Bleach and rust! !

  • Sheath
  • Sheath's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • 05 17 1984
  • Posts: 197
  • Thanks: 14

Bleach and rust! !

21 Jul 2020 09:22
#831119
Hey everyone, I'm not sure if this is the right kind of section. ..anyway I had an hour free today and I've been thinking about how most toilet bleaches are up to 47% hydrochloric acid and I wondered what it might do to a few rusty pieces so I set up a foil disposable bake tray, gloves ,glasses and a cheap tooth brush and started scrubbing the bits with bleach! Here are the before pics.....

Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Sheath
  • Sheath's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • 05 17 1984
  • Posts: 197
  • Thanks: 14

Re: Bleach and rust! !

21 Jul 2020 09:29 - 21 Jul 2020 09:29
#831120
Mixed results!! After scrubbing I filled up the tray with very hot water and left for an hour then I thoroughly rinsed and dried everything and this is how everything came out, some things did better than others, I'm sure a wire wheel would improve things more and perhaps a metal polish but to be honest I'm surprised what the bleach did to these bits, it could be a useful technique on rusty exhausts and things? :)

Attachments:

Last edit: 21 Jul 2020 09:29 by Sheath. Reason: One more picture

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Nessism
  • Nessism's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • Posts: 7506
  • Thanks: 2870

Re: Bleach and rust! !

21 Jul 2020 16:57 - 21 Jul 2020 19:20
#831171
HCl is harsh stuff and should be neutralized with some base solution such as baking soda so it doesn't continue to eat into the parts after rinsing. Phosphoric acid is much safer to the metal.
Edit: better still is oxalic acid. Found in many wood bleach products. The bicycle restoration guys love that stuff and with good reason; it eats off rust and don't hurt chrome or paint. A great mild cleaner that's environmentally safe.
Ed
Carb O-ring Kits : www.kzrider.com/forum/3-carburetor/61807...-o-ring-kits?start=0

www.kzrider.com/forum/faq-wiki/618026-new-owner-things-to-know

1981 KZ750E2
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/604901...z750e-project-thread
Last edit: 21 Jul 2020 19:20 by Nessism.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Sheath

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • JR
  • JR's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • Posts: 2936
  • Thanks: 450

Re: Bleach and rust! !

21 Jul 2020 17:19 - 21 Jul 2020 17:21
#831173
Please be very carefull Sheath.
Toilet cleaner is not bleach, its HCl. Bleach is hypochlorite. Mixing the two together can generate chlorine gas which can kil you.
1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust
Last edit: 21 Jul 2020 17:21 by JR.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Sheath

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Sheath
  • Sheath's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • 05 17 1984
  • Posts: 197
  • Thanks: 14

Re: Bleach and rust! !

21 Jul 2020 23:34
#831186
Thanks for the feedback guys :) don't worry JR I only used the bottle in the picture ,no mixing going on :) I think I'd better cover those exhaust clamps in baking soda though! I intend to use those! :laugh:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Highway Magician
  • Highway Magician's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 79
  • Thanks: 33

Re: Bleach and rust! !

22 Jul 2020 18:02 - 22 Jul 2020 18:03
#831240
Evapo-Rust is the best product I've used for safe rust removal. I'm currently restoring two gas tanks using 3 gallons of it undiluted.

I've been moving the tank in different positions for a couple of days. I checked inside a few times and it's amazing. Clean bare metal inside.

www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/evapo-...er-safe-rust-remover
Motorcycle builder since 1973. Master Tech. Current bike: 1982 GPZ1100B2.
Last edit: 22 Jul 2020 18:03 by Highway Magician.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Mikaw, Sheath

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Sheath
  • Sheath's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • 05 17 1984
  • Posts: 197
  • Thanks: 14

Re: Bleach and rust! !

22 Jul 2020 23:26
#831249
Hmmmmm Evapo-rust, I'll have to look that up :) I've been trying different things on my fuel tank for the past couple of years! Plus I have many rusty tools and things that I'd like to refurb :)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • TexasKZ
  • TexasKZ's Avatar
  • Away
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 7654
  • Thanks: 2297

Re: Bleach and rust! !

24 Jul 2020 17:49
#831371
Nessism wrote: HCl is harsh stuff and should be neutralized with some base solution such as baking soda so it doesn't continue to eat into the parts after rinsing. Phosphoric acid is much safer to the metal.
Edit: better still is oxalic acid. Found in many wood bleach products. The bicycle restoration guys love that stuff and with good reason; it eats off rust and don't hurt chrome or paint. A great mild cleaner that's environmentally safe.

Can metal that has been de-rusted with oxalic acid be painted as is, or will all the residue need to be removed? I need to repaint a set of pipes that are showing some tiny specs of rust.
1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Nessism
  • Nessism's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • Posts: 7506
  • Thanks: 2870

Re: Bleach and rust! !

24 Jul 2020 20:18
#831375
TexasKZ wrote:
Nessism wrote: HCl is harsh stuff and should be neutralized with some base solution such as baking soda so it doesn't continue to eat into the parts after rinsing. Phosphoric acid is much safer to the metal.
Edit: better still is oxalic acid. Found in many wood bleach products. The bicycle restoration guys love that stuff and with good reason; it eats off rust and don't hurt chrome or paint. A great mild cleaner that's environmentally safe.

Can metal that has been de-rusted with oxalic acid be painted as is, or will all the residue need to be removed? I need to repaint a set of pipes that are showing some tiny specs of rust.

I'd scotchbrite the metal before painting to make sure it's roughed up and 100% clean.
Ed
Carb O-ring Kits : www.kzrider.com/forum/3-carburetor/61807...-o-ring-kits?start=0

www.kzrider.com/forum/faq-wiki/618026-new-owner-things-to-know

1981 KZ750E2
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/604901...z750e-project-thread
The following user(s) said Thank You: TexasKZ

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum