Mill Scale Removal, the easy way

J

Justonegear

Plastic

Joined

Jan 25, 2019

• May 5, 2019

• #1

4 x 8 top on my fab table. Worked 4 hours and could only bring it to what is on the right. Put some white vinegar on it, covered it with plastic over night, next morning it was gone. Talk about do things the hard way...hope the pic shows up. The scale was liquefied and wiped off effortlessly.

 

plastikdreams

Diamond

Joined

May 31, 2011

Location

upstate nj

• May 5, 2019

• #2

No pics, sounds interesting though

 

B

Bill D

Diamond

Joined

Apr 1, 2004

Location

Modesto, CA USA

• May 5, 2019

• #3

I was expecting the laser gun video again. Sounds like it worked. Any other metal in the shop have issues from the fumes?
Bil lD

 

I

Illinoyance

Stainless

Joined

Aug 24, 2015

• May 5, 2019

• #4

Easy way is the best way.

 

eKretz

Diamond; Mod Squad

Joined

Mar 27, 2005

Location

Northwest Indiana, USA

• May 6, 2019

• #5

Dilute HCl works even quicker.

 

N

number 2

Hot Rolled

Joined

Aug 13, 2009

Location

Western Australia

• May 6, 2019

• #6

Citric acid is good also. Can’t be oily though.

 

wheels17

Stainless

Joined

May 10, 2012

Location

Pittsford, NY

• May 6, 2019

• #7

I was using muriatic acid for removing mill scale. It worked quickly. Then I neutralized in a solution containing baking soda. I didn't like the corrosion and safety risks associated with keeping the acid around, even when it was fairly diluted.

I switched to vinegar many years ago. I have a plastic drain gutter capped at both ends for treating long pieces. Overnight usually works well, although probably too slow for a production situation.

 

R

Rob F.

Diamond

Joined

Aug 5, 2012

Location

California, Central Coast

• May 6, 2019

• #8

Pics did not work. Sounds good for scale removal.

 

G

gmach10

Hot Rolled

Joined

Dec 27, 2008

Location

N.E. Illinois

• May 6, 2019

• #9

Illinoyance said:

Easy way is the best way.

Click to expand...

The Easy Way is Hard Enough!

 

M

metalmagpie

Titanium

Joined

May 22, 2006

Location

Seattle

• May 7, 2019

• #10

This is a simplistic implementation of the practice called pickling.

metalmagpie

 

R

rbmgf7

Aluminum

Joined

Oct 18, 2017

• May 7, 2019

• #11

I keep a tub of diluted muriatic acid for small parts. Removes scale in about an hour or so. Then I dunk or spray it with baking soda solution.

For larger parts, I use a garden sprayer and drape the part with paper towels. Keep it moist for a few hours then hose off with baking soda.

We finally got HRPO so no longer needed.

 

W

Winterfalke

Stainless

Joined

Mar 26, 2011

Location

Huron

• May 7, 2019

• #12

wheels17 said:

I switched to vinegar many years ago. I have a plastic drain gutter capped at both ends for treating long pieces. Overnight usually works well, although probably too slow for a production situation.

Click to expand...

You can buy higher concentration acetic acid in bulk for faster results, but I've found the more concentrated cleaning vinegar works fast enough for my needs. I imagine an automated parts washer line with a low PH acid spraying around would be an OSHA field day. Maybe a conveyor line through a dip tank?

 

Doozer

Titanium

Joined

Jul 23, 2001

Location

Buffalo NY

• May 7, 2019

• #13

I have seen a mill scale removed by running into the mill
with a forklift. The scale was ruined and the mill needed
a handle repaired.

-Doozer