The joy Of Citric Acid

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

No idea. I have certainly kept citric acid mix in a sealed plastic container for a couple of months with no obvious loss of omph.
To be honest it is so quick and cheap to make a batch I tend to just put it down the sink once it starts to get too dirty and make a fresh batch.

I decant mine into a 25lt container, filtered through a filter.
The crud settles out, then that gets disposed off.
Then I had more citric acid powder as and when I want.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

This set of snips was striped and boiled in Citric acid.
Ratio
1 table spoon to 1 lt of water.




View attachment DSCF0001 (2).JPG

The rust is gone, the pits were there before the dip in Citric. Here they have had a coat of machine wax.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

How bad they were.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Electrolysis.
12vdc.
Ratio.
1 dessert spoon to 1 lit of water.




View attachment DSCF0003 (2).JPG


View attachment DSCF0004.JPG


Water was at 18deg C.
Heat will speed it up.

 

[Fergie 307]

That tap wrench looks to have turned out really well. Haven't done anything with electrolysis for years, might have to revisit it.

 

[Stuartgb100]

Did anyone figure out how to turn the liquid into a "paste", so that it can be applied to surfaces that are too large to dip in a container ?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Yes, I have..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


Mix with flour, applied to part, wrapped in cling film, wait.

 

[Cozzer]

Yes, I have..

Mix with flour, applied to part, wrapped in cling film, wait.

The man's inspired!

Strange to tell, I've been searching for the ingredients for two "DIY" potions recently: One to soften veneers, and the other is this homemade rust remover.
Had to order the citric acid off eBay - our local chemist "doesn't stock it".
Couldn't find any Arm & Hammer washing soda, so tried with bog-standard soda crystals, courtesy of the local supermarket. Water courtesy of the tap, the dash of washing liquid from t'kitchen.
Having experienced these "home remedies" before, I only made a litre....apparently half a coffee mug is about 100g, and therefore the 40g of soda was about a quarter of a mug.
Have to say it worked a treat, even freeing up a seized up pair of secateurs....

The veneer softener worked as well....glycerine from the supermarket, bit of PVA, some meths and water. Sprayed rather than soaked, then pressed, sandwiched with some wallpaper and plastic sweet pea mesh left over from last year's gardening. Left a few hours, changed the paper, and re-pressed.
Forgot it for a couple of days, then checked again....perfectly flat, and very pliable.

Not often I have two successes at the same time! There's hope yet!

 

[trvlr]

Washing soda (aka soda crystals) is the same regardless of brand. Citric acid can be bought iin quantity form the big river company as well as eBay.

I like the above paste formula and other info above. Have bookmarked this thread.

 

[diytoolbox]

I decided to have a go with the homemade solution kit for rust removal. I ordered a kg of citric acid and baking soda.
To make up 1 litre solution, how many tea spoons of each of the materials must be put in to the water? I am not sure about the citric acid, but the baking soda is definitely in powder material.

 

[Cozzer]

I decided to have a go with the homemade solution kit for rust removal. I ordered a kg of citric acid and baking soda.
To make up 1 litre solution, how many tea spoons of each of the materials must be put in to the water? I am not sure about the citric acid, but the baking soda is definitely in powder material.

Suspect the measurements aren't absolutely crucial.
My post (2 or 3 above) shows that a normal tea or coffee mug will hold about 200g of anything.
Ergo, half a mug will be around the 100g of citric you want, and roughly half that will give you the 40g of soda....

 

[diytoolbox]

Suspect the measurements aren't absolutely crucial.
My post (2 or 3 above) shows that a normal tea or coffee mug will hold about 200g of anything.
Ergo, half a mug will be around the 100g of citric you want, and roughly half that will give you the 40g of soda....

Great. Thanks for your info.

 

[Cozzer]

Great. Thanks for your info.

...erm....should've have added "per litre of water"!

Out of interest, that just about fills a 300g Nescafe jar, in which I've just sorted 2 pairs of rusty pliers, a plane blade and chip breaker!
It really is good stuff!

 

[diytoolbox]

...erm....should've have added "per litre of water"!

Out of interest, that just about fills a 300g Nescafe jar, in which I've just sorted 2 pairs of rusty pliers, a plane blade and chip breaker!
It really is good stuff!

That sounds perfect amount for my use too actually. I have about a dozen old wood carving gouges to de-rust.
The citric acid and soda bottles will arrive on Wednesday they say, so will give a go at the de-rusting session towards the end of this week.

 

[Cozzer]

That sounds perfect amount for my use too actually. I have about a dozen old wood carving gouges to de-rust.
The citric acid and soda bottles will arrive on Wednesday they say, so will give a go at the de-rusting session towards the end of this week.

Don't forget the tiny squirt of washing up liquid.
You'll find that in the kitchen. (Y'know, that room where your wife goes)
It's usually green - although it can be yellow - and sits around the rectangular thing called "the sink".
Any confusion, ask your wife...

You may find that your question is met with a follow-up derogatory comment from her about washing up, so be aware.
Responding with a smile and "You're lucky to have me, y'know" is not recommended.

 

[XTiffy]

For small quantities,my local B&Q stocks Citric acid and the Washing soda, I think they are 500g packs only a few £s, in the "household cleaning " isle.

 

[diytoolbox]

Don't forget the tiny squirt of washing up liquid.
You'll find that in the kitchen. (Y'know, that room where your wife goes)
It's usually green - although it can be yellow - and sits around the rectangular thing called "the sink".
Any confusion, ask your wife...

You may find that your question is met with a follow-up derogatory comment from her about washing up, so be aware.
Responding with a smile and "You're lucky to have me, y'know" is not recommended.

Almost forgot washingup liquid. Thanks for reminding.
Wife won't notice it if it is just a squirt.

 

[diytoolbox]

For small quantities,my local B&Q stocks Citric acid and the Washing soda, I think they are 500g packs only a few £s, in the "household cleaning " isle.

Ordered them from Amazon. They were £10 for 1kg acid, and 8£ for 1kg soda. Free delivery is handy saving to go and park in B&Q.

 

[Cozzer]

Ordered them from Amazon. They were £10 for 1kg acid, and 8£ for 1kg soda. Free delivery is handy saving to go and park in B&Q.

Especially if you come out and find your car up on bricks....

 

[Inspector]

I have a question based loosely on the chemistry classes I took in high school, early 70's. That being an acid when mixed with a base neutralizes the solution to water and a salt. So how does mixing citric acid with the soda not reduce the effectiveness as it is neutralized?

Pete