What do the machine shops use in cleaning tanks?

[oldcarnut]

Was talking with some guys at a cruise in about cleaning exhaust manifolds and intakes when someone mentioned that maybe the tanks that the machine shops use to clean off the rust etc off the blocks might work good for other parts.  Anyone know what kind of solution they use or done this themselves with good results?

[c00nhunterjoe]

hot tanks i have used dont really de-rust things. they are more for degreaseing and clenaing. sand or bead blasters have always worked best for me on intakes and manifolds, then a dip in the hottank afterwards

[Challenger340]

Most Shops use a Caustic.
It does not clean Rust.
As said, Glass Beading or Sand Blasting to remove Rust.

If you can find a Shop with a Shot Tumbler, that also cleans Rust very well.

[oldcarnut]

Hmmm, I maybe thought they had some derust in it to remove rust out the water jackets etc.  Always looked real clean after the blocks I've taken in which had some rust here and there.  I have a little shop blaster but I'm going to try something else to get inside where the gun won't reach.  If it works I'll post it.

[flyinlow]

In the old days the blocks did seam to come back cleaner . I would guess the EPA got a hold of the hot tanks too.

Last block came back and had rust ,I had to wire wheel it before painting. Of course it was a 32 year old block. Back when I was in the old days the blocks where only 5 years old.

[oldcarnut]

Well when I was taking in a couple of my own it was back in 80's for my reference.  I seem to remember the big diesel blocks I trucked for the shop in the 70's I worked at were also very nice after they got out the machine shop.

[charger2fast4u]

i work at a cnc machine shop the tanks we have are caustic soap that we put in a hot tank for greased up parts not sure of the name but its in 55 gallon drum and will maker your skin red and irritated if not washed off right away. does the trick though gets almost anything off. i take my parts to work and clean them there. i'd say the EPA came down on these shops alot of chemicals ect are not allowed to be used anymore we had to stop using tap magic WD40 certain degreasers pretty much anything that actually works we can't use anymore. 

[John_Kunkel]

Even in the old days before the caustic solution was toned down, the cleanliness depended on how fresh the solution was. The machine shop I was using at the time made the mistake of telling me they refreshed the tank on the first work day of each month. From then on I waited 'til the first to take my stuff in, really clean with only some light rust.

Many shops around here have gone to baking the block rather than dipping, less hassle with the environmental rules. They come out so clean they look like they just came out of the mold.

[Steve P.]

A local dealership I once worked at bought a high pressure steam cleaning cabinet that we used for cleaning up heads and sheet metal parts. It did a great job on intakes and valve covers, timing covers and small parts, but it was not big enough for blocks.. We had to repaint just about everything that came out of it...

[flyinlow]

Even in the old days before the caustic solution was toned down, the cleanliness depended on how fresh the solution was. The machine shop I was using at the time made the mistake of telling me they refreshed the tank on the first work day of each month. From then on I waited 'til the first to take my stuff in, really clean with only some light rust.

Many shops around here have gone to baking the block rather than dipping, less hassle with the environmental rules. They come out so clean they look like they just came out of the mold.

Bake at 350 for an hour or up to 800 like a self cleaning oven overnight?    My wife"s going to love  this!