White vinegar - are plastics ok?

[sefton1275gt]

I've striped some xt brakes and chucked everything in some white vinegar.

Are the plastics and black brake shoes ok to go in the bath too?

 

[Frankenorange]

I think they will be ok for a bit. Not sure how long is too long but lengthy exposure might not be great for the plastics.

 

[baron von greenback]

What does the vinegar do does it just clean or take a tiny layer off

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I've striped some xt brakes and chucked everything in some white vinegar.

Are the plastics and black brake shoes ok to go in the bath too?

Yes, it won't affect plastics, at least in the short time the part is in the vinegar bath for.

Don't forget to add salt when you install them. And a lemon wedge if you want to be fancy.*

What does the vinegar do does it just clean or take a tiny layer off

It is good for removing surface rust and oxidation.

*I have heard that the part can rust quicker after being vinegar'ed so a wipe with some WD 40 will help slow that.

 

[novocaine]

acetic acid also known as vinegar. ch3ooh
the acetone in the acid binds with the iron of iron oxide Fe2o3 to create iron acetate (ferric acetate) and a bit of water, I'm not giving the chemical formula for that, it's to long to remember.

or, magic, it's magic.
depending on the plastic it may prematurely embrittle or discolour it.

@Uncle Grumpy it's not that it makes it rust quicker, it's that you haven't got a layer of oxide on the metal anymore, so it rusts like an unprotected bit of steel would. you can provide some protected with oils as you say, you could also consider a cold blue that creates an artifical layer of oxide fe3o4, which will hold your oil nicer.

 

[bikeworkshop]

It's not that it makes it rust quicker

But your freshly maintained bike goes faster, so makes time pass more quickly.

It's called "time dilation"
Special Relativity, innit.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation