[green and red man]

I had to purchase some square steel tubing today to finish a project. It's 2"X2" 11 gauge tubing. The place I was going to purchase it from sells the tubing already primed with red oxide primer, but they no longer sell the 11 gauge square tubing. So, I had to buy from a metal building manufacturer and all they have is oiled steel tubing.

How do I properly prepare this oily steel before priming and painting? I'll have to cut and weld it before priming of course. Brake cleaner spray?

What you guys say?

 

[RRMCCABE]

I always use mineral spirits to start with. Then do my welding, run a DA over it with 40 grit and then use something like metal prep cleaner.

 

[cmoore]

I usually sand blast my smaller metal that i can fit in my cabinet blaster then prime it, then paint it. That is the best way that I Had the best luck with.

 

[green and red man]

Thanks guys. If the blast cabinet was larger I'd definitely put the pieces in to blast. Some of the pieces are going to be 4 feet or longer.
I really do like the way blasting leaves the surface on steel.

One of these days I hope to invest in a large capacity, portable soda blaster.

 

[Kennyd]

Mineral spirits or lacquer thinner for me...then follow up in the blast cabinet if it fits-if not then usually a wire cup brush in the angle grinder.

 

[mjncad]

Mineral spirits or naphtha or lacquer thinner after I wire brush the crap out of it. I prefer naphtha over mineral spirits as it's not oily.

 

[green and red man]

Mineral spirits or lacquer thinner for me...then follow up in the blast cabinet if it fits-if not then usually a wire cup brush in the angle grinder.

Do you use a knotted wire brush or the crimped style? All I've been using are the knotted style brushes.

Thanks

 

[Kennyd]

Do you use a knotted wire brush or the crimped style? All I've been using are the knotted style brushes.

Thanks

Crimped for me...dunno know why but that is all I have treid. Try to wear a heavy jacket though since the wires WILL fly out and stick in you shirt!

 

[Scotty370]

Ditto Kenny..........

Crimped for me...dunno know why but that is all I have treid. Try to wear a heavy jacket though since the wires WILL fly out and stick in you shirt!

........They will aso stick in your skin very nicely!! And, even through jeans! Did I mention eye protection? Full-Face welding helmet profered......... ~Scotty

 

[green and red man]

Crimped for me...dunno know why but that is all I have treid. Try to wear a heavy jacket though since the wires WILL fly out and stick in you shirt!

Thanks, that's good advice for sure. I have an old crimped wire wheel that's attached to an electric motor. Used to belong to an elderly friend who had a repair shop. The wire wheel is approximately 10 inches in diameter. I found out what those pieces of steel feel like when they penetrate my jeans. Ouch!!

Mostly I use the angle grinder with the cup brushes. Will be glad when I can afford a larger blast cabinet and of course a larger air compressor too.

 

[RRMCCABE]

I havent used a wire brush since I found 3M clean and strip wheels. Run them in my die grinder. Probably faster than I should but they do a really nice prep and dont burnish the metal like wire wheels.

 

[green and red man]

I havent used a wire brush since I found 3M clean and strip wheels. Run them in my die grinder. Probably faster than I should but they do a really nice prep and dont burnish the metal like wire wheels.

That's a good idea too. Yeah, I didn't like the way the knotted wheels burnished the tractor wheels I stripped before.

I need to buy a new die grinder.