Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

-----

Stripping rust with alkaline solution

2004

I made a solution of common laundry detergent(tide) and mixed it with hot water and used a battery charger ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] ; negative to the item to clean and the positive to a stainless anode-bar. The resulting action was after a couple of hours a rusty foamy scum on top and the removal of quite a bit of rust from the steel part. It left behind a real black coating on the part which I could eventually scrub off. Was any of this residue harmful in any way? It sure stained my hands like carbon would.

Thanks,

Pete Prosser
hobbyist - Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Without knowing what the item was, it's not possible to say whether the procedure was harmful to the item. It can become hydrogen-embrittled if it's a high strength steel. If the item was steel, I doubt that any corrosion product could be dangerous to people. It's probably just "smut".

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
2003

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: