SEMI transport truck pointers

[tuscarora dave]

And as all the chemists I've ever known told me, "Do as you aughta, add acid to wata."

[Mantilgh]

When you get a vehicle that has so much metal fallout on the rear bumper / tailgate that is feels and looks like orange Fred Flintstone razor stubble, this acid wash chased with an alkaline works to very easily and quickly remove all of the metal fallout. It's really nothing new as the method has been used for as long as I can remember, but it works and is way cheaper than IronX but of course you don't get the cutesy little purple bleeding effect.

Do you scrub with the acid wash, or just spray and rinse?

[tuscarora dave]

Do you scrub with the acid wash, or just spray and rinse?

I have a 100% pure bristle parts cleaning brush that I use. I spray the acid on and let it dwell for a minute or so, keeping it wet with my spray bottle of acid I lightly brush back and forth and in circles for a minute or so then rinse with water. I work small sections at a time rinsing after each section so I never have any acid drying on the paint and don't allow the acid to dwell for too long in any one section.

After I work my way around all of the affected area I spray the entire area with an alkaline cleaner, let dwell for a minute or so and then rinse well with water.

[tuscarora dave]

This is the type mess I'm talking about for the above process.

[Mantilgh]

Wow, I see how the description "feels and looks like orange Fred Flintstone razor stubble" would apply. That's a lot of attached rust/contaminants

[tuscarora dave]

Wow, I see how the description "feels and looks like orange Fred Flintstone razor stubble" would apply. That's a lot of attached rust/contaminants

Yeah... Most guys have 5 O'clock shadow, I think Fred had a lunch time shadow.

I see that condition a lot on the commercial wheelchair vans I see in the line of my daily travels.

After performing the above outlined acid wash followed by a 25 minute pass over the entire van with with my trusty 3401 and metal polish, the van comes out bright white and shining like it did as new.

Sometimes just a well thought out and performed caustic wash makes them shine as new, but when they have that type and concentration of fallout they need the acid wash. What costs me about $1 in wheel cleaner couldn't be done with $100 worth of Iron-X.

[Kevin Cullen]

Lots of valuable info shared here!! Thanks Dave and all that contributed to this thread!

[tuscarora dave]

Lots of valuable info shared here!! Thanks Dave and all that contributed to this thread!

Hi Kevin!!!

I think of you every time I involve myself in commercial vehicle threads. I wonder where you're at and if you're well. Very nice to see you appear in this thread, and only hope it keeps going and involves a little more about metal polishing, especially now that you're here.

[Kevin Cullen]

Hey Dave, I have been trying to slow down on the aluminum polishing as I am getting tired of being black with aluminum dust/ polish. More and more concentrating on interiors and paint polishing. Your info that you give and given here is worth more than the price of gold!

[Mantilgh]

Does the particular type of acid matter, or are there some that should be avoided?

I read that oxalic acid softens paint and causes damage over time. This was from a acid decontamination product that claimed not to contain it for this reason.

I bought some EagleOne Chrome Wheel Cleaner the other day to use on some chrome wheels and possibly for the acid wash if it is suitable.

From the msds sheet it contains:
PHOSPHORIC ACID
ETHANEDIOIC ACID
SULFURIC ACID
HYDROFLUORIC ACID

Ph 2.8

Would this be usable at a certain percentage?