White vinegar to clean mild steel

[vdotmatrix]

I saw a video...he used white vinegar and Soaked it for 8 hours it worked so I got the cut poeces and soaked them for 24 hours....the mill scale is gone.

I gave it a bicarb bath and rinsed in hot water water to heat metal so it would dry...

Has anyone else done this?

Can weld now straight away?

[Continuum]

In a way. I routinely use vinegar to strip galvanized off parts before welding. Passivate in water is all.

Regards

[vdotmatrix]

In a way. I routinely use vinegar to strip galvanized off parts before welding. Passivate in water is all.

Regards

Do you still have to grind in order to weld?

[John T]

24 hours is a long time... especially if you still have to grind the weld areas?

I tried vinegar for certain (non welding) projects.... results were dismal.

I find H ₃PO ₄ much better ............. (Phosphoric acid)
Any big box store carries it.

[vdotmatrix]

24 hours is a long time... especially if you still have to grind the weld areas?

I tried vinegar for certain (non welding) projects.... results were dismal.

I find H ₃PO ₄ much better ............. (Phosphoric acid)
Any big box store carries it.

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.

[John T]

I have all that. But dealing with acid cleanup and neutralization is a pain...

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......

[davec]

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.

[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?

[Kelvin]

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!

[John T]

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.

[BD1]

I soak recycled horseshoes in white vinegar and it works well.
It works for zinc plated flat washers too.
Effectiveness depends on how heavy zinc is.
White vinegar will remove chrome plating too. I got a adjustable wrench at garage sale that was chrome plated and rusted shut. The vinegar worked on rust and removed loose chrome too.


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[smithdoor]

I have pool acid or sandblasting

Dave

[John T]

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.