De-rusting project
 

I’m looking for a suitable container to do some de-rusting, and maybe some plating.

The plating is fairly easy, as I shall only be tackling jobs like brackets, fixings, etc. I have a couple of suitable boxes.
Rust removal is another matter.

Minimum spec based on the larger components to be dealt with
-Plastic/non conductive
-1.2meter long, slightly more.
-200mm wide
-200mm high
-Inexpensive
-Liquid tight base/side

I thought of using a feed trough, or low profile loft tank. Any thoughts?

A bath ?!

Just too big. I’m using bits of my mother’s garden for projects, so a bath full of caustic chemicals and rusty suspension bits would be a bit intrusive.

I may have to resort to plastic welding two shorter bins together.

What about making a trough out of wood and lining with a thick membrane such as DPM ?

I used a wallpaper immersion tank (the ones you soak prepasted paper in before hanging.

Did the Job but might be slightly smaller than what you are after

I used an old bath when I was stripping the front subframe for my Vauxhall, it worked quite well but then you have to get rid of the bath afterwards.

I was looking for a similar plastic box to store lengths of railway track in, and B&Q have something similar, though it's wider than you want. It was £20, so no good for me (as the track probably cost less than that, I just want to keep the dust off it and it won't fit properly in the old drawer it's in now) but was the only box longer than a metre. I can't remember whether it would be 1.2m though.

If there is a bus or lorry company near you, pay them a visit. They get their auto wash stuff in 200 ltr blue plastic barrels. I'm sure they would be happy for you to take one for a few beer tokens. You can then cut in half using a jigsaw and they make very useful, strong containers. :tup:

I may have to settle for one of two or three options-

1. Get some longer plastic planters, and cut/plastic weld together.
2. Deal with the smaller items myself, and leave the bigger components until someone opens up their shop again, and get them media blasted and painted.
3. Find someone within easy reach of Poole who owns their own blasting cabinet.


The dimensions are governed by the length 1150mm, and width of two longer suspension components. I’d just prefer to tackle them now that I have the time, rather than wait until later, when I probably won’t have any time again.

Another option is to use a wire wheel in the grinder. I've done parts like this and got good results. It's messy and noisy mind. :tup:

You don’t need or should be using caustic to remove rust. Once you get the container fill with water and pour in basic washing soda which is basically salt
You tube electrolysis rust removal and after 24 hours emmersion all rust will be gone and the waste water which is no toxic can be dumped or if you have moss on your drive way this kills it harmlessly