Metal blacking

[waggy]

I wonder if our scientific friends can help me out? Three years ago I purchased a kit for blacking ferous metal. It goes under the trade name of "Metal Blak" and I find it very good, especially on small parts such as brakegear.

Using it the other day I spilt the degreasing fluid. As a replacement I tried washing up liquid, it worked but not as well as the original. I think this is some form of alkaline based soap as it didn't lather when washed off.

Any ideas what it might be or if available as a trade item from the super mercado?

Yours with a lovely clean workshop floor,

Waggy.

[the_viffer]

If you can find an MSDS (material safety data sheet) on the product it will tell you the ingredients. If you know that I might have some ideas. Unfortunately my <trademark abuse> google </trademark abuse> for the name of the product and MSDS got no results. You could try googling for the names of alternative products.

My guess is that it is a nonionic surfactant. I'm not quite sure how you'd get hold of a concentrated solution of one without an account with a chemical supplier. It is not especially dangerous: just that there is no call for it

You could try to get some acetone from the chemists and rinse with that. I think it would be much better than washing up liquid. I don't know if acetone is still available. The London tube bombings were done with an explosive made from acetone. I have to say very much to my surprise. I'm not surprised that you can make explosive from acetone: it is very very easy. I am surprised that the bombers managed to get so far without the stuff self detonating (it is hideously sensitive) but apparently it is an explosive of choice these days among certain groups.

[ron]

Waggy
If you can't get the original [or acetone] go to an automotive paint supplier and buy a gallon of cheap cellulose thinners known in the trade as 'gunwash', it's a very effective degreaser and dirt cheap.
Ron

[the_viffer]

Hi Ron

Cellulose thinners are certainly a great, and great value, degreaser. Only possible problem is that they are not water miscible. I'm not sure it matters but you couldn't go to or from a water wet component using them without drying off first.

Oh and keep them off your skin or they'll degrease it too.

Cheers!

[Phil Sutton]

Perhaps something like iso-propyl alcohol is what you are looking for.I know it was some thing we used to use in the foundry when I was an apprentice,for making cores.Mixed with graphite(?) it was painted on the core surface .Otherwise,it is also used in screenwash,to prevent freezing.

Phil

[waggy]

Peeps,

Many, many thanks for your replies, I tried thinners but as the-viffer says, not touched by water. I have used some of the bosses citric oven cleaner, this works but my shed stinks of oranges!

Cheers,

Waggy.