vinegar and cast aluminmum spiles - safe to use again?

[mathprofdk]

I had a similar issue to the one described in this thread (http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?17072-Did-I-ruin-my-taps) - not knowing any better, I cleaned my aluminum spiles with vinegar. As was noted in the other thread, they're a bit corroded now. My question is - are they still safe to use? Now that the finish is corroded, will they leach aluminum into the syrup?

A picture is below, with a new one on the left, and the corroded on the right.

These are cast aluminum I bought from Anderson's (http://andersonsmaplesyrup.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=464).

6068

EDIT: Misspelling in the title.

[DrTimPerkins]

Chemically the leaching will be very similar to the original. Aluminum corrodes, but at a far slower rate than ferrous metals. All you did was greatly accelerate the corrosion process of the aluminum.

[mathprofdk]

Thanks, Dr. Tim. I guess this begs the question.... should I be using aluminum at all, if it's leaching? I'm assuming it must be at a safe level to be sold for this purpose. Would you recommend a different product for bags or buckets? I saw the SS ones, but was too cheap to spring for them.

Thanks again for the reply. At worst, they'll be as useful as they were previously.

~DK

[DrTimPerkins]

Nearly everything will leach to some degree. If you got these from a maple equipment dealer, then presumably they are "suitable for their intended purpose".

[mathprofdk]

Thanks. I figured as much, but it's good to get confirmation.