How to manage scale problems on complex works

[LeMarechal]

He to all you blacksmiths out there

 

how do you get of scale if you have a complex shaped workpiece?

For example let´s say you make a forged rose and after shaping the petals with an oxy/fuel-system you will stay there with scale on all your beautiful shaped rosepetals.

How would you clean up this?

 

Hope you understand what I mean despite my bad english

 

Greetings from Germany

Sascha

[JHCC]

Lou L was just telling me about seeing Ellen Durkan forge, and noted that at every single heat she uses a wire brush dipped in water, which really blasts off the scale.

[anvil]

Yup, that works the best, wire brush a lot, and a little water on your brush or anvil face works wonders. 

I rarely use acids to remove rust, but it is a good alternative.  

[Stash]

With something like the rose formed with o/a, you get what scale you can with a wire brush, then do a vinegar soak and neutralize cycle to get the inner parts. When it's in the vinegar I hit it with a toothbrush as far in as I can get. Dry it and finish immediately with your wax, BLO or clear coat. Oh, and your English is fine.

Steve

 

[ThomasPowers]

For large items sandblasting also has been used.

[Kuja_torra]

Just cleaned up a rose yesterday in a muric acid bath for 5 minutes. I didn't brush the piece once with a brush and just made sure to wash it well afterwards so that there was no acid left. My painting on the other hand leaves room for improvement. 

-KB

[Ted Ewert]

I use a wire wheel for most scale removal. I also have wire wheels for the drill press as well as the die grinder. When that doesn't work, an acid bath is probably your best bet.