stripping zinc with vinegar

dilbert firestorm

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Feb 24, 2011, 10:01:04 PM2/24/11

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someone told me that I can strip zinc in a plastic tub filled with vinegar?

I know vinegar has lots of uses, but is this so?

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<---=««-Dilbert Firestorm-»»=--->
Zizzle that Fire - it's Zizzle Time !!!!!!!

Oren

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Feb 24, 2011, 10:19:16 PM2/24/11

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On Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:01:04 -0600, dilbert firestorm
<sca...@bytemeati-55.com> wrote:

>someone told me that I can strip zinc in a plastic tub filled with vinegar?
>
>I know vinegar has lots of uses, but is this so?

Try it with a penny?

Copper coated zinc? Copper left over?

I'm confused......

dilbert firestorm

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Feb 24, 2011, 10:57:36 PM2/24/11

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looks like I left out something in my post. grrr, hate that when that
happens.

Its for a steel plate that is zinc plated or any steel that has been
galvanized.

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<---=垂-Dilbert Firestorm-遙=--->

David Nebenzahl

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Feb 24, 2011, 11:37:57 PM2/24/11

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On 2/24/2011 7:57 PM dilbert firestorm spake thus:

> On 2/24/2011 9:19 PM, Oren wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:01:04 -0600, dilbert firestorm
>> <sca...@bytemeati-55.com> wrote:
>>
>>> someone told me that I can strip zinc in a plastic tub filled
>>> with vinegar?
>>>
>>> I know vinegar has lots of uses, but is this so?
>>
>> Try it with a penny?
>>
>> Copper coated zinc? Copper left over?
>>
>> I'm confused......
>
> looks like I left out something in my post. grrr, hate that when that
> happens.
>
> Its for a steel plate that is zinc plated or any steel that has been
> galvanized.

Vinegar will etch the galvanized coating, but I seriously doubt it'll
"strip" it. Not strong enough. (Well, maybe if you leave it in for like
two weeks or something.)

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dilbert firestorm

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Feb 25, 2011, 3:23:27 AM2/25/11

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vinegar really works!
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2372972/1.html

Jon Danniken

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Feb 25, 2011, 10:43:05 AM2/25/11

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dilbert firestorm wrote:
> someone told me that I can strip zinc in a plastic tub filled with
> vinegar?
> I know vinegar has lots of uses, but is this so?

Dunno about vinegar, but good old muriatic acid takes it off pretty quickly.
You do need safety gear for this, though.

Jon

Colbyt

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Feb 25, 2011, 8:20:09 PM2/25/11

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"dilbert firestorm" <sca...@bytemeati-55.com> wrote in message
news:v_mdnYZ-arDrhvrQ...@xfoneusa.net...

> someone told me that I can strip zinc in a plastic tub filled with
> vinegar?
>
> I know vinegar has lots of uses, but is this so?
>
> --

> <---=垂-Dilbert Firestorm-遙=--->

> Zizzle that Fire - it's Zizzle Time !!!!!!!
>

Why do you want to strip it?

If it is just so paint will stick and not peel, a full cycle through the
dishwasher or soaking in a pan with hot water and dish machine soap will do
the job.

Colbyt

dilbert firestorm

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Feb 25, 2011, 11:05:17 PM2/25/11

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what does the dishwashing process do to it?

Oren

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Feb 25, 2011, 11:29:55 PM2/25/11

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On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:05:17 -0600, dilbert firestorm
<sca...@bytemeati-55.com> wrote:

>> Why do you want to strip it?
>>
>> If it is just so paint will stick and not peel, a full cycle through the
>> dishwasher or soaking in a pan with hot water and dish machine soap will do
>> the job.
>>
>> Colbyt
>>
>>
>what does the dishwashing process do to it?

I'm not sure, but I understand the galv. finish is kind of oily. Clean
it to paint it?

Hey! Try TSP with phosphate, (not the green box) like in a "dish
machine". Makes sense for just painting the material.

What exactly are you trying to do?

David Nebenzahl

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Feb 26, 2011, 1:53:04 AM2/26/11

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On 2/25/2011 12:23 AM dilbert firestorm spake thus:

OK, I stand (well, sit) corrected.

I know vinegar is really good at cleaning metal. When I work on old
things (e.g., cameras) with schmutzed or hazed brass or chrome parts, I
throw them (the parts, not the camera) into a vinegar bath. Brightens
'em right up.

dilbert firestorm

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Feb 26, 2011, 2:29:52 AM2/26/11

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I was intending to spray paint it black. I was advised not to spray
paint it until the zinc was removed in the "painting metal braces" thread.

the responses to removing zinc ranged from using muriatic acid to
scruffing/scraping it along with dishwashing it somwhere in the mix.

Colbyt

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Feb 26, 2011, 8:47:07 AM2/26/11

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"dilbert firestorm" <sca...@bytemeati-55.com> wrote in message

news:dJKdnUuzHLee4fXQ...@xfoneusa.net...

The stronger dish machine soap along with the hot water removes all oils
left over from the manufacture. It also tends to dull the surface so that
paints sticks as well as paint can stick.

The process is about the same as a years exposure to the elements which is
about how long you wait if you want paint on metal flashings to adhere well.

Colbyt

DT

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Feb 26, 2011, 11:52:11 AM2/26/11

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In article <4d673196$0$19629$8226...@news.adtechcomputers.com>,
nob...@but.us.chickens says...

Oh, it will just fine. I built some structures this past year using
Unistrut for parts of them, and needed to strip the ends for welding.
Vinegar strips the zinc plated ones overnight, and the galvanized ones
take a day or so.

--
DT

dilbert firestorm

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Feb 26, 2011, 5:08:20 PM2/26/11

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I think David gets it after I showed him the white vinegar link. :)

dilbert firestorm

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Feb 26, 2011, 5:12:07 PM2/26/11

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I believe the instructions went like this, stick the plates in the
dishwasher, after the soap and rinse cycle, dry them and scuff/scratch
the zinc off with some type of rough pad.

dilbert firestorm

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Feb 26, 2011, 5:13:57 PM2/26/11

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which is why I'm not messing with that nasty stuff. As nasty as this
stuff is, its amazing how much damage its corrosive fumes can do.

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<---=垂-Dilbert Firestorm-遙=--->

Oren

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Feb 26, 2011, 5:53:08 PM2/26/11

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On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:53:04 -0800, David Nebenzahl
<nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:

>I know vinegar is really good at cleaning metal. When I work on old
>things (e.g., cameras) with schmutzed or hazed brass or chrome parts, I
>throw them (the parts, not the camera) into a vinegar bath. Brightens
>'em right up.

Vinegar is a miracle. You can even eat it.

Jon Danniken

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Feb 27, 2011, 1:44:30 AM2/27/11

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dilbert firestorm wrote:
> On 2/25/2011 9:43 AM, Jon Danniken wrote:
>> dilbert firestorm wrote:
>>> someone told me that I can strip zinc in a plastic tub filled with
>>> vinegar?
>>> I know vinegar has lots of uses, but is this so?
>>
>> Dunno about vinegar, but good old muriatic acid takes it off pretty
>> quickly. You do need safety gear for this, though.
>>
>> Jon
>>
>>
> which is why I'm not messing with that nasty stuff. As nasty as this
> stuff is, its amazing how much damage its corrosive fumes can do.

Well obviously you don't want to breathe in the vapors, or get it on your
skin. I do it outside, and stay upwind. Chemical gloves, a mechanics
suit, safety googles and a face shield are necessary, and make sure you are
not near an open flame. Have a box of baking soda nearby for spills and
cleanup.

I put the part to be de-galvanized into a plastic container, and use a chip
brush to apply the acid.

As the procedure continues, you will need to add more acid, as you end up
converting the Zn into a ZnCl solution, and releasing H2.

Like most things, once you have the setup it is a relatively simple
prodecure, and kind of fun.

Jon

dilbert firestorm

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Mar 1, 2011, 11:36:45 PM3/1/11

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thanx for the explanation for the dish-washing technique

dilbert firestorm

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Mar 1, 2011, 11:41:56 PM3/1/11

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On 2/26/2011 10:52 AM, DT wrote:

do you how baking soda figure into white vinegar? I've seen comments
where they say after the zinc is stripped from the metal, neutralize it
with baking soda and wash it in soapy water and rinse it in fresh water
& dry. whats not clear from the comments were, are they neutralizing
the vinegar acid or the metal or both.

Bob Villa

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Mar 2, 2011, 10:59:35 AM3/2/11

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On Feb 24, 9:01 pm, dilbert firestorm <scan...@bytemeati-55.com>
wrote:

I remember this from the by-gone days. It was referred to as
"pickling" to allow the paint to stick to galvanized gutters.

Jon Danniken

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Mar 2, 2011, 3:36:48 PM3/2/11

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dilbert firestorm wrote:
> do you how baking soda figure into white vinegar? I've seen comments
> where they say after the zinc is stripped from the metal, neutralize
> it with baking soda and wash it in soapy water and rinse it in fresh
> water & dry. whats not clear from the comments were, are they
> neutralizing the vinegar acid or the metal or both.

Take a teaspoon of vinegar and sprinkle some baking soda into it. What
happens? What happens when you keep adding baking soda?

Jon

dilbert firestorm

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Mar 10, 2011, 8:00:22 AM3/10/11

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On 3/2/2011 2:36 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:
> dilbert firestorm wrote:
> > do you how baking soda figure into white vinegar? I've seen comments
> > where they say after the zinc is stripped from the metal, neutralize
> > it with baking soda and wash it in soapy water and rinse it in fresh

> > water& dry. whats not clear from the comments were, are they

> > neutralizing the vinegar acid or the metal or both.
>
> Take a teaspoon of vinegar and sprinkle some baking soda into it. What
> happens? What happens when you keep adding baking soda?
>
> Jon
>
>

you can make a faux volcano out of this stuff. it just foams over almost
like lava.

however, I'm not sure what happens if you keep adding baking soda to the
mix.