White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

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I am trying to clean up the parts I remove from the parts truck I bought, as I take them off.

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I have read about using vinegar here on the board before and I even tried it once, but it didn't seem like it worked very good. I decided to try it again after reading another post on it. I soaked the emergency brake pedal bracket for 3 hours and when I removed it from the tub of vinegar it looked just like it did when I put it in there.

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I was discouraged so I thought I woud wash the vinegar off of it so it wouldn't make it rust more from the acid in the vinegar. This is what happened when I hit it with the pressure washer.

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I just washed sections of it on both sides to show the difference.

LockDoc

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

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This is after I finished pressure washing the whole thing. Clean metal.

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It won't remove any oil or grease so you need to remove all of that stuff before you put the parts in the vinegar bath. I bought the vinegar at the Dollar Store for 2 bucks a gallon. (they need to call it the Two Dollar Store)

I'm impressed now....:)

LockDoc

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

That is pretty neat. Chevy took care of the part that needed to be protected from rust, and to heck with the rest of it I guess. I am amused by their paint conservation. When I took mine out to replace all 3 springs that had broken from rust, I painted the whole thing black.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Naw, they only painted the part you could see! :lol:

And I do have to say that I'm a bit annoyed and embarrassed for having bought a gallon of Evapo-Rust for $27 on line, many years ago. I discovered that O'Reilly's had it for half that price, later. :(

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

I like to use Cleaning Strength Vinegar for soaking parts to get rust off of parts.
I just fill a container big enough to hold the parts, and let them soak for a few days. To me, it works well on Normal rusty parts. I use another producT for heavily rusted parts. As someone said, the pieces need to be degreased, as vinegar has no effect on petroleum products.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

That is super clean, you have changed my mind about using vinegar for a de-rusting agent!

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Gotta have it on my greens, too! I keep a jug handy with my other chemicals. Vinegar is excellent for paint prep, too. Etching bare metal. Cheap!

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Very cool... Like you, after soaking and not seeing much difference I would have 'written it off'. What a difference after pressure washing ;)

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

It will look cleaner if you leave parts in longer. Days, not hours.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Vinegar, molasses, beets all these acids will dissolve rust. The problem it will flash rust pretty quickly.. Rust remover/ metal prep that contains zinc will extend the paint job much longer than cleaning with vinegar. Lacquer paint jobs if they're not acid etched would rust fairly quickly. that phosphate film Under your primers is very important for longevity of your paintwork. If you use a quality prep you can strip parts and store them indoors for a year without flash rusting.. If you strip parts with vinegar use a quality metal prep immediately. It will pay off In the long run.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

I swear by it, and nice info. as well Lupo.

I let the parts soak overnight, though my axle plates required maybe 2 days. A good bath 20 or so minutes in heavy baking soda to counter the acid. Baking soda leaves almost a phosphate appearing finish, at that point the parts clean up quickly. A lot of steps but it works. Too late for a tumbler:lol:

For heavier rust a concoction using Must for Rust, vinegar and water works real well. A board member came up with it.


The appearance of these plates is misleading because one is the "pretty" side - both plates came out equal.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

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Thanks guys, and thanks for the extra tips. I ended up doing four of them in the last two days. I primed everything right away and put new release handle springs on them. They look pretty good.

LockDoc

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Get vinegar by the gallon at the dollar store, buck for a gallon is cheap. You can also get oven cleaner a buck a can. Great for degreasing when you want to clean and power wash your large greasy parts outdoors.

I took a gallon of vinegar and dumped about half in another container. Then I put a bunch of nuts and bolts in the half empty original gallon jug. Everytime I walked past the jug when I was out in the shop I gave it a good shake. Nuts and bolts were nice and clean after a week.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

I’m not sure if it’s a necessary step, but I always soak the parts in a baking soda and water solution to neutralize the acid that got into all the nooks and crannies.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

My experience...

Simple Green works well on oily greasy stuff. Although not on excessively thick stuck on grease.

If you have a small dab of a greasy area. WD40 dissolves it much better than you'd think. IF you have like a cylinder head or other larger part, diesel cuts the grease, same as WD40. Diesel and WD40 are pretty close to the same thing. Although I'm thinking WD would be safer on your bare hands. I don't know what additives they put in diesel...

I can vouch for the above fixes, I work on School buses..

Another rust solution I have not tried...Is a plastic tub of some king with borax solution (water). Hang parts via metal wires into solution hanging from metal rod across container. Hang a metal rod into the solution (not touching the parts) with a wire.
here's where I am not sure. Hook up a battery charger to each metal piece. I believe the positive goes on the hanging rod... (anyone done this???). If it is wrong, you can switch them. This "unplates" the rust off the parts. sounds a little dangerous. Can't have kids around...

Lysol toilet bowl cleaner is a mild acid, phosphoric, I believe. I say mild, still don't get it on you. I use it for some things. Carb parts. BUT, and that's a big BUT, don't soak something in this stuff, it may do too good of a job....

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

X2 for WD40 on grease. Quality degreaser wasn't cutting the baked on grease on my transmission, WD made it a simple task. Works well to clean deep rust as well, though I've only used it for small parts.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

A solution of vinegar and table salt will dissolve the verdigris from copper grounds and leave them looking pretty close to new. Chase in solution of baking soda and water to neutralize.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

I use an entire tube of grease to grease a bus. I wear rubber gloves, but usually get grease on me!!! I use WD40 first to get the grease off (we use this super duper nasty black whoop ass grease...), then hand cleaner.

THe thing about using diesel on nasty greasy stuff, it's way cheaper than WD40 for larger parts. It helps to have one of those stiff bristled brushes (that are for use in a parts washer).

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

I’ve used and use simple green and white vinegar. The other thing with the borax solution is electrolysis. I use that too. I learned of electrolysis on the garage journal forum. All the methods are good.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

https://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp

I followed this for electrolysis

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I'm using oaxlic acid and it works awesome. Unbelievable a!most makes my glass bead cabinet obsolete.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

I’ve heard of that but haven’t tried it. May try it next.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Wow, that vinegar solution is impressive! Does your pressure washer have heat or did cold water clean that up just fine?

Steve weim55 Colorado

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

My pressure washer is just a cold water one. I don't know if a hot water washer would work any better though. Mine blasts it off pretty easy.

LockDoc

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

We have used low odor kerosene in the parts tank at work for decades. It's easier on the body and you don't reak of diesel fuel when your done.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

I had to clean a nasty fitting off of a sand blaster for repurposing on an impact wrench. About an hour in apple vinegar and rinse. Almost spotless. The fitting was galvanised. Finished cleaned it with a paper towel. As much junk as I have around here you would think I would have a new 1/2"-3/8"npt fitting. Saved a trip to town.

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Thinking about your thread Doc, I really wanted these bumper nuts badly. I have eight already zinc plated. My rear step bumper didn't have them, but a sport bumper does, which I'm using. At any rate, I had three extra for some reason, & stole another six off my C20. That truck is pretty well rusty, so the nuts took some doing.

I don't like soaking parts in vinegar too long or often. These took three vinegar baths as is, two with a pinch of Must For Rust too. You can help the process with WD-40 baths, which I did, twice :lol:, I really wanted these nuts. WD-40 loosens up the rust (black) some, that and a scrub pad works well.

First picture is what the nuts looked like after the first vinegar bath, brushing and an oil bath. If it's black it's "still rust" and HARD. That black doesn't bode well for anything short of paint.

Second picture is of them finished, but a little sanding in places due. One nut is pretty bad, but I don't need it.

Third pic is what they'll look like, though the plated nuts were in much better condition from start.

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I've had a couple of parts that I had to get a little more aggressive with too. I used the wire wheel on one of them and it worked pretty good. I have a few of those slotted nuts if you want me to see if any of them are in good shape.

LockDoc

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Well there ya' go. After you get your parts clean, you can have greens. :lol::lol:

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Gave that stuff a whirl. 1 buck at the Dollar Store. All I can say is I am impressed!

Let em sit in the sun with the lids on.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Thanks Doc, but I have the 16 I need. Sure I wouldn't mind cleaner nuts than a few of these, but don't trouble yourself, I'll survive. And sure, they're going to be the only hardware on this truck that's pitted, but don't fret, I'll get over it:lol:

Messing around, seriously I'm good, thank you for the offer. Then again, if they're nice and you don't need them, I'll find some bolts for your good gesture;)

I call em slotted nuts too - apparently they're "expanding flex top" or "flex lock" nuts.

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Sorry Doc, that was my LONG winded way of saying I'm happy either way. I just finished what I got with sand paper, and even the most pitted is probably useful, it's an extra anyway. I'd sand a few more, but would rather not use metric;)

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

No problem. Thanks for the note.

LockDoc

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Leon,Thanks for the thread!!!

I'm always looking for cheaper and easier ways do to things!!!

Hope your 4th in the Great State of Iowa is a great day for you and family!!!
Jeff

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

Thanks Jeff. Doing good here in Iowa, Slowww and easy..;)

LockDoc

Re: White Vinegar For Cleaning Parts
 

just a tip for nuts and bolt cleaning, it you are a reloader,and clean your own cases, a tumbler is a great tool to clean up the small stuff.