Dash Cleaning?

[Vanhayden]

Soapy water and a tooth brush for those hard to get places

Good idea

[RAEME]

Thanks for the great info guys, thanks for taking to time to reply. I thing caustic soda you spoke of Blocker might have been it. Maybe absinth knows the ratio and timing.

[Absinth]

Molasses is good for cleaning rust from steel.

Caustic soda is good for stripping paint from plastic parts, it is available from Bunnings and dilute as per instructions. Caustic soda won't hurt the plastic no matter how long you leave it in.... I've left a fascia in it for three months to get all the paint layers off it that previous owners had applied.

caustic soda burns like hell if you get it on your skin so wear protective gear and keep your tub covered and away from children or pets. I was using a wheelie bin in Melbourne but will have to find something better now we're in Parkes..

[Big Rob]

Wheelie bins are great for so many things.......

I have about 6 spares behind the shed for various purposes.

[Dick61]

Molasses is good for cleaning rust from steel.

Caustic soda is good for stripping paint from plastic parts, it is available from Bunnings and dilute as per instructions. Caustic soda won't hurt the plastic no matter how long you leave it in.... I've left a fascia in it for three months to get all the paint layers off it that previous owners had applied.

caustic soda burns like hell if you get it on your skin so wear protective gear and keep your tub covered and away from children or pets. I was using a wheelie bin in Melbourne but will have to find something better now we're in Parkes..

I have two tubs for de-rusting, one with molasses and when I remove the items I hose them off and drop them in a tub with a capful of Napisan. This neutralizes the acid in the molasses, otherwise the thing will flash rust as it dries. I rinse the item with fresh water when it comes out of the Napisan and then either dry it with an old flannel shirt or just leave it in the sun. Just make sure you give any item done this way a really good clean before you paint it, the Napisan needs to be completely cleaned off or paint adhesion can be a problem, the same as soda blasting.

[husky srt]

I have two tubs for de-rusting, one with molasses and when I remove the items I hose them off and drop them in a tub with a capful of Napisan. This neutralizes the acid in the molasses, otherwise the thing will flash rust as it dries. I rinse the item with fresh water when it comes out of the Napisan and then either dry it with an old flannel shirt or just leave it in the sun. Just make sure you give any item done this way a really good clean before you paint it, the Napisan needs to be completely cleaned off or paint adhesion can be a problem, the same as soda blasting.

Dose the molasses remove flaky rust or just surface rust? I have a lot of fiddly bits off my engine that need doing ( exhaust manifolds, pre-heat cover and all the rest of the small pieces ) will it ruin the inside of items like the choke hot air tubes ect. Would it work on exhaust manifolds? Where would be the best place to buy it?

Cheers

[Sandman]

Dose the molasses remove flaky rust or just surface rust? I have a lot of fiddly bits off my engine that need doing ( exhaust manifolds, pre-heat cover and all the rest of the small pieces ) will it ruin the inside of items like the choke hot air tubes ect. Would it work on exhaust manifolds? Where would be the best place to buy it?

Cheers

Yes it will chew through flakey rust and is great for engine parts, just keep an eye on it time wise by checking them regularly. You can buy molasses at larger pet shops or a stock feed place, not sure if Bunnings would sell it. I use white vinegar on small parts in an ice cream container.

[husky srt]

Cheers, is the rust removal noticeable while it is in the molasses or do you have to clean them to check?

[Absinth]

It will be noticeable when you lift the part out of the solution.

[Wombat7051]

what is the ratio for molasses solution?