Can I clean stock metal without a grinder?

[ned]

Hi all,

apologies if this has been posted before.

I'm wondering, is there a way to clean the oil/dirt coating on mild steel, without using a grinder?

I'm after buiding an item here, my girlfriend wants to get it back to a shine, however I'm not a fan because if I use the grinder it scores the metal and leaves grinder marks.


Any idea as to what I might do? I'm thinking there might be some kind of treatment, ive used, what i thinking is called pinking fluid? on aluminium before, would that do for mild steel also?


cheers for reading,
ned .

 

[rikrobson]

Yup, emery cloth and elbow grease.

flap disks on a grinder give a better finish., but any shiny mild stell will dull and would need laquering. You'll need to polish after the emery clotch/flap wheel depending on the finish.

 

[eSCHEn]

An electrolytic tank is used to clean up rusty items, I wonder if the same could be used for your purposes ned?

 

[rikrobson]

you could nickel/chrome plate it.

 

[fixerupper]

If it's oily black stuff but not dirt or rust I just clean it up with a meths on a bit of cloth before welding .
Then polish or linish with a fine grade flap disc keeping the angle low so it don't score the surface or a linishing belt thingy....jeff

 

[ned]

Cheers guys, this forum provides as always. I have a big can of meths in the shed, I'll give that a go first and see what kind of finish that leaves. If that's not satisfactory I'll have a go with fine grain sanding pads on my random orbit sander.
Will let ye know how I get on. Appreciate the suggestion's )

 

[rikrobson]

If you are on about removing the mil scale, its oxdisation from the forming process. Meths is just alcohol, a mix of ethanol and methanol. That wont shift the mill scale. Sanding pads will.

 

[Mr shiney]

Citric acid will shift mill scale no problem. Soak it over night and it just wipes off.

 

[fixerupper]

Yes the meths will only clean of the oily black stuff , I think a random orbital sander will give you a semi matt finish of multiple circles ...jeff..

 

[rikrobson]

a 120 flap wheel will give a decent enought finish, Or paint it.

 

[ned]

Yep the mill scale is what I'm talking about. Will have a go at Citric acid / brick & patio cleaner. Lovely )

 

[rikrobson]

I think you'll still be wasting your time unless you use an abrasive.

 

[Mr shiney]

Nah, citric acid is fine. I use it on parts I am zinc plating to get a smooth finish. Nice strong citric mix in hot water, over night soak and it just falls off leaving dull but clean metal.

You can then polish it using a cloth polishing disk and paste and it will come up shiny. Once thats done I just zinc plate it. Zinc plating is only as good as the prep underneath.

 

[the snooper]

its a lot of hassle especially with grinders as low as 8 quid if you need one

 

[Mr shiney]

its a lot of hassle especially with grinders as low as 8 quid if you need one

Indeed, by the OP clearly stated they did not want the swirl marks of grinders.....

 

[rikrobson]

flap disk leave a faily polished finish.

 

[the snooper]

Indeed, by the OP clearly stated they did not want the swirl marks of grinders.....

oops never saw that but as above ^^^^

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I used a gallon of vinegar that cost me the princely sum of £1.68 to remove the mill scale off of a pile of 40 x 10mm gussets, took about 48 hrs but the mill scale either fell off or needed a quick rub with a wire brush.

 

[clift_d]

Bench mounted belt sander? You'd at least get something in line with the grain of the metal.

 

[penfold]

Yup, emery cloth and elbow grease.

flap disks on a grinder give a better finish., but any shiny mild stell will dull and would need laquering. You'll need to polish after the emery clotch/flap wheel depending on the finish.

To avoid swirls from grinders you need the armstrong method plus emery cloth or files.