washing soda

[whackett]

Can anyone please tell me what washing soda is for use in rinsing a barrel during browning? Thanks

[Long Ears]

Washing the browned barrel with a soda and water solution helps to stop the rusting process. I have found rinsing with ammonia seems to work the best. Rinse the barrel with warm water and apply boiled linseed oil. Sometimes its hard to stop the process. It may take a couple of applications of oil. I give it all it will absorb.  Good Luck, Bob

[keweenaw]

It all depends on how aggressive a rusting agent you use and if you are pitting the metal during browning.  A quick wash with baking soda in water will stop the milder browning agents if the metal isn't being pitted.  Washing soda can also be used to help degrease the barrel prior to browning - boiling in a stiff washing soda solution is excellent but there are lots better and easier things to do that like Formula 409 or one of the scouring powders, or a good solvent like TCE or acetone.

tom

[whackett]

thanks for the help cleared up a lot of what I didn't know. Just couldn't
figure out what it was.

[David Rase]

I have not had a lot of luck using soda and water to kill the rusting process.  Seems that I have to go back several times during the first couple of weeks after rusting a barrel and keep killing the rust.
DMR

[davec2]

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is not baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).  Washing soda, also known as soda ash, is a stronger base and is more effective at neutralizing acids than sodium bicarbonate is.  For those who have used baking soda to attempt to neutralize an acidic browning solution and not had it work well, it is because the baking soda is not a strong enough base. 

I also use soda ash (sodium carbonate) as a flux in precious metal refining and it is also used in glass making and photography.

[Black Hand]

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is not baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).  Washing soda, also known as soda ash, is a stronger base and is more effective at neutralizing acids than sodium bicarbonate is.  For those who have used baking soda to attempt to neutralize an acidic browning solution and not had it work well, it is because the baking soda is not a strong enough base. 

I also use soda ash (sodium carbonate) as a flux in precious metal refining and it is also used in glass making and photography.

It is not so much a matter of strength of the base, but the amount.  I use a thick paste of baking soda and let it sit before scrubbing tha soda away. 

[camerl2009]

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is not baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).  Washing soda, also known as soda ash, is a stronger base and is more effective at neutralizing acids than sodium bicarbonate is.  For those who have used baking soda to attempt to neutralize an acidic browning solution and not had it work well, it is because the baking soda is not a strong enough base. 

I also use soda ash (sodium carbonate) as a flux in precious metal refining and it is also used in glass making and photography.

isnt (sodium carbonate) borax(that what i use to flux when forge welding)

[davec2]

Camerl2009.

Borax is sodium borate.  It is also used as a casting and welding flux, but it is not the same as sodium carbonate.  When mixed with ammonium chloride, it makes an excellent welding flux as it significantly reduces the melting temperature of iron oxide and allows the oxide to be removed from the weld zone.

[G-Man]

With typical cold browning solutions (Wahkon Bay, Mike Lea's etc.) I just throw a handful of grocery store baking soda into a tea kettle full of water, boil it, then douse the browned part with it - keep pouring it over the part until it becomes too hot to touch - and while still hot (it will basically dry itself at this point from the heat) give it a quick wipe/rub down with motor oil on a soft rag.  I have not had any problems with rusting continuing beyond that point and the finishes have held well, and I live in a fairly humid climate (Ohio Valley).

Guy