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Evaporust. Miracle rust remover.

SteveSS

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You guys ever use this product called evaporust? You can buy it at Harbor Freight. It's a little pricey but does a real good job. I have a set of USA made Craftsman ratchets and sockets that have been abused and in storage for a long time before we bought our house. A lot of it was really rusty, so I bought this stuff to try and clean it up. No before pics of the sockets, but here's a beat down, old rusty hammer that I left sit in it overnight last night. I'm really impressed with this stuff. Label says it's safe for the environment too. Bonus!

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Philbert

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I spent a lot of time looking at, and experimenting with, rust removal methods - posted a lot of it in an A.S. thread:
http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/philberts-chain-salvage-challenge.245369/

EvapoRust works well on surface rust, in my experience, but not so good on deep, pitted, rust. Keep the solution covered, as is does not work as well if some of the water evaporates, and use it until it does not work anymore (keep it in a separate container from the un-used stuff) to get your money's worth. A similar product is WD-40 Rust Soak Remover http://wd40specialist.com/products/rust-remover/ There are a few other brand names now - some may be available at a lower cost through different vendors.

Acids work well too, but have their own issues: sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid (including muriatic acid) can be nasty to work with, put out hydrogen fumes, and can attack the underlying metal. I don't encourage using them, unless used outside, diluted, and when you have few other choices. Wear gloves and goggles.

'Naval Jelly' http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/s_trmt_naval/overview/Loctite-Naval-Jelly-Rust-Dissolver.htm is primarily phosphoric acid, which works well, and is thickened to keep from running off if painted onto a rusty object (instead of dipping). But it attacks chrome and aluminum, so you have to be careful with saw chains, some tools, parts, etc.

I also played around with inorganic acids: acetic (vinegar), oxalic, and citric. Each of these work, and are not as nasty as the organic acids mentioned above, and even available in food grade on Amazon or eBay. They are fairly inexpensive. But each of these can stain the metal black or green, if left in too long. That may or may not be an issue, depending on what you are working on. Root around the Internet for details on each.

One of my favorite methods is electrolysis, which uses electricity and water, to transfer rust from the item to a sacrificial electrode (old file, graphite, etc.). Again, root around the Internet and look at a few different articles - some explain it better than others, and some offer less elaborate set ups. Follow the safety recommendations. I picked up a few battery chargers at garage sales for $5 or $10 each to use just for this purpose.

And, of course, removing rust does not replace the lost metal!

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Philbert
 
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Magic_Man

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I've used evaporust on old car parts with pretty decent results before. I thought it should have lasted longer than it did but the parts I used it for also probably should have been wire brushed to remove some scale defore dipping. I've also tried electrolysis with mixed results. One of the best things electrolysis worked on was a stack of cast iron skillets the wife bought at a yard sale.
 

Philbert

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It's good to have a variety of methods in your 'magic bag of tricks'* for different situations.

Philbert

(*old farts may recall that reference).
 
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Huskyrunner76

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I use The Works toilet bowl cleaner . Cheapest fuel tank rot/cleaner ever !
 

Al Smith

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Depends on where you are at . Any carbonated beverage below the Mason-Dixon line used to be referred to as "Coke-Cola " .Like orange Coke-Cola ,root beer Coke -Cola ,RC Coke Cola .Being a Yankee this amused me .
 

Al Smith

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Anything with citric acid will dissolve rust .One forum I used to visit about old Caterpillars told of a guy in Australia who would get spoiled citrus fruits for free at the fruit market .Mash it up in a bath tub , put an entire section of a dozer track chain in it .Sure enough after a time the rust was mostly gone .
 
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