I have some raw steel that I need to cut and paint. It has typical light surface rust from being stored at the supplier. What is the best method to remove and then paint? I hate to use a grinder, too rough. Light sandpaper in a sander might be OK. Or perhaps a spinning wheel of some sort? Even a bucket and brillo pads seems doable.
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Jan. 25, 2012 2:33 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork
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Jan. 25, 2012 2:44 p.m. spitfirebill SuperDork
I'd probably use some type of metal prep. You know, acid.
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Jan. 25, 2012 3:25 p.m. Woody SuperDork
If you've got a little time, try electrolysis:
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Jan. 25, 2012 3:45 p.m. cwh SuperDork
4" angle grinder, wire wheel. Rustbegone.
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Jan. 25, 2012 3:59 p.m. chaparral Reader
Coca-Cola is as good as anything else for it
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Jan. 25, 2012 4:01 p.m. motomoron Dork
If it's very light, a burgundy Scotchbrite pad with Lacquer thinner or acetone if you're about to weld or paint, and WD40 if you're not going to paint for a while works fine. For slightly heavier encrustations a Scotchbrite stripper wheel (drill or angle grinder) or2"-3" surface conditioning discs in a die grinder work great.
And as stated above, a cup wire wheel (Plain, not knotted bristle) works great.
!!!ALWAYS WEAR A FULL FACE SHIELD WHEN USING A WIRE WHEEL IN AN ANGLE GRINDER!!!
A while back, after finishing wire wheeling a piece of steel I noticed a bit of wire sticking out of my thigh. "That's funny" I thought, "Must be just a little piece of a wire 'cause they're nearly 2" long" .
I tried to pull it out with my fingers and couldn't get a good enough grip. So I grabbed a pair of needle nose pliers and gave a tug...
And pulled a wire out that had penetrated well over an inch. Imagine if you will, that sticking out of your remaining eye, all "Andalusian Dog" style. Eww.
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Jan. 25, 2012 4:13 p.m. ansonivan Dork
Vinegar works incredibly well, you'll need to submerge the part though which might be a problem on something large. 8 hours in vinegar will strip any rust and leave clean metal.
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Jan. 25, 2012 5:08 p.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork
The cup type brushes work good, the Scotchbrites do too but man they wear out QUICK.
I was wirewheeling rust and bondo off once, it was cool outside so I was wearing a sweatshirt. After I was done, I was astounded at the number of wires sticking out of the shirt.
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Jan. 25, 2012 5:28 p.m. Woody SuperDork
A few days ago, I pulled a piece of wire from a Dremel wire wheel out of my chest. It had gone through my jacket and shirt. I hadn't used the Dremel in at least a week.
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Jan. 25, 2012 7:23 p.m. fasted58 SuperDork
Muriatic Acid
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Jan. 26, 2012 4:23 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork
Shotgun? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
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Jan. 26, 2012 5:09 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork
Woody wrote:
A few days ago, I pulled a piece of wire from a Dremel wire wheel out of my chest. It had gone through my jacket and shirt. I hadn't used the Dremel in at least a week.
It took you a week to find a steel wire stuck in your chest? Dang how often do you bathe?
