Citric Cleaning Help Needed

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canaddict
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Citric Cleaning Help Needed

#1

Post by canaddict »

I have done about 10 cleaning sessions with Citric Acid now and would appreciate any tips anyone might have.

I have been using a mixture ratio of 1/4 cup acid powder per 2 gallons of hot tap water (which was recommended). I typically soak the cans from like 8PM till 8AM (say 12 hours). I have been using a plastic bin with a cover and doing about 20 cans at a time.

When I pull them out 1 by 1, I have tried running them under warm and under cold water. Sometimes, the rust and other gunk runs right off with the water, but sometimes it seems to take the paint right off making the can look metallic black. I have also tried rubbing the can when under the rinse with a soft dish sponge. In some cases, it seems to help and get additional rust off, but in other cases, it seems to remove the paint or sometimes blur/spread the rust so that after finished, the can looks worse than before the soak.

Any helpful pointer would be greatly appreciated, as I have messed up many a can.

Thanks!


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Destroying too many cans

#2

Post by canaddict »

This is exactly what I am running into. The Blatz and Canadian Ace cans came out of the acid and looked great. There was no black at all on either of these labels.

I then put them under the sink faucet using cold water and the labels just started to peel away. If I would have left them under the water stream, the entire labels would have peeled way.

I would appreciate it is someone could let me know what I am doing wrong here. Cans soaked in 1/4 cup citric to 2 galloons of water mix for about 14 hours.
Blatz
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The red on the outside Tudor's totally got eaten up as well.
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Thanks,

Scott
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Re: Citric Cleaning Help Needed

#3

Post by mtracy64 »

The only way to avoid this is to stop using citric acid.
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Re: Citric Cleaning Help Needed

#4

Post by canaddict »

Thanks Mark. On my last batch, I used Oxalic and the results were MUCH better!

I still have several cans to soak from my trip to the Canvention and will post those soon.

Also going to resoak some cans where I used Citric in the past.
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Re: Citric Cleaning Help Needed

#5

Post by Paul Letostak »

I have used citric on a lot of cans the last 15 years, and my input is this: cans from the fifties are usually thinner, sometimes the paint is thinner. I would use the same ratio but cooler water temp. I only use hot water to see what mystery cans are. Slower and cooler works best with citric, in my opinion.

Paul
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