Binzel ABICLEANER 800 AC, 1000 AC/DC Parts FAQs
Handles, earth clamps, brushes, electrolyte and the containers that go with an electrochemical stainless steel weld cleaning machine.
Why is it worth removing heat tint from stainless welds?
Heat tint is the coloured oxide layer that forms beside a weld, and beneath it the surface is short of chromium. The oxide scale and the chromium-depleted layer formed during welding must be removed to restore the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, and methods which often leave the depleted layer in place, such as hand wire brushing, are less effective.
Electrochemical cleaning is one of the ways of cleaning welds after welding. Whether it is enough for a given job depends on the material, the environment the part will be used in and any specification that applies, so check the requirements before relying on it.
What protection and checks do I need before using the electrolyte?
The acids used in electrochemical cleaning are mild compared with those in pickling pastes, but a chemical risk assessment is still needed, and it should consider whether PPE is necessary. Read the safety data sheet for the electrolyte you use, as many are acid-based and can harm skin and eyes.
Typical measures are chemical-resistant gloves, eye or face protection and suitable clothing, but the safety data sheet and your assessment decide what you need. Control any fumes with extraction where the assessment says so, and keep water close by for splashes. Never use a different liquid in place of the electrolyte the maker specifies.
Is electrochemical cleaning safer than pickling paste?
Pickling pastes typically contain hydrofluoric and nitric acid and can cause serious burns, and where post-weld cleaning cannot be avoided a less hazardous alternative should be considered. Electrochemical cleaning, with the workpiece as the anode in a dilute acid electrolyte, is one such alternative.
That does not make it risk free. The electrolyte is still an acid, a chemical risk assessment is still needed, and you should follow the safety data sheet. It also does not suit every job, so check what the specification for your work requires.
Can I use any electrolyte with my machine?
Use the electrolyte the machine and brush are intended for. The electrolyte, brush and power unit are designed as a system, and the brush may be matched to a particular electrolyte. A different chemical may clean poorly, damage the brush or harm the metal, and it changes the hazards you have assessed.
Some products are described as all-in-one, covering cleaning and passivation in a single liquid, while others use separate liquids for different jobs. Check the manual for what your machine needs. Never mix electrolytes, and always read the safety data sheet of the one you use.