ideas on a cheap wash tub?

[ronn]

would like to clean rust off some 21 wire whls


any suggestions for an inexpensive wash tub that is at least say 25" round?


dont want to sandblast, just put vinegar in and forgetboutit!


would a 55 gallon drum be wide enough?


thx!

[TomInCologne]

Originally Posted by ronn

would like to clean rust off some 21 wire whls


any suggestions for an inexpensive wash tub that is at least say 25" round?


dont want to sandblast, just put vinegar in and forgetboutit!


would a 55 gallon drum be wide enough?


thx!

in the past, i have used gastronorm containers, made from stainless steel and dead cheap. I don't know wether these are available in the US or if you have something similar...


Edit: sorry, even the biggest ones will be way to small...

[Bruce of MN]

Check your local farm store

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...l?cm_vc=-10005

[Bob Bidonde]

Buy a molded plastic kid's pool. Avoid the blowup one.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Ronn, the most simple is to use 2x4 lumber and deck screws to frame the size you need. Then use heavy plastic (that comes on a roll) or a torn used pool liner to line the inside of the framework. Once the 'pickeling' process is complete, drain the liquid and disassemble the framework. Store until the next time you need to do the process and modify the framework to fit your needs for the next group of parts.

[Oldbluoval]

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As per Bruce above
Tractor supply has a 24” tub for $33.
Depends on definition of cheap

[ronn]

you guys are firing on all 4 this morning......
why I come to the Barn, for ideas


Oldblue- went to tractor supply 2 weeks ago thinking just as you. looked at the tubs and thought a 21 whl wouldnt fit. I was wrong. so good choice.


the pool idea also went through my mind, but was thinking Ild use far too much vinegar to fill a small pool up. other thought was summer ended. where will I find that pool?


Brent you win for creativity. never gave that a thought........ good idea it is. can build to any size.


a 55 gallon drum was another idea. dont know if it would be wide enough for a 21 rim though?
so I have a few options. thanks for the ideas.

[Oldbluoval]

I have a drum at the shop
Will measure diameter when I go back
As to the 24” tractor supply…noted it did have a taper toward the bottom so 21” likely would not nest to the bottom

[Merc Cruzer]

Large, plastic storage bin, you can get then at any Wallmart.

[Mad Mac]

Drill a hole in the rim to tap out all the accumulated rust (weld hole up later). Use 6 parts of water to 1 part molasses and leave in tub for 10 days, then pressure-wash and dry with a blow torch. Use rust-inhibiting penetrating oil to get right inside the rolled rim. Then prime and paint. Worked well for me.

[Y-Blockhead]

I use a plastic cement mixing tub from Home Depot when cleaning large parts. I think it is 24" X 36".

[GeneBob]

How about vacuum storage bags? Put the wheel in, add vinegar, seal the bag and draw some of the air out. This would reduce the amount of vinegar used and the amount of evaporation.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/9-Pack-X5...e&athbdg=L1600

[ronn]

yes Old blue, didnt look big enough to my eye. was thinking that would be fine for 19s.
looked up diameter of barrel and it is exactly 22.5 same size as whl, so prob wont work. was thinking I could use the metal barrel for other things like scrap fire.


didnt know I could get a tub that wide at walmart. will check that out as well.


cement mixing tub at vac bags both sound good. where does one buy molasses?
is better then or the same as the vinegar? I use the vinegar in my rads and gas tanks as well and has worked great for me, wo paying for evaporust at 90. for 5 gallons.

[Randy in ca]

Originally Posted by ronn

....................... where does one buy molasses? is better then or the same as the vinegar? I use the vinegar in my rads and gas tanks as well and has worked great for me, wo paying for evaporust at 90. for 5 gallons.

Never tried vinegar, but molasses diluted with water works very well
for submerging rusty parts in.

Buy in bulk at a livestock supply store.

[DanF]

Large concrete mixing tub from box home store.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-...102C/205451585

They also work really good as oil catch pans when breaking down an engine on an engine stand.

[eagle]

Most true farm stores will have large quantities of molasses. It is used as cattle feed. Brent's idea of wooden frame covered with plastic is the best one. I use that idea in my greenhouse to create whatever size water reservoir I need. I use EPDM rubber, it'll hold up to some serious abuse. That you can get at a Home Depot or Menards.

[ronn]

very good. hit walmart last night for a large plastic bin. nothing even close there.


next is the cement tray and hopefully, maybe a metal barrel. could use it for scrap fires on the side.


thanks for the info on the molasses.
If all else fails, will build one per Brents instructions

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by ronn

very good. hit walmart last night for a large plastic bin. nothing even close there.


next is the cement tray and hopefully, maybe a metal barrel. could use it for scrap fires on the side.


thanks for the info on the molasses.
If all else fails, will build one per Brents instructions

I have never tried the Molasses method but I have researched enough about it to understand that it is very slow and it smells 'rank'. Those two would be enough for me to not be interested, plus because it likely will attract critters (snakes, bugs, rodents, et/al) I probably would not be interested in having those around as a by-product of the molasses.

Because of the above, I honestly think you wouldn't go wrong in investing $60.00 in RUST911 to just get the job done correctly and in a day per each one vs. a week or two for each one.

[77Birdman]

I have the heavy tub from TSC that we used to wash dogs in. Havent had the big dogs or used it for that for years but its still around and in good shape. That would def. do the trick. My other suggestion was going to be a mortar mixing tub from Lowes or HD but DanF beat me to it. Those are a bit cheaper than the TSC tub.

As far as building a frame and plastic, thats not a bad idea but unless you have the stuff laying around it will most likely be cheaper to buy a tub. A 1 lb. box of screws will be $7 -$10, 2 x 4's are around $7+ and I would think you would want to use at least 6 mil plastic. The smallest roll of that will set you back $70+. You could go to the dollar store and a get a 8x8 blue tarp for a couple of bucks but they are super thin and would very easily get a hole if not carefull.

[51504bat]

These are definitely large enough. New or reconditioned they are expensive but they are generally available from construction sites or recycle centers. Cut the top of and its even big enough to submerse an entire block in.

[airjam]

Harbor Freight $8.99

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-gall...g_q=mixing+tub

[katy]

Originally Posted by airjam

Harbor Freight $8.99

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-gall...g_q=mixing+tub

A little small, the listing says: The mixing tub is an ample 22-1/2 in. x 16-1/4 in. x 6”.

[Big hammer]

Originally Posted by ronn

yes Old blue, didnt look big enough to my eye. was thinking that would be fine for 19s.
looked up diameter of barrel and it is exactly 22.5 same size as whl, so prob wont work. was thinking I could use the metal barrel for other things like scrap fire.


didnt know I could get a tub that wide at walmart. will check that out as well.


cement mixing tub at vac bags both sound good. where does one buy molasses?
is better then or the same as the vinegar? I use the vinegar in my rads and gas tanks as well and has worked great for me, wo paying for evaporust at 90. for 5 gallons.

An over stuff barrel is a barrel that a normal 55 drum fits into should work if you can find one. Cleaning several at one time would be better than one or two at a time, oh and the cost of the vinegar!

[Dennis Pereira]

This is what I use for wheels highway crash barrel, but it would take a lot of vinegar. Thats a hood panel hanging.

[ronn]

a 55 gallon barrel is 22.5 wide- so is a 21" rim...............


dont think it will work-


a lot of incorrect answers......lol- like I said, Brents idea will work. I have the supplies here- just being lazy!

[Al Mack]

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. . . a lot of incorrect answers . . . lol . . . like I said, Brent's idea will work . . .


Yes and no.

Wheels are 6" tall laying on a flat surface . . . 2" x 8" lumber (7 1/4" wide) would be needed as a minimum unless you want to wait twice as long per wheel. I would also suggest nailing/screwing a plywood or particle board panel to the bottom of the framework so that you can move it around once the juice is dumped in it. White vinegar was running $4.00 per gallon last week.

[Robert/Texas]

For one at a time use, I suggest using a burn barrel lid. I have one and it fits over the barrel so it has a larger diameter than the barrel. I bought it at a farm and garden store for around $30.00.

[McMimmcs]

Try to find a used livestock watering tank.

[ronn]

I bought vinegar at 1.88 a gallon in the last month on sale. I buy 10 at a time.


Al, plywood can also be used in the framing, thus getting a tight fit and not using far to much vinegar. still find that as the best "fit".


saw the kids pools outside at a diff walmart this morning and have to tell you, I'ld need about 30 gallons of vinegar to fill it.
the barrel lid sounds like a winner...........

[Merc Cruzer]

How about a wheel barrel

[Dennis Pereira]

How about a leaf bag?

[Mister Moose]

28 inches in diameter.
$35.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...b?cm_vc=-10005

[ronn]

that is the one Mister moose that old blue and I spoke about at beg of thread. my thinking was it might be too tight at the bottom because of the taper.


if its 28 at the top- then just maybe it would work.


in the meantime, I was walking around my property out back and found an old steel cement tray. the wheel fits in nicely about 24" wide. round might be preferred, but this should due just fine. forgot I had it, because it hasnt been used in maybe 15-20 yrs.
will pull the vinegar out of the roadster gas tank next week and reuse it in the tray for a wheel. will give it 30 days and see how it goes.
again thanks to everyone. great ideas!

[SAJ]

Ronn, acetic acid (vinegar) reacts with iron and zinc as in steel or galvanized buckets. It also fizzes up in contact with concrete or concrete containers and gives off carbon dioxide. In these cases you are losing much of the effect by neutralizing the acetic acid by dissolving the container. In the case of a concrete container very rapidly. Plastic of any kind seems like a more viable solution to me.
Vinegar reacts more quickly with rust than with bare iron, so an iron container may work ok, though it will be dissolved somewhat with each use
SAJ in NZ

[ronn]

thank you for the insite SAJ
I never studied chemistry and havent a clue.

[SAJ]

Ronn, almost all acetates are soluble in water, so the iron/vinegar reaction compound will dissolve in the vinegar and any residuals rinse off with water. You then have a "nascent" iron surface which will rust very quickly. So a great thing to do is paint the de-rusted surface with phosphoric acid, or a rust preventive based on Phosphoric acid like Ospho. This forms a skin of iron phosphate, insoluble in water unlike iron acetate, and a great surface for painting, powder coating etc. Even better is to wait for the"nascent" surface to flash-rust, then phosphate it with Ospho etc, since iron oxide rust reacts quicker to form a thicker iron phosphate film than raw iron does .
"Nascent" literally means "at birth"
Apologies if you already know all this!
SAJ in NZ

[SAJ]

Ronn,
You are forming iron acetate with the vinegar, which is dilute acetic acid. Metal acetates are soluble in water and so will dissolve in the vinegar solution. Any residues left will Wash off with water.
You are then left with a "nascent" (literal meaning "at birth") iron surface, which will flash rust rapidly.
So a great thing to do is paint it after the vinegar treatment with phosphoric acid or a phosphoric acid-based product like Ospho.
This forms iron phosphate, an insoluble skin which is great for painting or powder coating.
You probably know the Model A body steel was treated in this way when made.
The flash- rust reacts quicker to form a good phosphate layer than the raw "nascent" iron itself.
Chemistry and chemical names simplified in the above!
Apologies if you already know all this!
SAJ jn NZ

[SAJ]

Oh no. I thought I lost the original, so wrote it all again.
At least I didn't shout!
SAJ in NZ

[ronn]

well SAJ, you got me to read it 2x and I needed to. makes good sense. thanks!

[40-A Twins]

This is the tub I made to soak some rims for another old car project in vinegar. There was a leftover 10" cardboard concrete tube form that I cut and spliced with glue to make a hoop about 24" diameter, then made a box with some old boards to make sure the hoop would not collapse when full of liquid. 2 Brake drums stacked in the center reduced the volume needed to fill it. 4 gallons of vinegar at $1.58 each diluted to 50% was enough to fill it. A sheet of cardboard underneath helps protect the plastic sheet from puncture, and I am careful when putting a rim in since this is 3.5 mil sheet.
Last time I made one of these cheap bathtubs it was sized to hold sheetmetal hood pieces, and when those were done, I transferred the liquid in a plastic garbage can and de-rusted everything that would fit. The tub only has to last until all the parts are done, then gets dismantled.
I would like to try using molasses, but there are nasty little stinky ants around here that would probably find it attractive and have a population explosion.
Kevin

[ronn]

very cool 40. I am going to line my steel cement tray with plastic that I have handy and go from there.
Appreciate everyones input. Just about time for me to pull the vinegar from the 29 roadster gas tank and flush.