stripping zinc with vinegar update

A gallon of Muriatic would have finished in about 30 seconds at probably a lower price. Don't try to save the leftovers - the fumes will rust anything steel in your shop no matter how tight you make the lid. DAMHIK.

The thing to watch for is the rate of the reaction; as acetic acid becomes zinc acetate, the remaining acetic acid in solution will be further diluted, and will work slower to dissolve the remaining zinc. Because of this, you might have better results if, after letting it work overnight, you replaced the spent acetic acid solution instead of adding more vinegar to it, and diluting the new product.

You might also try heating up the vinegar to promote a more vigorous reaction from the get go, and lightly abrading the surface with a green 3M scrubby to further promote the reaction.

Jon

I still think just scuffing it with the scrubby and washing in dish soap would have been plenty. Then paint with stove paint and bake. I predict OP will soon have rust forming in every little paint nick on this thing.

sorry, I was too lazy to do some scuffing.

what's stove paint?

I knew I was gonna get some rust.

one of the L plate is rusting pretty good.

the other 3 plates are showing small amounts of rusts.

I'm surprised at how much rusting can vary between the 4 plates.

Dilute the muriatic acid by pouring a small amount into water first or you won't have anything left.

I've seen vinegar with different percentages but i forget if it was higher or lower.