rust removal

[AchingBack]

If items will fit into a blast cabinet you can't find a quicker way to remove rust.

 

[jack707]

Diet coke: Non toxic (well you could argue that) and not sticky.

If that true what it doing to your insides?

 

[Egon]

If that true what it doing to your insides?

Neutralizing ferric oxcide with phosphoric acid.

 

[Bansil]

Plenty of info for it, water plus arm and hammer washing SODA and some wire, some "scrap" steel (for anodes) and a battery charger

two of many links Rust Removal Using Electrolysis and
Electrolytic Rust Removal aka Magic

a few things to remember

1) it is 'line of sight" so you get best results from surrounding your pc or project

2) if you put an assembly into tank ALL pcs must be conductive! bolts/bushings rust etc may isolate parts (so disassembly or multiple leads may be required)

3) newer chargers can work, by using a 12v battery as "the load" and the charger keeps battery charged during process

it is fun and neat to do, scour yard sales and goodwill/thrift stores for old 6v/12v chargers for cheap,


DO NOT LET PART AND ANODES TOUCH, you can short out battery or charger

I made this last night to show my wife how this wizardry works, 2 hours at 6v setting, notice "white" main body, it was connected to charger the rest was not, the white is a film NO rust left.

I wrapped wire around other parts and put back in to show her how it worked (you can see bubbles of the part)
I will do it correctly later

[springs and such can be affected by hydrogen enbrittlement (s/p is bad)]

all the stuff in the bottom is rust/carbon from part

 

[Eric Salop]

In the past I have used electrolysis quite a bit and it is great fun, however since I was told how much easier citric acid is to work with I now tend to use that most of the time instead. Once the rust has gone, it doesn't eat into the rest of the steel. Neither does it eat human flesh, unlike some other acids. It leaves a cleaner finish too, I don't know the chemistry, but there is none of that soft black slime that you have to brush off with electrolysis.

Citric also works great at removing the mill scale from new steel. I mix 5% with warm water and a dash of washing up detergent, leave the steel immersed overnight and next morning the scale has gone. If you are in a hurry it will work even quicker if the water is kept hot.

 

[crash325]

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated & think they will help others as well.


Citric acid sounds good. Just don't know where to get some.

Hope to get a tumbler for some of the small tools.

Do not understand, here in the desert, hot , dry, low humidity things rust in a hurry.
Lived near the ocean for years & didn't have the rust problem.

 

[ishiboo]

I gave up on Evaporust/etc.

Vinegar does the same work and is substantially cheaper. It's also not sticky, cleans up easily, and does a great job. Try it!

 

[AchingBack]

I gave up on Evaporust/etc.

Vinegar does the same work and is substantially cheaper. It's also not sticky, cleans up easily, and does a great job. Try it!

Many commercially bottled products are simple concoctions you can make at home without paying for packaging, advertising, and retailer's profit.

 

[crash325]

I had vinegar & decided to try it.
To my surprise it actually works. Works real well & leaves a nice dark blue or black finish.

Thanks guys.
Much appreciated.

 

[AchingBack]

I had vinegar & decided to try it.
To my surprise it actually works. Works real well & leaves a nice dark blue or black finish.

Thanks guys.
Much appreciated.

Crashy, please tell us what you de-rusted, and did you use straight vinegar?