Metal Pox

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What is the best way to clean up pitted metal -- this is after using 36 grit sanding disk on a 4.5" angle grinder.  a wire brush didn't seem to help. would a grinding disk work better?? how about a cup brush??  or is this clean enough not to cause a problem with mig????fred Attached Images
Reply:Dang!  Not telling how deep that rust runs.  Can you get another piece of steel?
Reply:At this point just looking for practice,. I was thinking of picking up a piece of steel at scrapyard for a table, but after looking at this and looking at what i have seen in the yard, not sure I want to go there! I'm not sure I can afford to go new either. . . this didn't look all that bad when I started, mostly had paint on it.   is the cover to a forklift battery so has had acid exposure.  I tried another piece from an old stove that has been happily rusting in the back yard for a couple of years. and that's even worse., has pits maybe 1/32 deep. I expect the metal from the scrapyard is more like the latter . . .Last edited by fredf; 04-30-2009 at 07:42 PM.
Reply:Oh, if it's just for playing with, then go ahead and burn it.  I thought you were building something with that.
Reply:Oh, if it's just for playing with, then go ahead and burn it. I thought you were building something with that.
Reply:the point is that I am trying to work out how to clean up the metal, how would you go taking maybe .010 off several square feet of surface???  am I going to be able to clean up a pitted piece of scrap, or if I am going to have to look for new steel if surface finish is important to the project.
Reply:I'm not sure that it matters for a work table.  I assume all you want is a nice level surface.  The pits are below the surface.  Nice knoted wire cup brush, and I think you'd be in business.  Lot of people work with tables that are outside 24/7.  They get a little rustyScrap plate at .20/lb vs. new shiny plate at .50/lb.  You be the judge"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Better living through chemistry.  Pickle it.  AKA use acid to clean it up.Hydrochloric acid, aka muriatic acid, aka pool acid.Be safe though.  Acid doesn't discriminate as to what it is dissolving.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Originally Posted by fredf or if I am going to have to look for new steel if surface finish is important to the project.
Reply:Sam  yeah around here they want .50 for the scrap and one place wanted 1.18 for new . . . .  do need to check a couple more places, may need to buy a whole sheet thomoonrise what concentration,  My son buys acid by the barrel. my wife only gets it in a 5 gallon carboy, along with sodium hydroxide and other neat stuff. between them I think they can keep me safe :-) (I have worked with it some and don't have any burns to show for it [yet, hopefully never])I assume that you neutralize the metal with something after?  sodium bicarb? lime??Ed -- the pits might add character as long as they aren't full of crap
Reply:Gee the pits give it that aged distressed look that many collectors look for in antiques. But if clean good looking metal is important I would go with a new piece.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:what is the difference in hot rolled vs cold rolled. . . . And while I am asking dumb questions. I want to cantilever casters on my welding cart. the cart under the bottle is 10" wide,. and I would like to put about a 16" long strip of something to support the casters as an outrigger  I was thinking 1/4 x 4" flat?? would that be heavy enough??  I haven't gotten a feel for the strength and stiffness of steel yetfred
Reply:the flat will bend, use angle..the vertical leg will be stiff ..
Reply:Only cold rolled I ever work with is usually rounds.You can buy hot roll rounds, but they're not as strong or as dimensionally correct.The cold rolling process forms the shape as the metal is cooling, using pressure to compress the steel to it's final dimension.  It results in stronger rounds.Cold roll is more expensive, but worth it if you need the strength and accuracy.I think most flat is hot roll.  It certainly has a lot of mill scale.I'm not sure how most plate is made, it seems that it must be cold rolled, or some process close to it.  There's no mill scale on the plate like most flat.  Somebody should be able to explain how it's made."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by fredf  what is the difference in hot rolled vs cold rolled.
Reply:I would make the cart wider- outrigger wheels always seem to catch the ankles/feet.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Good links.Thanks!!"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1I would make the cart wider- outrigger wheels always seem to catch the ankles/feet.
Reply:Fred,That cylinder isn't an 80 ft3 one, that looks like a 40 ft3.An 80 ft3 cylinder is about 32-35 inches tall.A flat bar will bend too much unless it is gawd-awful thick.  You have to make the shape work for you or you have to add gussets to make the shape work for you.  Angle iron or rectangular tube or you have to add some gussets to the flat bar.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseFred,That cylinder isn't an 80 ft3 one, that looks like a 40 ft3.An 80 ft3 cylinder is about 32-35 inches tall.A flat bar will bend too much unless it is gawd-awful thick.  You have to make the shape work for you or you have to add gussets to make the shape work for you.  Angle iron or rectangular tube or you have to add some gussets to the flat bar.
Reply:Yeah, those little casters are just OK on relatively smooth concrete floors.  They are iffy on driveway blacktop, and just sink/plow into dirt/grass.  So, you have to make an outdoor use cart.  With bigger tires.    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:This was an old cart I had for a while- damn there be some ugly weldsThe left side of the cart used to be on top of the right side Attached ImagesEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge