[Trollhole]

I want to find a process, chemical, shop tool that will clean these bolts down to the metal so I can have them plated. I want the easiest way possible.


Ideas.

[Trollhole]

I thought about putting them in the kiln at 1000 degrees. That would pretty much incinerate anything off them. But then I would have to figure out how to harden them again.

[LukeZero]

TT an issue or two ago had an article on cleaning rust and crap off fasteners with muriatic acid. I'm thinking about trying it when I can find the time.

[-Spike-]

Home Depot sells some nasty purple cleaning fluid in 5 gallon jugs by Zep (Industrial Purple Cleaner and Degreaser)that eats grease for breakfast. Also skin, rubber, and some plastics. All my steel parts get dipped in this stuff for a while, then rinsed. Way better than gasoline or diesel. Cleans the shop floor well too. It won't clean off rust though. Perhaps a tumbler? Blasting cabinet?

-Spike

[Trollhole]

Most of it is grease. So I will try it though I have tried Castoral Super Clean with very little success.

[CruisinGA]

What do your plating guys recommend?

[Trollhole]

That it be grease free. lol

[REZARF]

I would recommend a tumbler too.

Most any gun retailer can hook up up with one. Turn it on and come back later to shiny bolts...

Rezarf <><

[-Spike-]

Originally Posted by Trollhole

Most of it is grease. So I will try it though I have tried Castoral Super Clean with very little success.

Well, the stuff is pretty much identical to Castrol Super Clean. I guess the difference is quantity. I buy the Zep stuff in a 5 gallon bucket. I have one of those clear plastic rectangular household storage containers with a lid, approximately 24" wide by 18" deep by 8" tall. I put a couple of inches of the cleaning fluid in the bottom of that, then dump the parts in. Bolts and stuff that I don't want to spend any time brushing I'll leave in there overnight, then rinse the next day. Larger parts I will soak, splashing fluid on the top occasionally, and then scrub clean. Gloves are a must- if you get it on your skin, it will leave your skin slick, like soap. Don't be fooled. This stuff rinses off really easily, the slick feeling is your melted skin. Leave it on too long and you'll definitely feel it. I use safety glasses and either nitrile gloves or those Playtex kitchen gloves. The stuff will eat the gloves eventually. It eats damn near everything. Make sure it doesn't eat whatever container you put it in. I've been lucky with the storage container I got at Target, stuff's been in it for well over a year now. Even with half an inch of sludge on the bottom, the stuff just keeps on working.

-Spike

[IH8Wood]

A heated ultrasonic cleaner works great with your favorite water-based solvent.

[zebrabeefj40]

Ask the plating co. if they'll clean them too. Most plating shops I've dealt with would run your parts through a cleaning step first regardless.

Or you could toss them in the dish washer when the SO isn't around...

Nick

[RHINO]

how bout dump'em in a sandblast cabinet have have some fun?

[Grolar]

Heated, ultra-sonic, platinum plated dishwasherzillas?

You guys are really looking for trouble.
Here's my way.

1. Rush to Costco.
2. Buy a gallon of white vinegar with a $20 bill.
3. Pour in a bucket, throw your stuff in it.
4. With the change, buy lots of beer.
5. Get drunk.
6. Wake up the morning after: you have a hangover, but your junk is shiny.
My 02.

[450 DUDE]

Turco.

Its stinky bu it works.

ken

[nmbuckaroo]

i have been using evapor-rust for several years in classic car restorations. it cleans and degreases well but it fowls the product pretty quickly slowing the life of the product for rust removal. i soak my parts 24 hours then rinse with water and air dry. wwwevaprorust.com

[AATLAS1X]

5 gallon can of carb ckeaner and basket, let soak for days and lift and turn every 8 hours or so. Remove and dump into plastic tote and hammer it with a pressure washer on med or so to break up all the paint and grease. remove, strain and dry.

$20 vibrating polisher from Harbor with walnut media for 24-48 hours each load.

Nice and clean.

[Icantdive55]

Ive tried several variations to clean my stuff. A few days ago I tried something different. I filled my ultrasonic cleaner with power lube (a cheap penetrating oil) let the stuff sit for two days. Everytime I went into the garage I turned on the ultrasonic and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes. Maybe had a total of 1 hour. I was suprised at how well it cleaned. It also freed up my E-Brake cable.

To get the oil off the parts I washed them with purple power.

Next expirement will be the ultra sonic with heat and ATF.

Rod

[79fj40moneypit]

Do you have a cement mixer? throw them in there with a bag of play sand and walk away for a few hours , the plastic ones work the best. With really dirty bolts put 1 gallon of purple degreaser in the mixer (no sand) works great!

[Cuerno Largo]

Originally Posted by Grolar

Heated, ultra-sonic, platinum plated dishwasherzillas?

You guys are really looking for trouble.
Here's my way.

1. Rush to Costco.
2. Buy a gallon of white vinegar with a $20 bill.
3. Pour in a bucket, throw your stuff in it.
4. With the change, buy lots of beer.
5. Get drunk.
6. Wake up the morning after: you have a hangover, but your junk is shiny.
My 02.

I have done this on my BBQ grates and it works well.

[Grolar]

See, two votes for the cheap solution

[x3inchesx]

I've tried the muriatic acid. It works but I almost passed out from the fumes. If you try it, make sure you spray some WD-40 or light oil to keep the nuts and bolts from flash rusting. I didn't and now I have a bucket full of extra rusty bolts. I'll have to try the vinegar next time, it should be less toxic and easier to dispose of.

[Blue77FJ40]

You had little success with Castrol Super Clean??? When I bought my truck and started to degrease it, the Castrol was so strong that it ate the paint off my frame. In addition, it burned my hands so raw and red that it took 2-3 weeks to heal. From that point on, I use Simple Green. Takes a second coat, maybe, but no chemical burns.

For your situation, I'd put all the bolts or a batch of them in a pan and let loose with carb cleaner/kerosene/mineral spirits and let them soak for a while. Then put the batch in a collander/mesh drain bowl and hit it with compressed air. Repeat as necessary.

[vtcruiser60]

Originally Posted by Trollhole

I want to find a process, chemical, shop tool that will clean these bolts down to the metal so I can have them plated. I want the easiest way possible.


Ideas.

These are all interesting ideas. I would just encourage you to phone the plating shop and ask them. Ask what they do to prep small parts for plating, then ask what they would recommend for the DIY.

[Trollhole]

They said carb dip. It works but is a slow process. I'm going to try all the above ways. I'll let ya'll know what works best.

[splitshot]

Originally Posted by x3inchesx

I've tried the muriatic acid. It works but I almost passed out from the fumes. If you try it, make sure you spray some WD-40 or light oil to keep the nuts and bolts from flash rusting. I didn't and now I have a bucket full of extra rusty bolts. I'll have to try the vinegar next time, it should be less toxic and easier to dispose of.

Hope you aren't using it straight..

Need to step on it hard with some water....

X 2 on Zepp, good stuff.

[oldIron]

The lazy way is to pay your kid a buck a pound and give him a tooth brush and a bucket of detergent!!!!

[Plowboy]

I use a 2 gal bucket with simple green, strap an old vibrating sander to the side and let it go. Works great. If really cruddy, through in a couple of tubes of BB's. The vibrating BB's knock off lots of crud.

[Japan4X4]

Buy new bolts. JIS standard. Just walk into the local fastener shop and order what you need. Easy here.

I do not keep used bolts. With the exception of the specialty items. The rest of it is just too cheap new to bother with.

[FJ60Cam]

I just tossed some rusty bolts in some vinegar just for fun...

In a few hours, clean metal even on some that had been eaten up pretty bad by the rust.

It even stripped the galvanized parts of their coating!

[96r50]

Soak it in Coca Cola overnight?