cleaning stainless steel

[MonomanParticipant @monoman]

Lactic acid = C₃H₆O₃ an organic acid most familiar source is milk, which can be drunk safely by most of the population.

Orthophosphoric acid = H₃O₄P a mineral acid most commonly found in engineering in phosphating plants where it is used to produce iron phosphate or zinc phosphate coatings. You would not enjoy the effect of drinking phosphoric acid.

You might need to forget everything you ever knew about the contents of the chemicals you used in past times. The EC Commission has, through its child the ECHA, completely changed the landscape of chemistry and chemical formulation over the past 12 years or so, by its policy of substituting 'hazardous' chemicals with 'safer' ones. In most cases reducing the performance of the available products.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by Chris Evans 6 on 13/08/2017 09:17:15:

First welcome back Michael, your input has been missed. The abrasive impregnated rubber sticks are known as "Craytex" I have a few here in my workshop of varying grades and shapes.

Amazing, I've always them known as abrasive rubbers, now I have two manufacturers, Garryflex and Craytex.

Martin P

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Monoman on 13/08/2017 09:51:45:

You might need to forget everything you ever knew about the contents of the chemicals you used in past times. The EC Commission has, through its child the ECHA, completely changed the landscape of chemistry and chemical formulation over the past 12 years or so, by its policy of substituting 'hazardous' chemicals with 'safer' ones. In most cases reducing the performance of the available products.

Nevertheless both types of Jenolite are still available – see Jenolite's website.

Russell

[egaParticipant @ega]

The Americans often refer to milk paint (casein?) which is apparently the very devil to remove (its use may have antedated the invention of Dr Pepper).

[Colin WhittakerParticipant @colinwhittaker20544]

MSDS sheets used to be a useful source of information, engineer to engineer, but then the lawyers got in on the game and insisted on over the top arse covering. As a reality check take a look at an MSDS data sheet for table salt aka sodium chloride. The protective equipment needed for a trip to the restaurant is quite impressive.

[Roger HartParticipant @rogerhart88496]

Thanks everyone. I tried electrolysis with citric acid. I used a stainless rod as a cathode to the -ve supply and the workpiece to the +ve. Passed about 200mA for 4 hours and the grey/black muck shifted and left a smooth grey surface. Not a shiny result but a bit better, the hard grey/black surface has gone. A good taste of the buffing wheel looks in order.

I looked at electropolishing but was a bit windy of conc sulphuric + conc phosphoric and for a little job like mine not worth pursuing.

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