Pickling instructions

Atlas Knife Company

Atlas Knife Company

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Feb 16, 2010
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I have 25 pieces of 5" square tube that I need to pickle. Can I just mix up 4:1 vinegar solution, let soak overnight and clean off in the morning? I was planning a bucket of water with baking soda to neutralize. I've never pickled before, so any tips/tricks would be appreciated.

Charles
 
Is that Stainless tube or common carbon square tube.....We do a lot of pickling and passivation where I work. Stainless needs nitric acid and carbon needs less aggressive like Glacial Acetic (Vinegar but higher acid content) but for a short period of time. I would test a small section and time the reaction if its carbon steel otherwise you may wind up with more work cleaning up the soot if left overnight.
 
You can , of course, Use HCL (hydrochloric) diluted. That's the stuff used to wash down bricking and stone items. Make sure if you use it to do so outside.
Frank
 
Any tips or tricks for cleaning the soot afterward? I found a big tote that will nicely fit 6 tubes. I've got a 6 gallon bucket to neutralize in and a big fan to help dry them quicker.

Thanks
Charles
 
Carbon steel will flash rust with HOT water rinse so the colder the water the better...Mix a slurry of Baking Soda that you are going to use to neutralize and a good stiff nylon/poly deck brush that fit inside the tube and as you rinse scrub it down with the baking soda you should wind up with a neutral solution that can be put down a drain. One advantage we have here is that we make our own DI Water so its mineral free and if you can afford to use some jugs of DI water to do your final rinse before drying that will certainly cut down the flash rusting and any mineral deposits from your local tap water supply.

Mike
 
Well, I can do three pieces at a time, and it takes about 3 hours to get 99% of the scale/rust off. I let them drip until all 3 are scrubbed and rinsed, then sit them in front of a fan. By the time I get my welding jig set up, they are pretty dry. I set them in front of the fan to cool after welding. By the time I get 3 welded, the first is cool enough to paint. Flash rusting is minimal and the result is certainly better than the scale that is normally there. Paint sticks better and the welds are cleaner.
 
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