Scope of this guide
Junior version: what you will see, what you record, and what you never touch. Recognise early, escalate fast.
Series: finishing.com recurring questions answered with platingclub line practice. Parameters are industry-standard starting ranges — confirm against your supplier TDS.
Triage: symptom → confirm → first move
| Symptom | Likely root | Confirm by | First move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oily films after cleaning | Concentration low or cold bath | Titration + thermometer | Rebalance to card range |
| Etched or dullened parts | Concentration too high / too hot | Weight-loss check | Dilute; verify card |
| Cleaning slow all day | Bath exhausted by oil load | Titration trend | Dump on trend, add overflow |
| Fumes/boiling at tank edge | Temperature over spec | Thermostat check | Cut heat; verify control |
| Stains after drying | Rinse drag-out from cleaner | Rinse conductivity | Counter-flow rinse audit |
Recognise, record, escalate
| You see | You do | You never do |
|---|---|---|
| Water beads after cleaner | Run titration now, log it | Send parts forward anyway |
| Bath smells/looks exhausted | Report trend for dump decision | Dump the tank yourself |
| Parts look etched | Note concentration and temp | Neutralize in rinse and continue |
| New part family | Ask for its cleaning card | Copy the last family's window |
Engineer notes
- One variable per corrective action; verify with the confirm-by column.
- Records beat memory: log every trial on the tank card.
- Two failed actions in a row is a senior call — escalate with your log.
Safety: hot caustic cleaners burn skin and eyes badly. Face shield and apron at addition, add chemicals to water, stir-in fully before loading parts.
FAQ
How do I know the cleaner is strong enough?
Titration — twice a shift, on the card. Color and smell lie; the titration doesn't.
Why does temperature matter so much?
Hot cleaner saponifies oil fast; a cold bath needs twice the time and still fails edges.
Parts look clean — can they still be dirty?
Yes: some oils leave invisible films. The water-break test is the judge.