Why would i buy a 40 Gal drum of molasses ?

[RichardT10829]

Also used molasses to do my tracks, you are best working the links back and forth whilst they are wet during the jet wash phase.

As for flash rust issues, I sprayed my track with POR metal ready, they didn't rust after that.


Left mine in fermented molasses for two weeks and they had been seized solid prior to that.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Tony and Richard . Two weeks ? Now that’s fast ! I will let the whole thing rest for two weeks then i will give it an inspection . Thanks for the suggestions Richard. Rocking the pins & links to free them up is also a very good idea . My tracks are a barn find . All the links are present and there is barely any wear at all except for the fact that the pins and links are frozen . Someone at some point thought it was a good idea to put a torch to the track to free up one link on each track to take them off a Carrier instead of pulling a pin in the conventional way ! Very strange . Anyway , i look forward to the results of this experience . From what you are saying Richard it is a sure thing ! Thanks all. Keep you posted.

[David Herbert]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

All the links are present and there is barely any wear at all except for the fact that the pins and links are frozen . Someone at some point thought it was a good idea to put a torch to the track to free up one link on each track to take them off a Carrier instead of pulling a pin in the conventional way ! !

Heating up track to free it makes it go very brittle and although ok for static exhibit it is VERY dangerous to run on it as it WILL break. The great thing with molasses is that as it is a very slow process it will get between the pins and links and eventually unfreeze them. If you speed things up by heating or electrolysis or a different bath, the easy to get at surfaces will be cleaned quicker but there will be little penetration between the links and the pins. That just needs time. If the track can be flexed a little it will aid penetration if it is moved occasionally but of course there is always one joint that won't move so that is the limit on how long it takes.

With regard to the flash rusting that happens as soon as you remove it from the molasses: If you acquire some of the chemical that is used for removing calcium deposits from inside milking machines you will find that that is quite concentrated phosphoric acid which is the ideal chemical for neutralizing the instant rusting that would otherwise occur. It creates a chemically stable surface from the unstable one left by the molasses. I should mention that this product is not supposed to be used by the general public as it must be treated with great care but if you know a friendly dairy farmer it is ideal. Phosphoric acid is the active ingredient in self etching primers like Bondaprimer and is also used by dentists to etch your teeth before filling a cavity !

David

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks David for your post. I like the idea of using molasses even more now. I will let time do the work. As for phosphoric acid , i will pass . I really don’t mind rusted tracks. What i mind is pins frozen with links . I have to get rid of the stuff afterwards. So the way ahead i think in my particular situation is to throw away the molasses in a corner of my field when i am finished . Then i might do a POR -15 light spray in the tracks after using the pressure washer to clean everything up. I will bring the tracks back inside the warm hangar and start the a fan and dehumidifier to dry them up thouroughly . I was thinking of a very light coat of motor oil for preservation . When and if i use them i can always pressure wash the oil away. Thanks again David . Cheers .

[Robert Bergeron]

Hi all.

I think that wiggling the tracks while they were in the bath was not such a great idea after all. ...

Well at least not if they are sitting on plastic 8 mm sheets....I am a little scared of what i will find in the hangar in the morning.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Hi all.

I think that wiggling the tracks while they were in the bath was not such a great idea after all. ...

....

You'll discover that molasses is very staining. Your shop floor will look pretty ghastly even after clean up. I've had to throw out towels, rags and clothes exposed to the stuff.

[charlie fitton]

...will bring the tracks back inside the warm hangar and start the a fan and dehumidifier to dry them up thouroughly ..

Might I suggest a steam pressure washer to clean them...heats them to dry faster when done...

no oil, holds the dirt like grinding paste.

[RichardT10829]

I used old bath tubs to soak my stuff, and a wheelie bin for other bits and bobs.

Not a fan of Phosphoric acid as it eats into the clean steel too... molasses through the process of chillation only eats the rust.

[David Herbert]

Richard,
I was not suggesting leaving parts in a bath of phosphoric acid. I was advocating that after removing de-rusted parts from a molasses bath, that they be washed off with lots of clean water and then rinsed in phosphoric acid (by immersion, spray or brushing) which will produce a chemically stable coating of ferrous phosphate and thus prevent the rusting that will occur very quickly if no anti rust treatment is applied. Phosphoric acid is the most common active ingredient in anti-rust and self etching primers for steel though I suspect Fertan contains tannic acid but I have never read up on it. I suggested the milking machine cleaning source of phosphoric acid because for those with friends in the dairy industry it is a way to cheaply acquire a decent quantity in a concentration way better than products like Jenolite that is sold to the public. Obviously precautions must be taken with both safety and disposal but this is not difficult.

David

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

....

If you acquire some of the chemical that is used for removing calcium deposits from inside milking machines ... but if you know a friendly dairy farmer it is ideal. ...

Quite fortuitously, Bob lives in a part of Quebec renowned for its dairy operations. And he is a personable chap, so I'm sure he can make friends with the farmers.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks for your good words Terry and your humour Charlie . Thanks for your advice David , Lynn and Richard . I feel lucky being accompanied on this project by advisers from all over the world ! I have covered the whole bath with a 8mm piece of plastic sheet so i don’t / can’t look at it every day. Next week i will pull the tracks out in the sunlight and give them a good spray with the pressure washer with water from the hot water heater. Then the flexing of the track. We shall see what happens next but i suspect they will go back in the bath for another while . I will report on the progress in one week and post pictures. Stay tuned . As for phosphoric acid .. i thought it was something they put in illumination shells , mortar bombs and grenades when they still could , not milking implements and holding tanks ...

[charlie fitton]

Phosphorus....for smoke shells

Magnesium.....for illumination

[Robert Bergeron]

Hey Charlie, i never went much into details when i dealt with GOLF . When i wanted smoke GOLF sent smoke shot over and the world was full of chocking smoke . When i asked for illum , GOLF sent illum shot over and it lit up the night sky like it was day. Cheers. Bob