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Acid washing... it works! Bring those rusty bits of crap to supa awesome

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bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#747810
Had a full dog house fan shroud, along with pedal components, other tin wear, bar work etc. So rusty, after 2 hrs of a psycho grade brumby wire wheel on an angle grinder, becoming a local neusance to the next door neighbours, i thought their had to be a better way.

I bought a $24 large plastic tub from big w in the storage section.I came home with 5 ltrs of Hydrochloric acid from the pool store i work at ($9.95). Had a pair of red H/d rubber gloves.

Poured water halfway up the tub, put the 5 ltrs in. Chucked the bits in, fully submerged in the mix and let it soak for 30 mins. What did i have to loose? The were hunks of rusty crap, and if all else failed, i would just pull out my wallet on payday.

Came back with the gloves on and a bit of 120 grit wet and dry, the rust, dirt, paint, scum all came off as easy as washing a set of grubby dishes...

Was absolutely fantastic. The bits look like brand new, all shiny metal. (just note, works for tin or steel, but don't expect much from magnesium alloy as it just puts on a fizzle show)

Just thought i would recommend and share this method, it was great, worked great, saved throwing away solid functional parts.

Of course, take precautions, particularly children, and dispose off responsibly. After it was diluted though, although corrosive to metal, it didn't do much to skin. To my surprise i had a hole in my left hand glove. Found out after i was wondering why a cut i had on my finger was stingin like crazy 😀. No scars, no burns, nuffin.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#747822
coolio
i use acid stuff called alkleen
it contains hydrofluoric acid which can basically kill you if it gets on your skin by penetrating the calcium in your bones but it works a treat n real quick..
i dont recommend it if you dont use it with all the safety garb and most importantly respect..
good to hear chris stuff is shiney 👍
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au

annosL Officially Full-On Dubber

378 posts · joined Dec 2008 ·

#747922
Another less dangerous way but a lot slower is to soak rusty bits in a mix of molasses slightly diluted with water and after a week or so the parts will be spotless with no lost metal or etching

Gixer41960 Casual Dubber

31 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#748014
Just a word of warning adding acid to water can be explosive, if my memory of chemistry is correct you can add water to acid (such as batteries) but you shouldn't add acid to water.

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#748017
Umm, I'm pretty sure it's the other way around - Always Add Acid (AAA was what I have stuck in my head) and a quick google seems to agree....

With a battery you're adding water to what is already diluted acid, while the best example I know of adding acid to water is with a swimming pool.... no way can you pour the pool into the acid.

Anyone on here a high school chemistry teacher who can answer it definitively ???
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
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CrazyBug Learner Dubber

15 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#748019
not a teacher but did hsc chem only 2 years ago and do some chemisrty subjects at uni your right is saying at the acid to the water because whatever is being pour into in this case the water will be displaced to make room for the in coming liquid and splash up if u were to add water to acid there is greater chance that the acid will splash up onto you.

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#748114
Brings back memories of cleaning VW bits Chris! During the 60s I worked at Eveleigh Loco Works at Sydney. A couple of us VW knukle heads took a pair of heads to the diesel section to get them cleaned. The fitter dropped them into a tank and told us to come back later. It was the next day "later" and when we pulled the basket out of the tank we had nice clean studs, valve seats and guides, however, the bit called the head had gone! 24 hours was a bit too long and it wasn't meant for alloy cleaning. 🥲

DH

grogy Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Aug 2007 ·

#748179
i been pouring water into hydrocloric acid and vica versa for work for yrs no bad reactions.

lohoon Wolfsburg Wizard

466 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#748189
ok sounds good but what works with similar effect on aluminium?

CrazyBug Learner Dubber

15 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#748246
your right 99/100 times you wont get any acid on you and even if you do probally wont cause any problem if you wash it off with water but the question was asked so i answered. but i have seen someone get acid in their eye and it didn't turn out so good sure they were stupid leaning right over it and not being carefull when pouring. just use common sense and don't stick ur head over a acid while pouring stuff into 😀

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#748252
it'd be no prblem if the acid is realtively low concentraion anyways.

One of my previous bosses in a plumbing supply shop used to acid dip his copper fittings and tubing to make it look 'show room' qality, and hence gain sales over the competition (so he says). An apprentice of his added water to acid instead of the otherway right next to him (he musta been distracted to not watch the fella), and even to this day, despite being 6 years ago, still has scars on his arms from the acid burns to show for it.

Its not fun 😏, doesn't hurt to play safe.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#748263
oh... shiny! Must be better quality fittings than that other store...... (id be inclinded to think the opposite.....)

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#748291
lohoon wrote:ok sounds good but what works with similar effect on aluminium?
al-kleen
heavily diluted down as it will eat the Ali if left on for ages or too strong but the shine comes up like new in minutes
done a few Ali trays over the years..
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#748338
colonel mustard wrote:oh... shiny! Must be better quality fittings than that other store...... (id be inclinded to think the opposite.....)
haha, nah not better quality. But u would be surprised how presentation affects the sale. Its like a women for example 😂
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

grogy Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Aug 2007 ·

#748356
phosphoric acid for aluminium, shouldnt be too hard to find on net or ph book

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#748436
Isn't phosphoric acid the same as rust convertor?
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!