keithh999 Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 anyone have any tried and true recipes or methods of removing discoloration from stainless steel after welding...especially on interior corners that dont allow wire brush or scotchbrite to get deep enough...my fingers arent that pointy either!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kozzy Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 Pickling paste is the simplest for the DIY type operation. Although the old nasty stuff works great (mostly phosphoric acid IIRC), the newer citric acid versions, left on for a longer period, can also work. You can also build a DIY electrolytic weld cleaner using a battery charger--here's one youtube video showing how simple it can be There are other videos that show fancier ways to do the same thing...some with better results. On a side note for welds that you can get access to, we find that those rubber "erasers" with fine grit in the rubber (not coarse) do a great job mechanically and cosmetically where they are appropriate. Quick and with cosmetically appealing results. Here's one example...with a video showing you some result examples regarding rust. http://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/sa99997/ They also do a great job of touching up cast iron machine tables like on a table saw or drill press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 Greetings 999, Do not use just any wire brush.. If you use a standard brush made from steel it will impregnate into the pours and rust.. Stainless brushes only. You can cut thin strips of sandpaper and uses it like a shoe shine rag. Works for me.. Good luck Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba682 Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 The best thing i ever used was a pencil grinder with a cleaning disk that looked like a black rubber sponge i can't remember the brand name but after you cleaned the weld it shined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Cratex is one major band of rubber based polishing points, 3M and many others make them as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba682 Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Im pretty sure it was a 3m product John now that you mentioned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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