fastfalcon94
Member
A local shop listed their 4 post Rotary Alignment rack for sale. It had air jacks and came with a Hunter 511 alignment machine. It was a little rustier than I wanted, but I had been looking for a 4 post lift for a few years now (actually missed out on 2 others). I pulled the trigger thinking I'd be able to sand blast it and make it work. The price was $2k. Plus it was close to home and the guy said he'd help me take it down and load it on the trailer with his friends forklift.
After getting it home and removing the stainless bottom plate for rear alignment section, I realized it was worst than I thought. I'm actually going to have to cut out and weld in some new steel:/ But that will be a story for a different day. For now I'm trying to get the rust off it. I bought some blast media and soon realized that it's going to take forever and I can't get into all the spaces I need to. Not to mention the media I would chew through at $12 a bag. I had used vinegar before to remove rust, but that would be expensive. I read into molasses but I think my neighbors would not care for the smell.
So I decided to try electrolysis. I dug a hole out back and I lined it with a thick harbor freight tarp. I have some wood blocks sitting on the bottom to hold the track up. Beneath the wood I have a towel to make sure it doesn't puncture the tarp. I was able to use some pipe to slide the track over the hole and then some leverage on each end to lower it in. I filled it with water and 4 boxes of washing soda. I have about 10 feet of 2"x4" square tubing hanging all around it as the sacrifice part. It's been running for about 16 hours so far. I just pulled the square tubing and it was awful. I wire brushed it and wiped off the crud.
I think I need to come up with a better system on removing the square tubing to clean. I don't have a lot of slack in the wire and it's all daisy chained together. I'm thinking maybe I can cut the wire and use wing nuts in between each section. Then I could easily pull it aside and clean it up quickly with a wire wheel. Anyways I think this is going to work, but I have no idea how many times I'll need to clean the plates or how long it will take. Also I'm not sure how clean I need to make the sacrifice parts. Do I have to clean them down to shiny bare metal each time or just wire brush the scabby like corrosion off? I'm getting a lot of rust foam on the top. I tried making a skimmer out of a piece of old sheet but it's not working. Curious if anyone has any tips or suggestions. Should I invest in a pool skimmer or is there something homemade I could make for skum on top? My Diebold charger can do 2 amps or 15 amps. The gauge on the charger seems to suggest its really doing 14 amps though when I have it on the 2 amp setting and 25 amps when I have it on the 15 amp setting. I have two older craftsman chargers, but they are smart chargers and shut off after 30 seconds.
Some pics
This is under the rear plates. This is the worst spot on the lift. The rest is very solid.
I covered it out with some tarps to make sure no animals get in. In the center I added a piece of chicken mesh so it can still vent.
After getting it home and removing the stainless bottom plate for rear alignment section, I realized it was worst than I thought. I'm actually going to have to cut out and weld in some new steel:/ But that will be a story for a different day. For now I'm trying to get the rust off it. I bought some blast media and soon realized that it's going to take forever and I can't get into all the spaces I need to. Not to mention the media I would chew through at $12 a bag. I had used vinegar before to remove rust, but that would be expensive. I read into molasses but I think my neighbors would not care for the smell.
So I decided to try electrolysis. I dug a hole out back and I lined it with a thick harbor freight tarp. I have some wood blocks sitting on the bottom to hold the track up. Beneath the wood I have a towel to make sure it doesn't puncture the tarp. I was able to use some pipe to slide the track over the hole and then some leverage on each end to lower it in. I filled it with water and 4 boxes of washing soda. I have about 10 feet of 2"x4" square tubing hanging all around it as the sacrifice part. It's been running for about 16 hours so far. I just pulled the square tubing and it was awful. I wire brushed it and wiped off the crud.
I think I need to come up with a better system on removing the square tubing to clean. I don't have a lot of slack in the wire and it's all daisy chained together. I'm thinking maybe I can cut the wire and use wing nuts in between each section. Then I could easily pull it aside and clean it up quickly with a wire wheel. Anyways I think this is going to work, but I have no idea how many times I'll need to clean the plates or how long it will take. Also I'm not sure how clean I need to make the sacrifice parts. Do I have to clean them down to shiny bare metal each time or just wire brush the scabby like corrosion off? I'm getting a lot of rust foam on the top. I tried making a skimmer out of a piece of old sheet but it's not working. Curious if anyone has any tips or suggestions. Should I invest in a pool skimmer or is there something homemade I could make for skum on top? My Diebold charger can do 2 amps or 15 amps. The gauge on the charger seems to suggest its really doing 14 amps though when I have it on the 2 amp setting and 25 amps when I have it on the 15 amp setting. I have two older craftsman chargers, but they are smart chargers and shut off after 30 seconds.
Some pics
This is under the rear plates. This is the worst spot on the lift. The rest is very solid.
I covered it out with some tarps to make sure no animals get in. In the center I added a piece of chicken mesh so it can still vent.
. I give you an A for effort, good luck with your project. 
Think two days…….uncover……..the ramp will be completely consumed.
