Citric acid derusting

[MattF]

I've heard people say that more times than I can remember, but I have never been left wonting by elecrolysis, & I've derusted some quirkily shaped stuff.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I've heard people say that more times than I can remember, but I have never been left wonting by elecrolysis, & I've derusted some quirkily shaped stuff.

Line of sight.
As long as the rust can see an anode it will work..
I have a bucket with mesh on the sides, the bottom and on top.
I suspend the item so it sits about half way between all anodes.

 

[Turbo]

I tried to clean up a pair of external spring calipers using electrolysis & it turned the spring into a crumbling mess, possibly hydrogen embrittlement?

Anything with springs now gets cleaned with citric acid.

 

[MattF]

Springs do tend to stiffen up a bit during the process, but return to normal within a day or so.

I'm guessing that one of yours may have been badly corroded. I've never had it destroy a spring.

 

[johnny7]

Hi

I tried electrolysis on some old coins that had been in the lake at Chatsworth for more than a hundred years (When it was drained!), I tried different materials for the anode but copper seemed the best, It made the electrolite very scummy, Different coins turned it different colours too yet all were copped coinage!

The coins were mostly beyond saving!

Some of them cleaned up a bit though

John

 

[Kayos]

These are 40ish years old, pitted all over and looking like 40 year old chrome

Been in the acid since I made the first post, quick rinse and dry off.

Camera really picks up the pitting, cant see it without a close look in person

 

[a111r]

When I was into doing up bikes, I found cheap vinegar was also great for bringing back the chrome.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@Kayos
Cheep coke, 0000 wire wool and gentle rubbing will do a similar job.

Nice job, by the way.

 

[GSR]

My first attempt with citric acid and I'm fairly pleased with how it come up. Whats the best way to clean up and finish?

 

[MattF]

Wax, oil, linseed oil, etc. Anything which takes your fancy to coat the surface.

I wouldn't bother cleaning it up any more than you already have done.

 

[GSR]

Wax, oil, linseed oil, etc. Anything which takes your fancy to coat the surface.

I wouldn't bother cleaning it up any more than you already have done.

Thanks, ive just wiped the black film off of it as it came out. Wasnt sure if it needed any special clean before giving it a coat of protection

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Thanks, ive just wiped the black film off of it as it came out. Wasnt sure if it needed any special clean before giving it a coat of protection

Wax, oil or both.
If you want to heat the item with out washing the black oxide off.
Then with bees wax buff up.
You get a version of the old fire black.

 

[Kayos]

I accidentally chucked some aluminium in, whoever said dont do it was correct

Fairly pungent metallic smell and the bike chain that was in there has also disintegrated, has the aluminum caused that?

Acid neutralised and disposed off

 

[Kram]

In citric? I assumed it would have little effect on alu. How long did you leave the bike chain in there?

 

[Kayos]

In citric? I assumed it would have little effect on alu. How long did you leave the bike chain in there?

A week.

I had a few in for a similar length without issue, they also didn't have the aluminum tube either

 

[mtt.tr]

My first attempt with citric acid and I'm fairly pleased with how it come up. Whats the best way to clean up and finish?
View attachment 276113View attachment 276114

Looks like an aco drain, good idea

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I accidentally chucked some aluminium in, whoever said dont do it was correct

Fairly pungent metallic smell and the bike chain that was in there has also disintegrated, has the aluminum caused that?

Acid neutralised and disposed off

A good guess is that one or the other formed a dis-similar metal circuit. Allowing a current to form and the metal went away.

 

[ronan]

Can't wait until Lidl or Aldi stock these

 

[Onoff]

If she didn't want me to use her pink window basket thing for derusting she shouldn't have left it empty!

19:1 citric acid mix made with hot water from the tap then left it on top of the oil boiler all day to keep it a bit warm:

On the adjustable it says "Hand Tools Ltd, Brontwich, Eng" and "R760".

 

[Onoff]

Has it been discussed on here what the greasy black stuff is that forms quicker on some stuff than others, stains everything in sight etc? How best to remove it...would slipping the part into the dishwasher on the quiet get rid of it?

I didn't get any further with the pipe cutter or adjustable over the weekend thus have left them in the bath. Now if I look the black stuff is forming on them.