Cleaning a concrete trailer?

[charlz]

There is a local auction coming up in a few weeks at a former u-cart concrete place. Looks like they have some small tandem-axle concrete trailers. Since my SUV can only tow 6000 lbs it is hard to find a _small_ tandem axle trailer that would allow me to maximize payload on small but heavy items like dirt, gravel etc.

I have not seen anything in person but from the pics the trailers look pretty well covered in concrete 'splash'. They are the older 'tub' style trailers, not the ones that look like mini concrete trucks. How hard is that to clean off? What would I need? Needle scaler? Sandblasting option for my pressure washer? Just the pressure washer?

Trailers might be too thrashed to be worth it but it's a thought. Any input would be helpful.

 

[Stimw]

I sell and repair Mortar Mixers, I am a dealer for two brands. I use an air chisel with a flat tip punch to clean machines before I can repair them.
Muriatic Acid will disolve mortar/concrete but it is slow and dangerous.
Here are a couple pics of a machine that I repaired.

 

[beenthere]

Stimw
I assume those are the "before" pics.
They sure look daunting to me.

How about some "after" pics ?

 

[aczlan]

I would try a large mallet or hammer and make the bed "ring" to vibrate loose the concrete residue. After that, I would go with a good (over 3000 psi) pressure washer to blast loose the remainder of the residue.

Aaron Z

 

[charlz]

I sell and repair Mortar Mixers, I am a dealer for two brands. I use an air chisel with a flat tip punch to clean machines before I can repair them.
Muriatic Acid will disolve mortar/concrete but it is slow and dangerous.
Here are a couple pics of a machine that I repaired.

So you clean the entire machine or just where the build up is? What I am thinking is needing to clean similar to what is on the drum in your pics. Basically strip the trailer down and ultimately have to repaint it.

 

[dave1949]

I sell and repair Mortar Mixers, I am a dealer for two brands. I use an air chisel with a flat tip punch to clean machines before I can repair them.
Muriatic Acid will disolve mortar/concrete but it is slow and dangerous.
Here are a couple pics of a machine that I repaired.

Hard to believe anyone would treat a piece of equipment that way - but it's good business for you at least
Dave.

 

[Mike120]

Throw about a half stick of dynamite in the trailer. That'll get almost all of it cleaned off.

 

[CurlyDave]

I have never had a lot of success cleaning spattered concrete off after it has set up.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Get a really, really high pressure washer. The one I have you can write your name in a concrete drive, I know I did it.

The high water pressure works like a hot knife through butter. I also used it on the back of a used pick up truck that had spilled concrete and it worked like a charm.

 

[Pops15]

All of the above.
Knock off as much as you can with a hammer, then use an air chisel with a 2 or 3" wide chisel. Then muriatic acid. USE EYE PROTECTION, DO NOT BREATH THE FUMES, and DO NOT GET ANY ON YOUR SKIN. Neutralize the acid, then rinse rinse rinse. Then try the power washer. You'll probably need to finish up with a body grinder. I doubt it will be worth the trouble. Why not just use it as is?

 

[alchemysa]

An air chisel is only about $20, assuming you already have a small - medium compressor. They are pretty amazing at chipping concrete. Eye protection is obvious but ear protection is also an absolute must.

A common rotary hammer drill with a masonry bit can also clean tight spots very fast and effectively.

 

[charlz]

I doubt it will be worth the trouble. Why not just use it as is?

Because the wife likes 'pretty' stuff Trying to figure out how much trouble it would be is why I posted. Lots of good suggestions so far.

 

[MikeD74T]

Unless you're in a real hurry just spray the concrete with a little diesel fuel. It will break the bond over time. I've used diesel fuel to keep my power trowels clean for years. Muriatic acid is as bad for the metal as is is for the concrete.
MikeD74T

 

[gwjd]

forget the acid its bad stuff, go with the air hammer and power washer also how dose the trailer empty it self at work i would always throw a few shovels of gravel in the mixer to abrasively clean the create off just a thought

 

[dodge man]

We do a lot of concrete testing where I work and vineagar works pretty good, but you have to let it soak, so probably not a good idea since you would need gallons of the stuff. Air chisel would be the next best thing.

 

[schmism]

. Eye protection is obvious but ear protection is also an absolute must.

make that double ear protection.... foamies inside some ear muffs :thumbsup: