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Sodium Hydroxide!

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vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#833271
Using a little chemistry knowledge to a paint removal problem.

I also heard the use of caustic chemicals in car stripping tanks, so I figured it probably sodium hydroxide.

Doing a little chemistry research I was please to find sodium hydroxide will not attack iron as iron is non reactive to alkaline chemicals 👍 I know sodium hydroxide reacts to hydrocarbons forming soap substances. aka Paint!

Yay off to work. I needed to strip paint in every nook and cranny and also was having problems getting rid of rust using molasses because the rust was trapped under the paint.

So here it is. soaked for 2 days and what was even more amazing the 10L water to 200g powder solution even inhibited flash rust. These have been hosed and lightly brushed and sitting wet outside for 30 min.

One more day and the rest of the paint will wash off.
Then I can proceed removing the hidden patches of rust.

Oh btw don't use this on aluminum, will be gone in few hours 😂 plus one more thing, use precautions this stuff will dissolve organic materials including you. 30 sec of this stuff in these concentrations dissolved the top layers of my skin 😂🤪




71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Lucky Phil Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Aug 2010 ·

#855424
I have heard that laundry powder is a very cheap alternative for caustic baths.
Especially if an electric current is used.
Any thoughts?

gerggl Wolfsburg Wizard

447 posts · joined Sep 2010 ·

#864997
Great job .... now that is thinking!
Greg Gordon-Lane

Brisbane


Vw's are part of life's journey .... get on board!

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vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#865426
laundry powder is great grease removers plus it is quite good a cleaning cast alloy parts with minimal effort. Paint it will take forever.

i have had bits and pieces sitting for months now with no flash rust yet, only where my fingers touched is there lightly rusty finger prints. 👍

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE