A couple months ago we had some discussion on the Military Vehicles List
about stripping chrome or cad plating from hardware. Muriatic acid was
suggested, along with a Lye solution (preferably heated). The lye was
supposed to take paint and rust off as well, so I thought I'd try this
method for cleaning up the nuts and bolts.
I cut the tops off two empty 1 gallon paint thinner cans, put the lye
solution in one and hot water with some baking soda added in the other. I
put them both on the gas BBQ to heat. I made a parts basket out of a large
empty soup can by putting holes in the bottom and sides with a nail and a
long wire loop handle on top.
Considering the number of parts I had to clean up I got another container
going with a muriatic acid solution in it (no heat for this one), and made
another parts "basket". I was out on the patio so fumes weren't much of an
issue, but I had the respirator just in case. I also had long, heavy,
chemical resistant gloves on over another pair of latex gloves, and eye
protection.
I found the lye solution worked best on paint, the muriatic acid better on
the grease and oil. Neither one removed much rust or scale, maybe I needed
longer soak times. After each basket had soaked I dipped it in the boiling
water and baking soda solution to neutralize the acid. Then dried the
parts and bagged them. I wanted to prime them right then, but I would have
been up all night, so that has to wait until this evening.
The chemical stripping worked ok, but I think I'll borrow a relative's
bench top bead blasting booth next time. It takes time for the chemicals
to work, so I'm not sure it's any faster than bead blasting. Bead blasting
seems to give a more consistent result. I'd like to try the tumbling
method, but I bagged and labeled all the hardware as it came off the truck
and I would have lost my system if I had just thrown it all in one big
tumbling vat.
Clean up wasn't bad, and I neutralized my left over acids with plenty of
baking soda and water and disposed down the drain.
Chris Davis
MVPA# 20000
Lake Forest, CA
'42 WC53 Carryall
'66 M274A2 Mule
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