Remove Oil From Sheet Metal

An oily base metal will repel the flux.

Remove oil from sheet metal.

Unstrained or loose metal in a stamping can result in an oil canning effect. Although the test is usually applied on large flat surfaces like sheet metal it can in somewhat modified form also be applied to some surfaces with relatively smooth surface geometry. Remove the oil stain by spraying a little wd 40 directly on the oil stain. Very simply oil canning is the result of uneven metal flow during a drawing operation.

To remove rust from large metal items you can use an acidic rust removal chemical treatment. Oil and grease will also carbonize when heated and form a film that prevents solder from flowing over the carbonized areas. This will leave bare spots that will oxidize under heat and create voids. It often can be seen in the walls of deep drawn square or rectangular shells see figure 1a and figure 1b caused by the imbalance of metal flow into the drawing cavity see figure 2.

Wd 40 is safe on metal. You must remove all oil and grease. Oil removal from steel prior to patination. First put on a pair of rubber gloves a dust mask and some protective eyewear.

Buff your metal piece to a shiny luster with a soft nonabrasive cloth. Getting the oil stains out of your sheet can be a real nuisance if they don t come out during the first series of steps as mentioned above you will have to repeat steps 1 2 and 3 to completely remove the stains before putting the sheets into the dryer. The purpose of massage oil is to enjoy its soothing effects without having to worry about stains. Remove the excess with a soft cloth or paper towel.