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Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

I also haven't had any trouble with Red Kote (similar material to kreem) used in the Fuel Control Cell of my marine 350...I avoid gasohol like the plague, though, so YMMV.

After acid-washing a steel tank, I definitely wouldn't leave it as-is, without some kind of plastic coating, because it's going to rust as soon as some condensation forms in the tank, within weeks, likely.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by saltlick

I use to work on old honda motorcycles from the 70s. All came with rusty tanks on the inside. Best way i found to clean them and make them like bare shiny new metal inside is to go buy a bottle of "The Works" Toilet bowl cleaner. Like $2. Pour that whole thing in the tank, if you got a bigger tank then pour a few bottles in. Top it off with warm water, close the tank lid then put tape over it. shake that stuff around inside the tank and get it well mixed with water. Let it sit about a day. Pour the stuff out, then wash it well with soap and water. Once its clean then fog the inside with WD-40 so it wont flash rust. Boom brand new shiny metal tank. Guessing that stuff would take any coating off of metal if you soaked it overnight. The only time you use cream like the post above is if you think there is so much rust, that this toilet bowl cleaner will make a hole in the tank because rust is the only thing from keeping it from leaking. Then youd use that cream stuff cause it makes its own sealer. The problem with that cream stuff is that after a while the gas makes it peel away from the walls bit by bit...which then get caught in the filter and creates a huge mess.

That has not been my experience. My tank is fleck free and i hope i am not jinxing myself. I went with products specific for my motorcycle application and not a home diy remedy when it comes my bike. I put KREEM in my tank july 2, 2006 and that **** is still going strong and otherwise, jimmy crack corn.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

I use to work on old honda motorcycles from the 70s. All came with rusty tanks on the inside. Best way i found to clean them and make them like bare shiny new metal inside is to go buy a bottle of "The Works" Toilet bowl cleaner. Like $2. Pour that whole thing in the tank, if you got a bigger tank then pour a few bottles in. Top it off with warm water, close the tank lid then put tape over it. shake that stuff around inside the tank and get it well mixed with water. Let it sit about a day. Pour the stuff out, then wash it well with soap and water. Once its clean then fog the inside with WD-40 so it wont flash rust. Boom brand new shiny metal tank. Guessing that stuff would take any coating off of metal if you soaked it overnight. The only time you use cream like the post above is if you think there is so much rust, that this toilet bowl cleaner will make a hole in the tank because rust is the only thing from keeping it from leaking. Then youd use that cream stuff cause it makes its own sealer. The problem with that cream stuff is that after a while the gas makes it peel away from the walls bit by bit...which then get caught in the filter and creates a huge mess.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by vdotmatrix

You know, I am the original owner of a 1980 cx500. I rebuilt everything on the tank and reconditioned it. They called it creaming the tank. It was fantastic. I poured a bottle of someth8ng into the tank....sloshed it around.... then poured it out......they said the second step had to be done quickly because of something called flash rust.....a very fine rust that forms fast. The second solution was cream colored that coated the tank...cream colored. No rust, nothing....it is like a new container or like a plastic container now. Perhaps google creaming your gas tank.....maybe it is just for motorcycles but if you find this, read up on it and it must be better 15 years later!,,, oh and it is still perfect!

I just found it...thats what it is called kreem....tank sealer

https://www.dimecitycycles.com/red-k...1-quart-g.html

It is great!

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by Will S.

Along these same lines of cleaning metal, the attached pic is of a brand new diesel fuel tank that I just purchased. It has never had fuel in it, and when I removed the fill cap, I was shocked at all the rust. I called the company that I bought it from, and they told me not to worry; it won't hurt a thing, and they are all like that.

I don't want to put fuel in this tank and feed a brand new Perkins diesel engine, so I am going to clean it. I'm thinking Evapo-Rust. Anyone here have suggestions or comment?Attachment 1719742

You know, I am the original owner of a 1980 cx500. I rebuilt everything on the tank and reconditioned it. They called it creaming the tank. It was fantastic. I poured a bottle of someth8ng into the tank....sloshed it around.... then poured it out......they said the second step had to be done quickly because of something called flash rust.....a very fine rust that forms fast. The second solution was cream colored that coated the tank...cream colored. No rust, nothing....it is like a new container or like a plastic container now. Perhaps google creaming your gas tank.....maybe it is just for motorcycles but if you find this, read up on it and it must be better 15 years later!,,, oh and it is still perfect!

White vinegar to clean mild steel

Will s,

I have used evaporust.
It works.

But just like phosphoric acid or most other rust remover’s....

You need to either spray it with WD-40 or fill it up with diesel right away.

Or else it will flash rust again almost immediately.

I wouldn’t worry about that tank too much,
It will clean up very easily and be good to go.

I second the fuel filter suggestion.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by Will S.

I don't want to put fuel in this tank and feed a brand new Perkins diesel engine, so I am going to clean it. I'm thinking Evapo-Rust. Anyone here have suggestions or comment?

Don't know whether it's approved for diesel fuel, but I've used Red-Kote on steel gasoline tanks for motorcycles and boats and it does a good job if you follow the instructions carefully.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

This tank came as part of a package; all new; Perkins 3 cyl diesel engine (yes, included a fuel filter); generator head, and the 12 gallon fuel tank,m which is standard, but I had the option to delete for a $300 credit. I have contacted the manufacturer of the finished product (not Perkins), and they told me that it's fine, and no, I cannot return or exchange the tank... that they are all that way.

So my question is on what procedure to use to rid the tank of rust, dry it and fill it with diesel.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

First of all, I had no idea you could get a "brand new Perkins etc." You could put in a nice inline filter (you should have one anyway.
I'd send it back.
Get a nice welded tank from Summit or root around on ebait. I bought a very nice racer fuel tank that I'm using as my coolant reservoir and it's excellent. It has AN fittings though. Wasn't spendy.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Along these same lines of cleaning metal, the attached pic is of a brand new diesel fuel tank that I just purchased. It has never had fuel in it, and when I removed the fill cap, I was shocked at all the rust. I called the company that I bought it from, and they told me not to worry; it won't hurt a thing, and they are all like that.

I don't want to put fuel in this tank and feed a brand new Perkins diesel engine, so I am going to clean it. I'm thinking Evapo-Rust. Anyone here have suggestions or comment?Attachment 1719742

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Be careful with mixing stuff. My wife makes dipping sauce with vinegar, hot pepper, soy sauce and garlic/onion. We have stainless steel spoons with pits corroded in them from that stuff. Yum.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

I have some cheap-*** wrenches on the boat and they don't like salt air. I use a sheet of aluminum foil in a glass dish, lay the tool on the foil and cover the tool with vinegar. Overnight all the rust is gone and the chrome (what was on it before treatment) is still there, all shiny.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Yes. Sand with 150 then 220 then 300 then 600 then 1500 then 3000 grit. And in about 3 weeks you can start WELDING!

Exactly.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by vdotmatrix

But, for those of you who use something chemical to remove any nasty oxide or coating on your metal, do you do anything else before you start welding?

Yes. Sand with 150 then 220 then 300 then 600 then 1500 then 3000 grit. And in about 3 weeks you can start WELDING!

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by VaughnT

You can get better/faster results if you up your game to 30% Vinegar from the Home Depot or Lowes. it's called "cleaning vinegar". Totally not a good idea to put a drop in your potato salad instead of using a cup of eating vinegar, btw.

Being stronger than regular vinegar, it goes faster. Still slower than a lot of other acids, but... at least it smells good.

I also use a mix of vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle to clean the kitchen countertops. Smells great and cleans wonderfully. Totally organic, doesn't leave any stickiness, and your kitchen smells like a deli for awhile.

i am going to get some of this cleaning vinegar.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

I have pool acid or sandblasting

Dave

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by vdotmatrix

Do you still have to grind in order to weld?

I really like how much of the mill scale is gone. Even inside tubes. I guess it is still a good idea to lightly take it down to shiny fresh metal to remove anything left although i do wipe with acetone before firing up my torch. But, for those of you who use something chemical to remove any nasty oxide or coating on your metal, do you do anything else before you start welding?

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by John T

Burt Munro used to piss on his lemon tree... So I guess a little acidity wont hurt it....

One of my favorite movies. He also used 2 parts Chevrolet and 1 part Ford to cast his pistons. But that’s got nothing to do with the vinegar .

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by vdotmatrix

I have all that. But dealing with acid cleanup and neutralization is a pain. If i were in a rush i would just take a flapper or grinder to the pieces....I should have been more clear, if you do this chemical cleaning, is grinding away still necessary to remove other metal oxides? I suppose i will find out later today when i light my torch up. Thanks for responding.

You grind to remove mill scale. If you remove it with acid like you did, then there is no mill scale to grind, so why would you grind? No need.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by John T

Burt Munro used to piss on his lemon tree... So I guess a little acidity wont hurt it....

Most urine is alkaline (or becomes alkaline in nature) due to the ammonia in it.

The ammonia makes it good for putting onto compost piles to help the microbes "digest" carbon-rich woody material...or you can help it along with household ammonia.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Burt Munro used to piss on his lemon tree... So I guess a little acidity wont hurt it....

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Even better and cheaper than vinegar (acetic acid) or lemon juice is hydrochloric acid. You can get it cheap at the Dollar Store...it's sold for cleaning lime scale, etc., from toilets under the brand name "The Works."

Just be sure to check the label to make sure that it contains HCl ... I believe some types of "The Works" have a different chemical in them.

The proper "Works" stuff (Blue?) has an "inhibitor" ingredient, I believe, which is intended to reduce the acid effect on the sound metal underneath the rust. "Rodine" perhaps?

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by N2 Welding

I’m not so sure I’d want to eat any food from trees that have had some one dump any liquids that have metal milscale diluted into the solution being dumped on it. Just mypersonal preference. It’s interesting though and I might have to try this next time I want to remove milscale or zink plating

Lots of trees like acidic soil. I do the same thing with pickle juice and "used" acids on our hollies, pines, cedars, etc. They like it. OTOH, I suppose one could pay money to lower the soil pH...

As for removing zinc plating ... pecan trees LOVE zinc, but it's pretty expensive to buy zinc soil supplements.

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

Originally Posted by John T

Yeah,
I doubt you have it, Because there is NO acid cleanup or danger with H ₃PO ₄ ..... You ever drink a Coca Cola? OK then...

Cleanup is, Mix it with water and dump it in your garden or on your lemon tree......

I’m not so sure I’d want to eat any food from trees that have had some one dump any liquids that have metal milscale diluted into the solution being dumped on it. Just mypersonal preference. It’s interesting though and I might have to try this next time I want to remove milscale or zink plating

Re: White vinegar to clean mild steel

I use muriatic acid for small pieces, It's simple because I always have a couple of gallons on hand for the pool. The used stuff gets diluted in water and used for cutting the garden beds, our ground is pretty high in alkalinity.