stripping small parts

Post by **steve4063** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:16 am

what is the best stuff to use thats readily available to strip small parts

the main part of the car is being professionaly dipped and stripped,
but i have things like nuts and bolts i want stripping

did think about caustic acid but wondered if it would be tooo abvrasive

Post by **paulhumphries** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:54 am

Brick cleaner is what I use.
Cheap and effective (£5.99 for 5 ltrs from B&Q or buillders mechants).
You have to keep an eye on it and remove when rust removed otherwise it will start to eat into the good metal if left too long.
Hammerite / Finnegans rust dip is good but difficult to find and a little expensive.
Although I haven't tried it Bilt Hamber products are supposed to be excellent.

Paul Humphries

Post by **dunketh** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:27 am

I've heard of folk leaving small parts in normal domestic vinegar. Its supposed to work quite well, if you can stomach the smell!

Post by **chickenjohn** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:00 pm

Citric acid works well. First clean up the item on a wire wheel on bench grinder, then soak overnight in a hot 10% citric acid solution in water, Dry, wire wheel again and paint. Completely removes rust right into the pits!

Citric acid is harmless (being a food product), is natural and therefore biodegradable.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:43 pm

chickenjohn wrote:Citric acid works well. First clean up the item on a wire wheel on bench grinder, then soak overnight in a hot 10% citric acid solution in water, Dry, wire wheel again and paint. Completely removes rust right into the pits!

Citric acid is harmless (being a food product), is natural and therefore biodegradable.

I think citric acid is what the Finnegans / Hammerite product is based on as it says safe to pour down drain when no longer active.
Citric acid, for those who don't know, can be got from Boots etc wine making dept in powdered form.
I used it to fully clear a radiator that was blocked with limescale so that is another use.

Paul Humphries

Post by **steve4063** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:20 pm

none of these ideas mention paint removal apart from wire brushing it off

Post by **chickenjohn** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:28 pm

Yes, you can buy the Bilt hamber/Finnegans product for £10 for 500g or buy about 5kilos of citric acid for £10-20.

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:45 pm

Steve, put all of your loose parts in a metal gauze and give them to SPL at the time of dipping ,they will put them in with the car, and should not charge extra. As for nuts and bolts buy new , they are really cheap if you make the right contact.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:02 pm

Coca cola! But I agree - buy new bolts/nuts/washers. DO NOT use stainless - they set up an electrolytic couple and the steel (not the stainless) rots away around the bolt. Use good plated bolts etc