece of wood.

 

[Kevin54]

If it were me, and it's old and has been boiled dry on a couple of occasions, that one little pinhole probably has some more ready to show theirself. I'd probably get a new or hit a garage sale and get a newer, heavier, maybe stainless steel vessel to boil your water in. Something you know that will last if it goes dry.

 

[Bondo]

Hi all I have a question, we have a very old large aluminum tea kettle that has a pin hole in the bottom. I came out a Dam Keepers camp in northern Maine. I has a place now on my wood stove. But she was allowed to boil dry one to many times now she has a hole about a Millimeter round. I have tried Silver solider but it did not last how can I fix the hole? my only option left is Brazing rod and acetylene torches. The pot is very thin and I worry that the torch alone may burn a larger hole in it. I also have jb weld. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jeff (not a pro at anything )Lary

Ayuh,.... Do ya drink from this ole tea kettle, or just use it for other purposes,..??

You could try puttin' an aluminum closed-end pop rivet in it,...

I use 'em to plug holes in my boat, it oughta work in a teapot,...