Hi everyone,
I'm cleaning up an inlet manifold which inside is quite rusty and scaley. My idea so far is put some sharp pea gravel inside it and have taped off the holes, then cable tied the manifold to the end of an electric motor pulley, and set it turning at about 60rpm. The tumbling of the gravel as it rotates is slowly cleaning the rust from inside it, but slowly.
I may also try sandblasting later in the week, but I was wondering if anyone else has any other tricks to get it clean and bright (usable) inside ?
Regards,
Bede
Tumbling is the way to go. We clean scuba tanks like that. They get rolled, just be sure the speed is slow enough to allow good flow. Less is more.
Hey Bede,
If it flys off your rig - I will catch it and return it.
Not long now to the big start!!!
Cheers Simon
Take a foot of 1/4" steel cable and splay the end to 1-1/2". Spin it by putting it in the 3/8 drill with some kerosene or P oil. Wash well before use. Dont forget to have it hydro'd and X rayed LOL... ws
I've read where guys have taken things like this and after adding fish tank gravel, or nuts (like 1/4-20) and sealing up the open ends, have wrapped it up good in an old blanket or something and duct taped the whole thing and put it in the wife's dryer on a low spin , no heat setting. They say that they get good results. They avoid saying how their relationships are doing, however. Supposed to be great for small gas tanks...............
Hi Guys, I like some of those ideas and not happy about the wire cable but being only a foot long it should be safe. When I was doing my trade on VW's we used to try that idea to clean out the heater cable tubes but you have to be quick because if it got stuck it came back at you and would cut you around the head or pull hair off your head. My idea would be to use a molasses tank and that stuff cleans it back to bare metal in about a week when new or a few days if its aged a bit. 5 parts water and 1 part molasses in a plastic barrel and it works very well. The stench is a bit off when it is off and dont get it on your clothes as it marks them for ever... Ray
PS. Dont use the dish washer for a parts clean till after the wife is gone.
What about soaking the part in vinegar that breaks up the rust. I'd soak it overnight then flush it with fresh water. That should get rid of the rust if not loosen it up for the flying manifold trick..Imagine getting hit by that thing..ouch!
I guess we should discuss the brain surgeon that used his wifes electric knife... Next Patient Please...
Then theres the amautuer plumber that was using a snake to clean a drain... after feeding two hundred feet into the pip[e, his neighbor came running in and said to come look outside at the vent on the roof... draw yer own conclusions... Then again sandblasting can cut that skin too, and Coca cola will eat rust off of bumbers... HEY!!! Thats an idea; But dont use Dr Pepper! ws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUg4MqsjZo
Still believin' that Coke is better in loosening up a frozen engine than Marvel's marvelous Mystery Oil.
I have cleaned out Gas tanks using a handfull of BB's and shake the tank for a while. It works good.
I'd have it bead blasted inside and out then prime and paint. Jim Patrick
Thanks guys,
you've given me some really good other ideas there... all except maybe using the wife's drier. I might just pass on that one, not because if it makes it dirty and smelly inside, but because I know I'll be the one who has to repair it if it gets damaged !
My little drive has the tumbling happening best at 3.5Hz. The highest I've had it to for fun was about 20Hz and it wanted to start jumping off the bench. I only just managed to stop it !
Regards,
Bede
Uncle Stan came up with the easiest solution. Put some gravel in it and fasten it to a tractor wheel with some bungy cords - then go mow some hay (or grass).
Garnet
Ray's molasses bath works well. I use mine at 40% molasses. It will not shift paint readily and being water based, grease/oil will slow things down also. It is ideal on dry rusted steel parts. With cast iron like an inlet manifold, keep your eye on it, because if forgotten and left in the bath for ages, it seems to eat away at the carbon or something in the casting and it will leave a very rough finish.
Otherwise a safe and environmentally friendly way to go.
Allan from down under.
Sheet rock screws work well in a tumbling operation as the little points scrub away rust in s very short time. I learned this trick while cleaning old gasoline tanks before coating. A little dilute Phosphoric acid with the screws will leave a "like new" finish. The tank or part must be neutralized after the cleaning with a baking soda wash followed by clear water.
This is the method suggested by Caswell Plating before using their Phenol Novolac Epoxy Tank coating.
Hi everyone,
because I like to live dangerously I decided to give Bill Stephan's idea a go to assist the tumbling... it sped up progress in a great hurry... may I introduce the Bill Wire Thingee Antipodean Version Mk 1:
It sure loosened off all the muck in there. I did it dry though, as I had no kero handy. Thumbs up Bill.
Thanks for the tips everyone, once I've got the manifold done, the next project is to clean the insides of all the rusty old sediment bowls I've got. I might try the molasses method for that.
I did try vinegar a few years ago on a part and when left too long, I noticed it made the surface of the cast go soft and I could scrape the top off the surface with my fingernail.
Regards,
Bede
Im glad that worked for you Bede...Sometimes old dogs..... The best one I ever saw was at a starter motor shop. The cleaner there was a tank filled with BBs and a vibrator set up on low frequency. Everything came out like new! ws