what to expect for vinegar rust removal/treatment

[dmjlambert]

I put a couple of pieces of my truck in an inch or two of vinegar for a couple hours, removed them and used a toothbrush-style wire brush on them and rinsed them off. I can see there was a transformation and I see some areas of bare metal which flashes over with very thin rust as it dries. I have put some rusted things in vinegar before and wiped the rust off but these are a little crustier. I wouldn't call them extremely rusty and think they will easily last another 50 to 75 years if I give them a shot of rustoleum. If I repeat this treatment multiple times will it get down to pretty much bare metal, or is there a good-enough place were I call it done? My objective is to do some beautifying and protection of some pieces that are not out in plain sight on my truck as I encounter them, for example when I have the grill and headlight buckets out, treat them before putting back together. The outside of the truck is old and crusty and most likely I will just keep it that way.

I've had a weird experience with vinegar, not really sure if it was because I put chinesium in vinegar, but won't let the parts soak too long because I don't want to find out.

[Getter-Done]

Back when my local DG bought an over stock of vinegar.

I bought 30 gallons of it.

It works great.

You have to rinse it and dry the part.

I am a Huge fan of Evapo rust.

It is very user friendly.

[howzzzit]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I put a couple of pieces of my truck in an inch or two of vinegar for a couple hours, removed them and used a toothbrush-style wire brush on them and rinsed them off. I can see there was a transformation and I see some areas of bare metal which flashes over with very thin rust as it dries. I have put some rusted things in vinegar before and wiped the rust off but these are a little crustier. I wouldn't call them extremely rusty and think they will easily last another 50 to 75 years if I give them a shot of rustoleum. If I repeat this treatment multiple times will it get down to pretty much bare metal, or is there a good-enough place were I call it done? My objective is to do some beautifying and protection of some pieces that are not out in plain sight on my truck as I encounter them, for example when I have the grill and headlight buckets out, treat them before putting back together. The outside of the truck is old and crusty and most likely I will just keep it that way.

I've had a weird experience with vinegar, not really sure if it was because I put chinesium in vinegar, but won't let the parts soak too long because I don't want to find out.

You can buy stronger vinegar than the kind you use in the kitchen. It's more acidic. I have used household white vinegar on smaller parts with pretty good success. I have put smaller parts in a sealed jar and set in the direct sunlight to speed up the process. My black garbage can lid gets plenty hot and speeds things along. You can see it bubble. Leave it in there as long as needed. Maybe a couple of days. Maybe wire brush and/or sand and put it back in for another round if necessary. Wash and leave it in the sun to dry. Shoot it with etching primer. Vinegar will also remove zinc from nuts and bolts if done this way.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

I buy 30% vinegar at the hardware store to kill weeds. It's with the cleaners

[pjmoreland]

I removed this rust with household vinegar by soaking overnight.

[my67c20]

Screw that, go to Harbor Freight and pick up a gallon of Evaporust. I only use vinegar to remove zinc plating from hardware before I oxide coat it.

[howzzzit]

My relative build an electrolysis tank at home. Pretty easy to do and non-toxic. You just need a 12 volt source like a large battery charger and a few parts. He had several cast iron pieces that cleaned right up. His wasn't big enough for larger parts. I remember back in the day we had what we called hot tanks at a machine shop. They were huge and toxic, but boy did they work. I'm sure they're now illegal. At least in Kalifornia where everything except breathing is illegal. For now or until they can figure out a way to tax it.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

People do electrolysis with a battery charger and a baking soda solution in a bucket. Scales well(bigger bucket and more solution)

Works great, but it's messy, not fast and you'll need to coat the parts immediately to keep them from re-rusting, so it's maybe only practical for heavy encrusted rust

Quick web search, you'll see a bunch of people doing it if you're interested

[HO455]

This is a process that I have not tried but I am planning to in the next couple months,for the deck lid off my Firebird, mostly because of member theastronaut's recommendation.


https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=859556

I use vinegar on fasteners all the time.

[LockDoc]

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I use Vinegar for cleaning a lot of different things. The best way to finish cleaning them is with a pressure washer.

The hood hinges were only in for a short time.

The springs took longer, they were pretty crusty.

The first picture of them is right after I removed them from the Vinegar, the second picture is after pressure washing. When you first remove them you don't think that the Vinegar is working, until you pressure wash them. You have to make sure there is no grease or oil on the parts first....
.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

These were probably the lone items on my truck approaching significant rust. I let them sit maybe 17 hours, scrubbed and did it again.

Never let parts sit too long, and NEVER let them dry with acid on them. Good idea to soak them in a baking soda bath afterwards.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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I use Vinegar for cleaning a lot of different things. The best way to finish cleaning them is with a pressure washer.

The pressure washing sounds interesting as a follow up to vinegar. Is that with a turbo or 0 degree nozzle or something normal like 15 degree nozzle?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

The pressure washing sounds interesting as a follow up to vinegar. Is that with a turbo or 0 degree nozzle or something normal like 15 degree nozzle?

I use the 15º nozzle most of the time. Hands down the best followup for the vinegar dip.

[JohnC67]

Anyone de-rust the inside of a gas tank? I know they aren’t that expensive but I’d rather refurbish and use original parts. I’ve heard molasses, vinegar, etc but filling up a gas tank with those doesn’t sound cheap. Also my experience with acid to de-rust is that even rinsing, flash rust is instant. Even blowing off with compressed air, the metal is turning gold color from rust again within minutes.

There was a YouTube video I watched that cleaned up a gas tank with electrolysis. I’d just need to get a power source. I’d then plan to use a gas tank coating.

Thanks

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by JohnC67

Anyone de-rust the inside of a gas tank? I know they aren’t that expensive but I’d rather refurbish and use original parts. I’ve heard molasses, vinegar, etc but filling up a gas tank with those doesn’t sound cheap. Also my experience with acid to de-rust is that even rinsing, flash rust is instant. Even blowing off with compressed air, the metal is turning gold color from rust again within minutes.

There was a YouTube video I watched that cleaned up a gas tank with electrolysis. I’d just need to get a power source. I’d then plan to use a gas tank coating.

Thanks

I'd try Ospho. It will phosphatize(stabilize) the rust and shouldn't leave a bunch of crusty stuff behind like electrolysis will
Should be able to just slosh some around in there

[dmjlambert]

I got rid of my original tank before I knew anything nifty and wish I had tried cleaning. A method I have heard is fill with 50/50 vinegar and water and plenty of loose chain or gravel. Tip and turn a bunch of times. Having a helper helps. Some people who have tractors strap the tank to the large back wheel and use the tractor for a while. After rinsing and drying add a tank sealant and tip and turn every which way to coat the inside.

[58 Special]

Tank sealant can sometimes fail with new gas. Tanks are cheap.