Paint stripping discovery?

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robdebie
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Re: Paint stripping discovery?

Post by robdebie »

M.Chriss wrote:Could you post a photo of how you suspended it in the hydrosonic cleaner? I have the same kit I want to strip. I found 2 lbs of sodium hydroxide on amazon for $13.
Yes, I can, but it will take a few days, off to Spa in the weekend :D

Maybe a written description will do in the mean time: I fill the ultrasonic cleaner with water, suspend the metal wire basket in it, and inside the basket I place a plastic (or glass) rectangular container that contains the NaOH. The latter can be some throw-away packaging, or an old food container. Anything will do. I guess you could leave out the wire basket too, that's just there to prevent parts touching the walls directly, and the plastic container will fulfil that role too.

2 lbs will be plenty :D I used a liquid drain cleaner, and the packaging says it's a 5-15% NaOH solution - I take that as 10%.

Rob
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PeteJ
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Re: Paint stripping discovery?

Post by PeteJ »

Just an aside, sodium hydroxide is also the primary active ingredient in Super Clean or Purple power, which is my go to for paint striping.

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robdebie
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Re: Paint stripping discovery?

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M.Chriss wrote:Could you post a photo of how you suspended it in the hydrosonic cleaner? I have the same kit I want to strip. I found 2 lbs of sodium hydroxide on amazon for $13.
As promised some photos of the setup.

Shown below are the two main ingredients: sodium hydroxide (NaOH, lye and caustic soda in the US) and an ultrasonic cleaner. I used a drain opener that is a solution of approximately 10% NaOH in water and probably nothing else. I diluted it further down by adding water, to maybe 5%.

Image

From what I read, stainless steel is not attacked by NaOH below 65C, but still I put the NaOH solution a separate plastic container, suspended in the metal wire basket that comes with the ultrasonic cleaner. There are no liquids in the photo, I did not want to get my photo set-up wet!

Image

I think the wire basket can be left out, with the plastic container with NaOH solution directly in the water of the ultrasonic cleaner.

Image

That's about it, I can't think of more to tell. Try it yourself, that's always the best way to learn something new.

Warning: be careful with NaOH! Your eyes are at risk, use safety glasses. Gloves are recommended too, otherwise your skin will start to feel greasy and slippery, because it's slowly dissolving! A great way to get rid of your fingerprints :-)

Rob
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M.Chriss
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Re: Paint stripping discovery?

Post by M.Chriss »

Thanks, I ordered some from amazon. I have some plastic computer parts to strip also. Using some painting skill on my PC.
Michael Chriss
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