Sp Degreaser

[warchild]

when i put zinc in my degreaser it starts to corrode it very fast. why is that?

[mcaswell]

It shouldn't. Did you add acid to it? Zinc will corrode quickly in acidic solutions.

[warchild]

No i did'nt put acid in it... i could have maybe diped something in it that had very litttle acid on it. would that hurt the degreaser?

[mcaswell]

No, it shouldn't. The SP should neutralize small amounts of acid.

Post a problem report and we'll get into specifics.

[SUPRARACER]

I wonder if this is with the triple chrome kit. In this kit they supply pickle #4 whick looks like the degreaser. Maybe you got them mixed up.

Just a thought.

John

[tgoode]

What is the ph of the SP degreaser?

I ask because I spoke with my father, a semi-retired mettalurgical engineer, and he advised me that zinc is also subceptible to attack from basic solutions.

[48Buick]

tgoode
Your correct that anything other then a neutral PH will attack zinc/potmetal. Heck, I have watched my tap water turn potmetal black! By nature, zinc is a sacrificial metal. IE galvanized pipes and zinc anodes on outboard motors.
Personally, I dont use any cleaners or anything on my potmetal parts. Just sandblast clean and start the plating process.
48 Buick

[aermakov@rogers.com]

48 buick,
you should still degrease the parts prior or after blasting. I've ruined a 4 gal batch of solution by slopiness. Things like automotive brake and oil hoses, wheel hubs, diff covers etc. absorb tons of oils and detergents (acidic) over time and will throw the tank PH if you are not careful. I've adopted a 30 min den. acohol bath + 10 min distilled water soak prior to plating. I get rewarded with excellent results every time and the solution that outlived 3 sets of anodes. However, my second tank just got killed by Chinese electronics - do not trust timers!

[48Buick]

Yes:
I agree. I should have clarified myself a bit more.
The parts that I do not touch with cleaners are the pitted potmetal from the old cars. If they do have grease on them, then I degrease first, sandblast and then start plating. Because of the process im using no solution touches the corroded zinc itself.
But, if it has grease or oils on it....Deffinently degrease and clean it well!
48Buick