I'm trying to make a new bucket to use for bottling and it needs a spigot installed. I found a little neighborhood hardware store and picked up a metal spigot like you'd use in a garage sink. I just realized now that it probably sat in that hardware store for a while -- it might impart some metallic (or other) flavors to the beer. I stuck a q-tip up in there and, sure enough, some orange rust came out.

Is there a good trick for cleaning this out or should I just try to find a plastic spigot instead? I was thinking about running some Drano through it, but that won't do anything to the rust ...

Plastic or stainless steel. Rusty spigots will collect little germies and infect your masterpiece.

Brass is okay, but it should be cleaned of surface lead as describe by Palmer.

Hey BB, I've done the vinegar and Hydrogen peroxide thing, and it really shines the hell out of the bronze. Copper too.

I personally wouldn't risk a beer when you can get a plastic food-grade spigot for under $10.

Hell, I'd just stick a fat tube through a small hole (giggidy) and kink it or raise it above fluid level rather than use a rusty metal spigot.

yeah I'm starting to prefer a rubber hose with external clamp. Less nooks and crannies to clean and if you're bottling from carbed keg, less turbulence, less degassing.

I wished I could find a local source for smaller diameter silicone tubing. However, has anyone ever used latex tubing, That's sold at Lowe's.

latex would work for a kettle or HLT/MLT. Def wouldn't need a high temp hose for bottling, of course.

I was thinking about it with my racking cane, because it's much easier to pinch off. I just wonder it is susceptible to absorbing gunk.

I just use my Racking cane to rack out of my bottling bucket...