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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Wipe cleaning cold rolled steel
Q. We are manufacturing process which uses large parts made from cold rolled steel. We do not have the capacity nor the resources to use a dip process. We are using a hand wipe process using a petroleum based product. Is there another type of product that is readily available to use to wipe the steel that will remove the oil, grease and dust more readily? Our primer is a quality VOC compliant air-drying alkyd enamel. we have issues after our products are left outside exposed to the elements. The products get abraded, scratched, and other minor damages to the primer coating then moisture gets under primer and begins to lift the paint. the major problem keeps pointing to our wipe cleaning process. Any suggestions?
Arthur San Roman
metal products - Garland, Texas
January 6, 2010
A. Well in a way you have answered your own question. The parts start to rust under the paint after the paint is chipped, scratched or abraded. The simple solution is to stop chipping, scratching and abrading the paint and exposing the metal to the air and moisture. Even chrome plating is of no use if you break through the chrome and expose the metal. The proof of which lays in all the rusty chrome car bumpers out there. I suppose to put it in its simplest form. The coating you are applying is not tough enough to resist the beating your parts are taking!
Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
A. Tide laundry detergent will work better than the (gasoline?) that you're using. You'll see a difference in the surface of the first part that you clean and everyone will be able to smoke while they work again.
Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
A. Hi, Arthur. Sheldon's suggestion is an excellent one -- but if it's not quite good enough, then add powdered pumice
⇦ this on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links] to the bucket, and use a scrub brush
⇦ this on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links] rather than rags :-)
Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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