Please see pictures below. I took apart an old delta second stage to clean it by soaking it in 50/50 white vineger/water mixed for a few days and the stem turned to an orangish color as shown in the 2nd picture. It's actually more orange than the picture shown. What is this orange deposit? Can i clean it with something else since the vineger wouldn't take it off completely? Thanks.
What is this orange deposit?
- Thread starter BeCool
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R
redacted
Guest
Brass that was covered by chrome. An acid bath is something you do for minutes, not hours, and surely not days. It will probably work fine without the chrome but you will have to pay closer attention to cleaning it after dives.
Once you get verdigris like that, the chrome is compromised a bit and the acid bath is liable to remove the damaged chrome.
Once you get verdigris like that, the chrome is compromised a bit and the acid bath is liable to remove the damaged chrome.
R
redacted
Guest
Oops. i guess the vineger bath is workingnow that the brass is exposed, it will corrode more easily right? i guess this isn't too bad?
Edit: how many minutes do you put in vineger bath?
In a sonic cleaner I run it about 1 to 3 minutes and then inspect. With just a straight bath I used to go 5 to 10 minutes and then inspect. On pretty dirty stuff, 2 cycles was common and I don't remember going over 3 much if at all.
I suspect the part will be fine (I don't recognize it) but that much green usually means SW got to where it should not have been or that routine soaking after SW dives was not adequate.
that is the stem to adjust the spring tension for inhalation resistance. there are 2 o-rings on both ends of the chamber and you're right i think water has got into it. i saw only 1 o-ring but not the other. this reg was in storage for a few years and was serviced by a tech. a tech that lost my missing o-ring. if a little chrome came off on the inlet coupling, would that be more critical?
LeadTurn_SD
Contributor
Oops. i guess the vineger bath is working
Edit: how many minutes do you put in vineger bath?
I do about the same as AWAP as far as time (about 5 minutes or so, then repeat if necessary) with a 50% vinegar / water solution. I use a soft toothbrush and sometimes a fingernail to scrub stubborn deposits.
I wanted to mention that I think it is a good idea neutralize the acid by soaking the parts in a baking soda solution for a few minutes (this may not really be necessary, rinsing well with fresh water probably is good enough, but I figure it can't hurt
).Don't feel bad about over-soaking in vinegar; from the looks of the "before" picture, I'd guess you were going to lose some chrome no matter what.
Best wishes.
rcs9250
Contributor
Actually the orange color is copper plating that is below the chrome but on top of the brass. Regardless though , the chrome is gone.
As Lead Turn SD said, by the looks of photo one the chrome was already compromised. Looks like it was a flooded second stage. Even if someone did a thorough rinse on it the water inside was not going to come out with out a freshwater flush through the second stage inlet. Those parts, if available , should not be to expensive.
As Lead Turn SD said, by the looks of photo one the chrome was already compromised. Looks like it was a flooded second stage. Even if someone did a thorough rinse on it the water inside was not going to come out with out a freshwater flush through the second stage inlet. Those parts, if available , should not be to expensive.
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