Silver Anodised Kettle leaving blue-grey residue all over my hands

[DRMGMT]

Hello, first post here.

Recently got this Silver Anodised Aluminium mKettle brand new, but when ever I handle it my fingers just get covered in tarnish that's almost impossible to clean off. I'm a bit worried about how this might also contaminate any water I boil in it too. Anyone else had similar issues?

 

[Mesquite]

That doesn't look anodised but rather plain aluminium. Have you tried washing everything to see if that cures the problem?

 

[TLM]

I'll agree with that properly (even half way) done anodizing does not stain your fingers that way but untreated Al does.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Yup, that isn't anodised. It is just new aluminium. It needs to age to develop an oxide layer. I had the same thing with a loft ladder, it did eventually stopped making my hands black, although it I hold it enough with sweaty hands it still does a bit.

 

[Herman30]

@DRMGMT Are you sure it is a legit mKettle and not some chinese knock-off?

PS. I see no photos.

 

[DRMGMT]

Hmm, images have stopped working. Never mind.

Ghillie Kettle got back to me said that this kettle has somehow skipped the degreasing prosses to remove the spinning grease used in the manufacturing process. They say I should give it a good wash with soap and boiling water.

I bought it through Wood To Water Outdoors (https://www.woodtowater.co.uk/product/ghillie-kettle-mkettle-compact-storm-kettle-silver-anodised/), I'm pretty certain it's legit. It does slightly worry me that if it managed to skip the degrease process that it might have also skipped the anodising process too. But the metal appears to much more closely resemble the Silver Anodised range than the un-anodised ones. No grease tarnish from the exterior surfaces, just the edges and grooves, so the lathing grease explanation lines up.

 

[Toddy]

Well that's good to know

A good scrub and try wiping it with white paper towels...if those stay clean, it's sorted

 

[TLM]

Something does not quite add up; degreasing is done before anodizing and the oxide layer would not survive the manufacturing process. Often after anodizing the oxide layer is closed by a hot water wash, that closes most of the pores so it does not take in dirt. An alternative would be using phosphoric acid anodizing but that is seldom done.

 

[Toddy]

I was actually just wondering about that.
I'm cleaning out kitchen drawers and there's an old aluminium measure in there that I keep meaning to throw away because it always leaves my kitchen towel grey, and this thread came to mind.
I couldn't see how the kettle was re-greased, so to speak, after it was anodised.
Something didn't seem right.