Vinegar for rust removal

[ChefCy]

Originally Posted by rustbelt

Great information, thanks.
Any ideas on how many gallons of vinegar it would take to submerge a 61' stepside? lol

that made me laugh!!!!!! lol

[jayoldschool]

Here's the thread, check out the pics, they are amazing!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...t=vinegar+salt

[Rich 5150 69]

Thanks Jon ....I put my crusty lower rear shock mounts in it for four days, didn`t touch them, took them out, not to shabby for 50 years of rust...I will neutralize with baking soda before paint...

[XtechX]

If you use the POR 15 stuff, this vinegar solution will take the place of the metal prep they say you have to buy. Alot cheaper too.

[1963c-10]

Heres the 2nd batch of parts I've done. Rear brackets for stepside tail lights. 4 days soak time, 2-3min wire brushing and a baking soda soak for 30 minutes to neutralize the vinegar soak.

One note I will add is that I do not use the salt mixed into the vinegar, but I do not have that black tarry slag to clean up either that you see with the salt/vinegar solution. I just use straight vinegar and then soak in a baking soda/water solution to clean/neutralize the process. Im equally happy with the 2nd batch of parts, and will be doing tailgate chains for the matching trailer project next. Pics to come

As you can tell, just a little paint left that will come off easily enough by hand and some 60 grit. Will be getting self-etching primer tonight, then sprayed after my next set of parts are ready.

[Rich 5150 69]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Heres the 2nd batch of parts I've done. Rear brackets for stepside tail lights. 4 days soak time, 2-3min wire brushing and a baking soda soak for 30 minutes to neutralize the vinegar soak.

One note I will add is that I do not use the salt mixed into the vinegar, but I do not have that black tarry slag to clean up either that you see with the salt/vinegar solution. I just use straight vinegar and then soak in a baking soda/water solution to clean/neutralize the process. Im equally happy with the 2nd batch of parts, and will be doing tailgate chains for the matching trailer project next. Pics to come

As you can tell, just a little paint left that will come off easily enough by hand and some 60 grit. Will be getting self-etching primer tonight, then sprayed after my next set of parts are ready.

Jon you really think you`ll need the etching primer, I would think the vinegar should have etched as is maybe a epoxy primer would be good enough.....
By the way I had talked with an old restorer, well older than me, anyways he used to use vinegar all the time until somebody had told him about citric acid, now he uses it exclusively, he reason being he can up the strength, he normally uses a pound per gallon, but that gallon is used a long tme before he discards it, and it don1t smell as bad as the vinegar, he buys it in bulk 5 lbs at a time...http://www.wkfinetools.com/trestore/...itricacid1.asp

[bubba327]

another way to beat rust is the battery charger and wash soda method but this way with the vinegar looks pretty darn easy!!

Here is a link to an old thread on electrolysis and rust removal
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=385635

[1963c-10]

hmm, ill check that out. the etching primer is probably overkill, but its what i currently have on hand
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[1966FLEETSIDE]

rustbelt no, but simply just dipp it in a pool full of vinegar. lol

[bighunting]

What do you guys think about putting brake drums in vinegar (or citric acid)? Do you think it would damage the surface that contacts the brake shoe? Any other suggestions for removing rust from brake drums? Thanks
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[1963c-10]

worst case you can always dip then and take them to the machine shop
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[Rich 5150 69]

Brake drums might be better sand blasted, at least you can mask off the shoe area, if they are scored bad enough it wouldn`t matter you would turn the drums anyway.

[concretekiller]

Quick question; I have a little rust on my headlight bezzels on my '65 from the 3 screws that are used to hold them on. From reading this, the vinegar will remove the chrome or damage it. How can I clean the rust off and not damage the chrome?
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[jayoldschool]

The headlight bezels aren't rusted, that is just a stain from the rust from the screws. A little compound will take the stain off without damaging the bezel. I like Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, but there are a hundred things that will work. Nevr-Dull will do it, too.

[concretekiller]

I was actually just about to ask if never full would work, I've used that before on wheels. Thank you Jayoldschool!
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[1963c-10]

are the bezels aluminum or steel? mothers has a great aluminum polish also. i have used the never dull also w/good results
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[jayoldschool]

Yes, of course my advice only applies to the aluminum bezels!

[grs]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

are the bezels aluminum or steel? mothers has a great aluminum polish also. i have used the never dull also w/good results
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I used never dull on the aluminum side pieces on my 66. They looked great. Then I wiped them with a wet rag, and they went instantly dull again.

[Captainfab]

Did you strip the clear anodizing off of them first?

Originally Posted by grs

I used never dull on the aluminum side pieces on my 66. They looked great. Then I wiped them with a wet rag, and they went instantly dull again.

[grs]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Did you strip the clear anodizing off of them first?

No. And some of the parts were new.

[Captainfab]

You need to remove the clear anodizing from aluminum before you can polish it. Oven cleaner works good for that.

Originally Posted by grs

No. And some of the parts were new.

[concretekiller]

It helped a little, but didn't get the rust completely off. I dont believe mine are aluminum though.

[1963c-10]

[QUOTE=concretekiller;6126398]It helped a little, but didn't get the rust completely off. I dont believe mine are aluminum though.

Does a magnet stick to them?

[jayoldschool]

Those look like plated steel to me. Naval Jelly will take that rust off, but the plating is damaged.

[concretekiller]

The headlight bezels are chrome. The turn signal bezels are aluminum though. Working on polishing those now. Also may have found an aluminum grill and bezels on craigslist!
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