What is the best water to vinegar ratio to use for badly rusted traps?

Straight???? I don't know, but that is what I am using right now. Then car was and then boil. I have started to paint most all my gear reciently........jk

50/50 will work, Jim, but if they are really bad full strength won’t hurt them and will require less brushing. Make sure you soak them in baking soda and water after you remove the rust to neutralize the acid.

If you're gonna boil and dye, you don't need to soak, the dye is acidic.

Straight, 3 to 5 days, rinse well you could rinse in baking soda water after also.

I had weakened springs after overnight in 50/50 vinegar/water, fwiw.

So what does the baking soda do that a good rinse in water won't do. If one does use baking soda how much in a 12 quart bucket?

I did all that when I 1st started 4 or 5 years ago. Sold everything recently

This go around I think I'll paint and just wax to kill scent?

Keep them painted just waxing them before use to lock in unwanted odors?

Dunno

soda is base, vinegar is acid = they neutralize each other
Washing soda is cheaper

what 330 said.... tjm if you had weakened springs over night then the springs were junk to begin with

I used to use it straight. I've recently switched to muriatic acid.

I soaked a bunch of my traps and white vinegar a couple of years ago. I think they were in there for about 24 hours. I boil them afterwards, but even sitting in the garage afterwards they got a lot of flash rust. Did a great job though. Some of the traps that we're about usable anymore almost looked like new. The rust was very easy to brush off. Never had any issues with weak Springs, but make sure you dye them or paint them soon afterwards or it will rust right back. The baking soda idea might help with that though, I will have to try that next time.

How rusty were they?Did you vinegar off half the meatal?

trapper

Registered: 01/18/16
Posts: 508
Loc: Louisiana
I used to use it straight. I've recently switched to muriatic acid.


same here

Are you talking about plain, 5 % Vinegar ? How much faster would 30% Vinegar work on rust ? They have it for sale in a local Garden store

I use 1 gallon Vinegar to 4 gallons water for 3 days then a trip to the Car wash and have Great results

I've used vinegar for years. 50/50 vinegar/water. The grocery store kind.
Never and I repeat never had any trap damage.
Just rinse it off with water and brush off the rust.
They will start to rust immediately so do whatever you do to prevent rust after they dry.
You can use the vinegar/water solution over and over.
BTW it will stain your hands and I wouldn't fool with electricity for a while if hands are stained. lol

just

Same here, I just powerwash them in my driveway after the 3 days, let them hang a couple days then dye and wax or dip as the case may be.

Zim