If you're getting hydrogen embrittlement on your springs from cleaning with acid you should be writing a metallurgical journal paper about it. Granted, I would use the wire brush or wheel or sandblasting instead, but a light cleaning with acid is not enough to cause hydrogen embrittlement to spring steel.
46gmcpu,
If only a "light cleaning" i.e. wiping down before painting is involved, you're right. If pickling a spring in phosphoric acid to remove scale, it's not a good idea. But I'm certainly not trying to force my opinion on you. I was only trying to help the gentleman with his question.
Dave Evans
52_3100
