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Turnbuckle Cleaning
I've got a bunch of old turnbuckles that were apparently removed from planes
eons ago. They're covered with black, cruddy, dirt and grease. What's the best way to clean these up? Ron Wanttaja |
#2
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
Ron Wanttaja wrote: I've got a bunch of old turnbuckles that were apparently removed from planes eons ago. They're covered with black, cruddy, dirt and grease. What's the best way to clean these up? Ron Wanttaja Ron; Try soaking them in mineral spirits (varsol) for a few hours if you need to use them, otherwise leave them as they are. They are probably still coated with the original wax corrosion protective coating. Paulus |
#3
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
I tend to use small or large rotary devices that I can let run for hours or
days if needs be. If the turnbuckles are small, the little "rock polishers" from Harbor Freight are good with whatever abrasive/solventive media you wish in with the parts. If the turnbuckles are large, a **clean** cement mixer withOUT the internal stirring paddles and the holes blocked with botch buttons along with the media work just fine. The abrasive media of choice here for that sort of crap is "playground sand" from Home Depot. It is very fine and clean, but you may wish to research other less invasive media. Pistons and valves come out sparkling clean with this media but you've got to figure out how to get ALL the remaining sand off of the part ... generally a solvent soak followed by an air blast followed by another solvent soak. Jim "Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message ... I've got a bunch of old turnbuckles that were apparently removed from planes eons ago. They're covered with black, cruddy, dirt and grease. What's the best way to clean these up? Ron Wanttaja |
#4
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message ... I've got a bunch of old turnbuckles that were apparently removed from planes eons ago. They're covered with black, cruddy, dirt and grease. What's the best way to clean these up? How about taking them to a garage that has a parts cleaner, one that has a vibrating action, with a pump circulating a solvent across the parts. A small bribe ought to do it! -- Jim in NC |
#5
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
In article , Ron Wanttaja says...
I've got a bunch of old turnbuckles that were apparently removed from planes eons ago. They're covered with black, cruddy, dirt and grease. What's the best way to clean these up? Ron Wanttaja Hi Ron For my early hang gliders I used to get surplus turnbuckles that used to be available from outfits on the West Coast. They'd be pretty grubby with paint ,oil and cosmoline all over them. I soaked them in MEK or acetone to clean off the paint etc then I used a wire wheel with a soft bristle wheel to finish the clean up. Sometimes I had to chase the threads to clean them up but to do that I had to buy a left hand tap and die for the one side. I wouldn't cut any new thread just cleaned them out. See ya Chuck S |
#6
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
Thanks a ton to everyone who replied. I've got several turnbuckles, and will
probably try a different approach on each. :-) Ron Wanttaja |
#7
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
In article , Ron Wanttaja says...
Thanks a ton to everyone who replied. I've got several turnbuckles, and will probably try a different approach on each. :-) Ron Wanttaja Hey Ron Since your taking the scientific approach how about letting us know the results? As an ex NASA R & D guy I like the scientific approach :-) See ya Chuck S |
#8
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
"RST Engineering" wrote in message ... :I tend to use small or large rotary devices that I can let run for hours or : days if needs be. If the turnbuckles are small, the little "rock polishers" : from Harbor Freight are good with whatever abrasive/solventive media you : wish in with the parts. : : If the turnbuckles are large, a **clean** cement mixer withOUT the internal : stirring paddles and the holes blocked with botch buttons along with the : media work just fine. : : The abrasive media of choice here for that sort of crap is "playground sand" : from Home Depot. It is very fine and clean, but you may wish to research : other less invasive media. Pistons and valves come out sparkling clean with : this media but you've got to figure out how to get ALL the remaining sand : off of the part ... generally a solvent soak followed by an air blast : followed by another solvent soak. : : : Jim : Corn cob media works real well check out: http://www.shorinternational.com/TumblingMedia.htm |
#9
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
After soaking and paint brush scrubbing, try a Sonic Cleaner with MEK
solvent. Place on a rack about 1 inch from the bottom of the sonic bath, so the crud has a place to go. When cleaned you will need to regrease them. Reggie |
#10
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Turnbuckle Cleaning
(Original question was about how to clean a thick layer of grease and dirt off
some old turnbuckles with minimum manual effort.) Just as an update to folks...I ran one turnbuckle through the dishwasher. Did well at taking off the surface crud, but it didn't really shine up the metal. Going to try the rock-polisher next. My wife has a small one, with buckshot-sized media for cleaning metal for jewelry work. Think the media is too large, so I might try (unused) kitty litter. Ron Wanttaja |
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