I just bought some of that Zep Formula 9878 (like they use in professional
stripping places) that Rich Arnold recommended for cleaning rust, paint,
tar, undercoating, etc. off metal parts (main ingredient is NaOH, which does
not harm the metal). Cost was about $220 for 135 lbs. of the powder, which
is mixed in a ratio of 1/2 lb to 1 gal. of water if used cold. Now all I
have to do is find a big tub to put it all in. Will let y'all know how well
this stuff works as soon as I use it.
Bob
>I finally found something one can buy legally in California that cleans out
>the rust and varnish from an old gas tank. I used "CLR", a household
>cleaning product for lime scale and rust removal. It comes in a gray
>plastic jug. It has sulfuric acid and a bunch of surfactants in it. I let
>it stand overnight in the bottom of the tank and it is bright (if somwhat
>thinner)metal this morning. Now to flip it over and see if there is any
>'oomph' left for the same gallon to clean the top of the tank. It works
>pretty well, as it seems to have removed all traces of rust and varnish
from
>the metal to the depth it stood in the tank.
>
>Things I tried that didn't work well, or at all:
>Laquer thinner
>paint and varnish remover
>phosphoric acid
>paint thinner
>nuts/bolts/shaking till your arms fall off
>
>Regards,
>Glen 'arms still too sore to type' Byrns
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