Vibratory Polishing and Deburring?

[John D.]

Re: Vibratory Polishing and Deburring?

Jeff, As I mentioned I used to use muriatic acid 50-50 as you do for my FI parts that I was getting zincad (special plating)plated.

I don't recommend the muratic acid method to the gang here though. Here is why. I used to use it for many years. Well one day I went to my brothers Dr's office and showed him my nose. He said keep up whatever you are doing and you are getting cancer for sure. My nose was raw inside. I was using a cheap mask but it didn't keep out the fumes. Well guess what? Old bro was right cause I had cancer on and in my nose. One year ago yesterday I gots me a 100 stitches on the left side and inside of the nose. The Florida swamp boys like RJ and Hanson were making fun of me as I recall. But it was not fun for me. Took many months to recover. Actually the damn thing recently stopped hurting from my eye glasses rubbing the side of my nose.
No mo muriatic around my house. I got rid of it all.

I think we go overboard on this cad thing. It's not really necessary for us to strip the plating off completely unless the part is a mess. Just degrease it and make sure these is no paint on the part and then let the plater handle the rest. Now if the part is a rust bucket that's another story. John

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Vibratory Polishing and Deburring?

John:
Thanks for sharing your story and warnings. Perhaps we all ought to back off a bit and be more careful. When I use any acid (muriatic for stripping zinc/cad, battery acid in solution to electricaly strip small parts of chrome and copper, etc.) I set it up in a paint room, that is well vented, in my shop. I know most hobbyists don't have this kind of facility but perhaps setting the pail outside might be a big help.
Jeff

[Chuck S.]

Re: Vibratory Polishing and Deburring?

Muriatic acid is as you describe...I have a small quantity stored OUTSIDE now. I didn't have the physical problems you had from parts cleaning, but I did have almost everything in my garage rusted when the container spilled and it went un-noticed for a few weeks. It could have worse...it at least spilled onto the plastic lid of RubberMaid storage container instead of the garage floor.

A dilution of 50/50 is pretty concentrated...it will be very fast, and you would have to watch the process; better not forget your parts in the stuff. I used it diluted to 10%-20% concentration.

[John D.]

Re: Vibratory Polishing and Deburring?

Chuck, I had the same problem years ago. Had a container stored near the garage door. It made the track of the garage door rusty. I wouldn't cry if they outlawed that crap. I would like to have my favorite Zep All Purpose green cleaner back though. But thanks for Robert Jorjorian I gots me a big supply now.
I can't remember how I diluted the muriatic stuff. John

[Chuck S.]

Re: Vibratory Polishing and Deburring?

I had stored mine inside the garage in a plastic storage container until recently. I thought, "Well, I'm OK now...The plastic bottle is tightly closed, it's standing upright in a closed RubberMaid storage container...it can't do any harm." Yeah, right...One day I was looking for something in the garage, and I noticed the chrome plating on my Sam's Club shelving unit was being consumed by vapors from the closed storage container underneath.

That was it...I put it outside on the patio like a cur dog. I hope it doesn't spill again; it might eat through my patio right to China.