Rust removal

[rock_breaker]

I have not thought seriously about the method of removing rust by electrolysis, but I am finding tools and material that need rust removed. I do not know the name of the chemical, but understand some are available as household cleansers.

Is there a place that illustrates this process and provides the common names of the chemicals?

Thanks for any assistance provided

Ray

 

[Tony Wells]

If you're patient, you can do it with molasses and water 1:20 ratio. Just soak it.

Otherwise, there are chemicals such as Evaporust or Jasco Prep-n-Prime that are good.

Here's one of many articles on the subject of electrolysis:

http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/miscellaneous/rust_removal.htm

 

[reds]

Vinegar also works very well and is safe.

 

[Bill Gruby]

This video might help.

"Billy G" )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5I5WBG5HPw

 

[jgedde]

Here's what I do. It works well...

Scrape off loose rust. Go to Home Depot and buy a bottle of "Metal Prep and Etch" which is just phosphoric acid. Dilute it with water: 10-20 parts water, 1 part acid. Soak the part overnight. Use a scrub brush to clean off the black stuff. Soak it another few hours.

I derusted an entire machine using a full size garbage pail as the reservoir.

This technique works even better if you can rig a way to make the water/acid mix flow around the part while submerged.

When you're all done with the mixture, sprinkle it around on your acid loving plants or even your grass. They love the phosphorous!

John

 

[McRuff]

http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.co...st_removal.htm



I have used the above method with baking soda many times in the last 2 years, works perfectly and its as easy as you can get. i removed the rust from a 100 year ol pipe wrench and it looked new when done. Took about 8 hours with a 6 amp battery charger.

 

[joe_m]

Great question. Metalworking is a hobby, but as a professional bottom-feeding tool junkie I can honestly say rust is my addiction. (I actually have a website with rust in the title.)

I've used electrolysis powered by everything from an old phone charger up to a car-battery charger. My additive of choice is baking soda, but others use some sort of powder found in the detergent aisle. All you need is a tub big enough to hold the part and an old piece of iron for a sacrificial anode. Plenty of online tutorials for that way, including some videos. You can plug it in in the evening and check in the morning, it seems to go faster with hot-water to start, the amount of soda isn't really that important - some tutorials say to put 1-2 spoonfulls in, but I just pour a bunch in and swish it around to dissolve. It only kills the rust and a green pad will quickly take off the black residue.

I've also used citric acid, just drop in and let soak. Do it too long and you will etch your surface, but do it just right and it will eventually eat the rust away. Same goes for the molasses, coca-cola, vinegar and other food-based recipes. Some people swear by it, I wasn't overly impressed but maybe that's because I'd already seem rust bubbling away via electrolysis in a plastic tub.

And the last thing I've tried, and still do occasionally for very small parts, is Evapo-Rust. You just soak the part until the rust is gone. It leaves a dark residue that you then have to scrub off with a green pad, but Evapo-Rust can be dumped down the drain when you're done with it. You can also re-use it (refresh with a bit of water) until it turns into a dark thick goo and needs thrown away. You can buy it in small bottles at most of the auto-parts store and I hear that Harbor Fright has it too. It's cheaper to find the big gallon sized jugs online. If you're doing something big you can pour it on a spot and cover with saran wrap so it doesn't evaporate.

All of the solutions will clean the rust if you're patient, some will also etch the metal if overdone, none will reverse any damage already done - pits are pits and no rust-removal will fill them in.



Joe

 

[ML_Woy]

Go ahead and use the electrolysis process it works well and is simple and easy. I wish I would have learned about it twenty years a go. You can start with Arm and Hammer Baking Soda as your chemical or use Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. The difference is that you need to heat the Baking Soda in an oven at 400 degrees for a half an hour to convert it to Washing Soda. Both chemicals are cheap to purchase, use what you have. Next get a pail, a five gallon plastic pail works best, some scrap steel to use an an anode, a battery charger and some copper and steel wire. Dump a quarter cup of soda in the bucket, add water, connect a piece of copper wire to the anode and set it in the bucket, connect the steel wire to your rusted part and put it into the bucket, away from the anode, connect the negative terminal of the battery charger to the steel wire, the positive terminal of the charger to the copper wire, plug it in and you are ready to go. If it is hooked up properly you will see hydrogen gas escaping from the rusted part and the process has begun. Wait a couple of hours and check the part, the part probably will be turning black as the rust is removed. This black can be scrubbed off later when you are finished.

A couple of tips, do not hook the wires up backward! It will not work, the solution is a little caustic so wash your hands after removing the part or use gloves, and be sure to cover the newly cleaned surface with oil to prevent more rust when finished. Here it is simple and sweet. Try it you will like it!

 

[Tom Griffin]

Ray,

Anything with phosphoric acid in will work well (maybe not Coke), like the metal preps already mentioned, or CLR, the stuff used for removing mineral deposits in dishwashers and around household plumbing. I think Home Depot sells it.

Tom