mill scale removal

[AnthonyExmouth]

Ok folks, seen a few posts on other forums mentioning brick acid as a good mill scale remover, just got my new steel plate for a work top and deciding whether to get white vinegar or try brick acid.
Anyone wanna chime in before I spend my money?

 

[James1979]

Hydrochloric acid / brick acid. Then neutralise it with bicarb but if it’s for a welding bench I wouldn’t bother. The mill scale protects it a bit

 

[AnthonyExmouth]

Hydrochloric acid / brick acid. Then neutralise it with bicarb but if it’s for a welding bench I wouldn’t bother. The mill scale protects it a bit

ah ok, just grind a patch for good connection for the return?

 

[James1979]

that’s all I did. I think you may need to get it back to bare for tig but not sure. Someone will know and be along soon.

For mig and arc it works fine

 

[Feet 'n Inches]

ah ok, just grind a patch for good connection for the return?

If you're dropping the plate on top of a wooden bench and it's larger, weld a lug underneath that you can clamp the earth to . . . that's worked for me in the past.

 

[AnthonyExmouth]

If you're dropping the plate on top of a wooden bench and it's larger, weld a lug underneath that you can clamp the earth to . . . that's worked for me in the past.

my plan is to attach it to some metal office desk legs that I've got which will then just be low enough to slide under my wooden worktops. But to start it'll just be on the wooded worktop probably propped on a couple of bits of batten.

 

[Kram]

Brick acid is a bit strong for just removing scale. Hot citric acid works well enough. Id say try to submerge the whole thing as once its through to clean metal it will prefer to eat into that, than the scale.

 

[AnthonyExmouth]

Brick acid is a bit strong for just removing scale. Hot citric acid works well enough. Id say try to submerge the whole thing as once its through to clean metal it will prefer to eat into that, than the scale.

wish i had a tray big enough, the plate i bought is 1000x600x10

 

[Kram]

I remember people here have used pond liner, either in a small dug hole or on flat ground suported by a wooden frame. Wont need to be deep for that.

For doing 40mm tube I bought a length of 2.5" square gutter pipe.

 

[Barking Mat]

I remember people here have used pond liner, either in a small dug hole or on flat ground suported by a wooden frame. Wont need to be deep for that.

For doing 40mm tube I bought a length of 2.5" square gutter pipe.

Cracking idea, duly pinched, thanks.

 

[Morris]

Phosphoric works a treat.

 

[brightspark]

flexidisk on an angle grinder

 

[TechnicAl]

sulphuric is best for removing mild steel mill scale. Its the choice for wire drawers and contract descalers

hydrochloric for stainless

 

[AnthonyExmouth]

Well, I opted to try a bit of vinegar last night as I had 5l in the workshop. Now my workshop stinks of vinegar but I've got a nice shiny patch on my steel, Just soaked some rags in vinegar and laid them on the rest of the plate.

 

[James1979]

sulphuric is best for removing mild steel mill scale. Its the choice for wire drawers and contract descalers

hydrochloric for stainless

Never knew that. Cheers

 

[TechnicAl]

Well, I opted to try a bit of vinegar last night as I had 5l in the workshop. Now my workshop stinks of vinegar but I've got a nice shiny patch on my steel, Just soaked some rags in vinegar and laid them on the rest of the plate.

Id be out buying fish and chips now

 

[AnthonyExmouth]

Id be out buying fish and chips now

I have to wait until this evening, Sat night, fish and chips while watching the new Falcon & Winter Soldier.

 

[AnthonyExmouth]

Nearly done, was going to do both sides but decided I don't hate myself that much.