December truck work
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
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From: Vancouver Island
Well, I did in fact wade out in the snow on Dec 31, and break off exactly one bolt holding the rear fender to the wrap-around heavy duty bumper on the '59 Merc.
The electrolytic rust thing works, although it's not as quick and clean as soaking in a bucket of phosphoric acid or sandblasting. But it's simple, safe and very cheap. Paint comes off easily, too. It doesn't reach into corners so well, and the rust turns into some really dirty black stuff. The 3.3 volts worked... I measured a couple hundred milliamps of current, and got bubbles of gas rising. I'll try a higher voltage/current some time, and see if that works faster.
I'm also trying citric acid to remove rust; 1kg bag from a wine-making store for $8, and about half a cup into about 3 liters of water. It gets into the corners that the electrolytic process missed, doesn't leave such a messy residue, but doesn't soften paint. This is one of those projects that is arguably a waste of time, but I'm getting a feel for how the electrolytic and citric acid rust removal techniques work. I figure I could do the front grille by making a frame out of 2x6 and lining it with plastic. Or... there's the old Sportyak plastic dinghy... that's about big enough to do a fender.
The electrolytic rust thing works, although it's not as quick and clean as soaking in a bucket of phosphoric acid or sandblasting. But it's simple, safe and very cheap. Paint comes off easily, too. It doesn't reach into corners so well, and the rust turns into some really dirty black stuff. The 3.3 volts worked... I measured a couple hundred milliamps of current, and got bubbles of gas rising. I'll try a higher voltage/current some time, and see if that works faster.
I'm also trying citric acid to remove rust; 1kg bag from a wine-making store for $8, and about half a cup into about 3 liters of water. It gets into the corners that the electrolytic process missed, doesn't leave such a messy residue, but doesn't soften paint. This is one of those projects that is arguably a waste of time, but I'm getting a feel for how the electrolytic and citric acid rust removal techniques work. I figure I could do the front grille by making a frame out of 2x6 and lining it with plastic. Or... there's the old Sportyak plastic dinghy... that's about big enough to do a fender.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Revelstoke B.C.
I like the line where you said "This is one of those projects that is arguably a waist of time".It made me laugh.
I know how you feel.At least you tried it,and as you said you are getting the feel for it.
So I say good for you angus,and I appreciate the up-date.I have been thinking of trying this process but havn't made the time to do it.
Keep posting your progress.
Sed
I know how you feel.At least you tried it,and as you said you are getting the feel for it.
So I say good for you angus,and I appreciate the up-date.I have been thinking of trying this process but havn't made the time to do it.
Keep posting your progress.
Sed
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver Island
I'll probably see a mint set of the same fog lamps at a swap meet later this year for $10, but wtf... these have been sitting in a soggy carton in the carport for, um, 15 years, so I should do something with them. It looks like electrolysis first, followed by acid, is the way to go. There's spots on these lamps that couldn't be reached even by sandblasting. Keeping the citric acid solution warm and circulating would be a good thing. Like an aquarium heater, and a mini fountain pump to pump a continuous flow over the thing. Maybe you could do a much larger object this way, even a whole cab, without needing a 100's of gallons of solution?
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