Improving vinegar removal of mill scale

[territorialmillworks]

I normally soak stock in vinegar overnight to wire brush off the mill scale the next day,  Problem was I forgot to put the bar stock in LOL  So I brought the metal to a black heat and dropped it in the vinegar.  An hour later, it brushed off as easily as if it had soaked all night.  Before I get 'hate mail', PPE with good ventilation was used.

[atexascowboy]

Which flavor? Apple cider or distilled?

[aessinus]

Which flavor? Apple cider or distilled?

The cheapest one from the dollar store. 

 

OP:  Thanks for the tip.  Worked a champ on a short length of rusty chain.  Made the cleanup really quick.

[Jeff Seelye]

OK besides the PPE issue... Do this in a well ventilated area because when I did this, all the stuff in the immediate area got rusty quicker, if this is not an issue, just ignore. Just be warned, you are putting acid in the air and it will land on something.

I use acids for color and I have learned over time to watch what is around me when I am doing this.

[Richard Furrer]

hot acid works faster...in the winter it works almost not at all.

Its 8F here and some of it freezes and you can pour off the concentrate.

 

Tom Latane' has been vinegar soaking his work for many years.

 

RIc

[ThomasPowers]

For small items you can use a thrift store crock pot turned on low.  As previously mentioned the vapors will rust *everything** rustable that they can possible get to.

[Chinobi]

do you think the advantage comes from the hot iron warming the acid, or the quenching action of dropping a hot piece into liquid?

 

i definitely miss having a crock pot of hot scalex for cleaning up silver work!

[KillerKustums]

Ah nice tip guy's thanks

[Ten Hammers]

Junk store or garage sale.  Find some stainless mixing bowls.  Acid in this, stock in following.  the bowl on the coal fire ( just settin on top) in the wintertime.  Yes the vapors drift.  use care.  Yes cheap dollar store white vinegar ( gallon ) is fine. 

[windancer]

Muratic Acid, equal part with water, Use cold. 2 hours and the scale rubs off with your hands.

Do NOT store or use it in your shop [all your tools will rust badly]. Keeps for a long time.

Courtesy of Bill C.

Dave

[Gor]

Would like to add that the fumes from boiling vinegar can be harmful small animals like pets (bad) and most household pests (good). I've used it to get rid of flies and gnats before, just had to take the cat outside first. 

[Searobin]

A cheaper source of Sparex can be founde at your local pool supply, called pH Down. It is  sparex ( Sodium BiSulfate) - the high price.

[thingmaker3]

Sparex #2 is mostly sodium bisulphate, yes. But Sparex #2 is not for ferrous metal, it's for things like copper or silver.