Does Oxalic Acid corrode plastic?
 

I'm looking to give a frame a nice oxalic bath but all I can find to do it in is a plastic tupperware bin. Does anyone have experience with doing bath's in plastic? Will it mess up the plastic or interfere with the de-rusting process?

Thanks

Plastic should be fine. I've used heavy tupperware with no ill effects. I've read elsewhere that people have lined large boxes with sheet plastic, so I imagine you are safe. I'd warn that you do this outside or in a well ventilated area, however, and read up on how to neutralize and dispose of the water. I've experienced dizzy spells when I get near the stuff, even when using low concentrations.

Thanks a lot JunkYard, I was going to do it in my basement but now I think I'll do it outside.

Also, what does Oxalic do to aluminum? Should I take special care to not let any aluminum in the bath?

Thanks

No, plastic is not a problem. I always use plastic bins for larger items that won't fit in a glass jar of the acid.

From what I understand, it will corrode aluminum over time. So, yes, I'd avoid dipping aluminum parts.

Whoa, beat to the punch! Don't get the aluminum into the bath, it will eat it. Oxalic will also remove the galvanized coating from steel.

I surrender. ;)

Ah good thing you guys told me about the aluminum! But what should I do! I have a wheelset with rusty nipples (alloy rims). I figure it will be way too tedious and ineffective to try and scrub each individual nipple from the outside and inside of the rim, so i was just going to bath the whole wheelset, hubs (gutted of course) and all.

Suggestions!?

If they (the spoke nipples) are corroded enough to significantly affect function or aesthetics, I would replace them with new ones.

Tedious and ineffective? That sums up my Sunday afternoon perfectly, I don't know any shortcuts for cleaning wheels with oxidized spokes or nipples.

They're actually not corroded but just have some surface rust. If it was my bike I would definitely replace, but because this is for a flip I'm trying to stay on the inexpensive side.

Find a stepping stone......

I found the tub liners, the ones for bathroom remodel jobs for 6 bucks at Home depot lined with painters plastic, supported around the edges with concrete bricks makes a nice side soaking tub. But then I have most of that crap around the house. I found the spokes need to be rubbed down with fine steel wool after but they come out clean enough. Takes all the surface rust away from the rims and hibs and everywhere else though.

Spoke nipples are non-ferrous and can't rust. In other words, they are either brass or aluminum and those metals don't rust.