surface rust - how to clean

[RancherSam]

I have an engine hoist/lift with a cylinder piston that has been in the open/extended position for a while and it has some surface rust on it. How do I clean it up to make the piston look new and shiny again? Thanks for all the replies and happy new year.

Sam

 

[wippster]

fine steel wool worked on mine!

 

[Kfbeal]

Not sure if this is the exact term, but we always used emory cloth. It's real similar to sand-paper.

 

[porta mill]

i would be against using emery cloth might scratch the surface and cause the cylinder and cause it to leak.go to walmart or a good auto parts store and get a product called never dull it is a wooding polish it is made by eagle one.it is not very expensive but it truly does an amazing job on surface rust.

 

[Eagleview]

400 grit wet and dry paper . My engine crane does it frequently as 6" of the rod is exposed and China does not know the word Chrome .

 

[8934]

I use 400 grit and wd40 which keeps the sandpapers bite down on things like that.

 

[actionaj]

I would use a 3-M Scotch brite pad.

 

[allen in texas]

green scotch bright pad. you can get them at the grocery store in cleaning supplies.

Scouring pads from Scotch-Brite

 

[john_bud]

I'd use the steel wool and then a product like "The Must for Rust" that has phosphoric acid in it to protect the metal from rusting.

The 400 grit and the scotch brite pads can take off a fair bit of metal if you are not careful.

 

[RWolf]

green scrubing pad and wd40. Dont use to much pressure.