Rust is a constant enemy of iron or steel, and this file contains many ideas and tips on removing it. The Lubricants General file has more ideas on preventing it. ADDITIONAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS! Safety requirements for the particular cleaning product may require added special precautions not mentioned here. Be very careful and consult the cleaning product manufacturer or government occupational health and safety sources if you have any questions or doubts before proceeding! In every case wear suitable protective gloves, clothes, masks, and eye protection; take any further safety precautions suggested on the product label or material safety data sheet (available from the manufacturer). Unplug any machine to be cleaned. Ensure there are no other electrical or open-flame or heat or spark hazards in the area that might be exposed to the cleaning material. Remove or completely cover and seal the electric motor and wiring and switches before cleaning; do not get any cleaning material onto or into these electrical or electronic parts. After cleaning make sure any electrical device or attachment is completely dry inside and out before plugging it in or turning it on. Usually the best place for cleaning is outside, well away from buildings and wind and flame or any source of ignition. For removing grease from old machines, various products like carb cleaners and oven cleaners have been suggested in these newsgroups. The latter two may hurt paint, so test on a small area first. Testing first on a small area is a good idea in any case. Ignition cleaners and WD-40 won't normally damage paint. Never use gasoline or similar products!!! Some commercial cleaning products are flammable; there are much safer alternatives! There are commercial proprietary cleaners that may be better and safer than home recipes. Water-based cleaners may work very well; parts need to be dried quickly and re-lubed on bare metal areas to prevent insta-rust. Choose products wisely and work extremely carefully, following all safety precautions. SAFETY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS must remain your primary concern if you decide to use any of the methods mentioned here. There is another general text file called Cleaning Tips that overlaps with this one when grunge as well as rust has to be removed. If you got to this file directly from my HOME PAGE, return there by using your browser's back button. BUT if you came to this file as the result of a web search engine, see more than 70 additional files on my home page Machining and Metalworking at Home http://www.janellestudio.com/metal/ SAFETY WARNING BEWARE: DO NOT ASSUME that any subject matter or procedure or process is safe or correct or appropriate just because it was mentioned in a news/user group or was included in these files or on this site or on any other web site or was published in a magazine or book or video. Working with metals and machinery and chemicals and electrical equipment is inherently dangerous. Wear safety devices and clothing as appropriate. Remove watches, rings, and jewellery -- and secure or remove loose clothing -- before operating any machine. Read, understand and follow the latest operating procedures and safety instructions provided by the manufacturer of your machine or tool or product. If you do not have those most recent official instructions, acquire a copy through the manufacturer before operating or using their product. Where the company no longer exists, use the appropriate news or user group to locate an official copy. Be careful -- original instructions may not meet current safety standards. Updated safety information and operating instructions may also be available through a local club, a local professional in the trade, a local business, or an appropriate government agency. In every case, use your common sense before beginning or taking the next step; and do not proceed if you have any questions or doubts about any procedure, or the safety of any procedure. Follow all laws and codes, and employ certified or licenced professionals as required by those laws or codes. Hazardous tasks beyond your competence or expertise should also be contracted to professionals. Let's be really careful out there. (c) Copyright 2003 - 2008 Machining and Metalworking at Home The form of the collected work in this text file (including editing, additions, and notes) is copyrighted and this file is not to be reproduced by any means, including electronic, without written permission except for strictly personal use. ============================================================================ Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000 01:31:57 -0500 From: Jack Fuselier Subject: Re: cleaning darkening from machine tools Robert Bowen wrote: > This might be a little off-topic, but here goes: > I buy probably 90% of my machine and hand tools at garage sales and > flea markets. I try to buy only Starret or B &S or similar, but a lot of > times they have not been taken care of recently. A lot of the time they > have surface rust, or at least darkening. Is there a way to clean this > off without damaging the tool? I have tried steel wool but it doesn't > seem to work very well. I think that bead or sand-blasting would be much > too harsh. Thanks! Robert Robert, I have to remove even invisible rust before electroplating. I use Hydrochloric acid, available from swim pool supplies as muriatic. Dilute it a little, by puttng a small amount in a glass or poly plastic container containing an equal small amount of water. (Water in first) Degrease your tools with non-oily carb cleaner first. wash your tools in this acid mix with a plastic brush until derusted and rinse under hot water and IMMEDIATELY spray them with lye oven cleaner. This is an important step! Let that soak a few minutes to de-activate the metal, or it will immediately rust again. Rinse well under hot water again and soak with WD-40 or other water displacer for a couple hours to get all the moisture out of the metal.. Wipe dry and keep them dry and oiled and you're home free. Caution, when you open the acid jug, watch out for deadly fumes. Same applies when spraying oven cleaner. Jack F If wearing a handgun is not a good means of self defense, why do police wear them? ------- Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000 17:11:56 -0500 From: Jack Fuselier Subject: Re: cleaning darkening from machine tools gcontreras wrote: > Be warned! Fumes given off by this stuff will surface rust, discolour > any exposed metal (read your lathe, mill ways...) within 12 feet > of the container that you poured it into, I speak from experience... > Guillermo this is true, the kind of acid you get from a pool supply is "fuming" hydrochloric acid. Chlorine gas etc. is being liberated and will pollute the air, so open it outside with plenty ventilation. Jack F ------- Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 03:39:57 -0000 From: "Pierre d'Entremont" Subject: Stripping Rust from Steel You can try reverse electroplating. Get a glass or plastic container and fill with drinking water. Obtain a 1-5 Amp MANUAL 12 volt battery charger. Connect the positive lead of the battery charger to a copper or stainless steel wire that is supporting the part that you want to clean. Place the negative lead to a large steel block that you will place in the container as well. Once you have placed the two into the container with water, you will start to add table salt until the meter shows about 1 Amp current flow. The manual charger is important as an Automatic charger needs to see 12 volts to turn on, and is of no use in this application. I did try it and it did not work. I use a motorcycle trickle charger and it works fine. This does work but it is not fast. Can take hours or days depending on the amount of rust you are trying to remove. Rinse in hot clean water and use a water displacing oil such as WD40 to prevent further rust. This is no my idea, I found it in one of Brownell's Gunkinks books. ------- From: "Kenneth Mayer" Subject: Subject: Stripping Rust from Steel > Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 03:39:57 -0000 > From: "Pierre d'Entremont" >You can try reverse electroplating. >Get a glass or plastic container and fill with drinking water. Add some sodium carbonate ("washing soda") or sodium bicarbonate ("baking soda") to the water. >a 1-5 Amp MANUAL 12 volt battery charger. Connect the positive lead >of the battery charger to a copper or stainless steel wire that is >supporting the part that you want to clean. Place the negative lead >to a large steel block that you will place in the container as well. You have the polarity reversed...positive goes to the sacrificial anode, negative to the workpiece. Use some stainless steel as the anode, and it won't turn into a pile of rust. I use stainless steel foil. >Once you have placed the two into the container with water, you will >start to add table salt until the meter shows about 1 Amp current >flow. The manual charger is important as an Automatic charger needs Don't use salt. The dissolved chloride ion will act with the generated hydrogen ions to form hydrochloric acid. >to see 12 volts to turn on, and is of no use in this application. I >did try it and it did not work. I use a motorcycle trickle charger >and it works fine. >This does work but it is not fast. Can take hours or days depending >on the amount of rust you are trying to remove. Use more current and it will progress faster. >Rinse in hot clean water and use a water displacing oil such as WD40 >to prevent further rust. Use a wire brush, steel wool, Scotchbrite, etc to remove the black rust that formed on the part. >This is not my idea, I found it in one of Brownell's Gunkinks books. iirc there's a detailed description posted in the www.metalworking.com dropbox. It should be in one of the archives (1998?); look for the file "eclean.*" Also do a www search for "electrolytic rust removal". Ken :-) ------- Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 08:01:41 -0000 From: "W.C. Gates" Subject: Removing Rust from Steel I'm new to this eGroup, and so I scanned back a few months's of messages. Verrry interesting! There was one topic to which I would like to add -- rust removal. My late uncle, a PhD in Chemistry, told me to use Ammonium Citrate. He said that is the ingredient in the the Rust Remover sold at one time by Brookstone. You mix about a tablespoon of it into a quart of water, in a glass or plastic container with an airtight lid. Degrease the rusty part, and then lower it into the solution. A day to a week later, depending on amount of rust, remove object from solution, dry, wire brush with a fine wire brush or wheel to remove the powdery residue, and apply oil, acrylic spray or WD-40 to prevent rerusting. No electricity, no acid, no fumes, not poisonous. Objects have to be immersed. The airtight lid is to exclude air, which deteriorates the chemical. The ammonium citrate attacks only the rust. The solution turns black as it works. I bought this chemical at the Science Shop in San Jose, CA. It's not cheap, but I bought 100 gm 5-6 years ago, and haven't used all of it yet. ------- NOTE TO FILE: There is a lot more info on this citric method in messages in 2004 found below. ------- Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 15:51:34 -0000 From: pasons1x~xxjuno.com Subject: Surface Rust Removal Some of the dials on my lathe and millimg attachment have developed a severe case of surface rust. What is the best way to remove this without damaging the dials? Thanks Phil Pasons Fabrication ------- Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 16:21:57 -0000 From: extratec2001x~xxyahoo.com Subject: Re: Surface Rust Removal Try sanding blasting it with finely ground up walnut shells. This should remove the rust but not damage the underlying metal. Walnut shell media is available at any outlet that carries sand blasting equipment and supplies. Another solution is to use a very, very fine steel wool combined with a can of WD-40. -R- ------- Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 10:41:22 -0600 From: Jim Irwin Subject: Re: Surface Rust Removal I like the scrub pads that look like stainless steel turning spirals, but are said to be something else that you get at gunshows for taking off rust without harming bluing. Work really well and do not leave scratches. Best regards, Jim Irwin ------- Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 08:53:09 -0500 From: Ronald Thibault Subject: Re: Surface Rust Removal At 03:51 PM 11/20/01 +0000, you wrote: >Some of the dials on my lathe and millimg attachment have developed a >severe case of surface rust. What is the best way to remove this >without damaging the dials? Thanks Phil Pasons Fabrication Phil; Here is a link to how I'm removing the rust from my mill. http://pages.prodigy.net/thibaultr/Rust_Removal.htm Ron Thibault Warrenville, SC USA Builder Miinie #2 Captain R/C Combat Ship USS Arizona ------- Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 14:44:53 -0600 From: "R and J Sport" Subject: Re: rust removal I use a product called NEVER DULL comes from Brownell's in a 4 OZ can and is a treated mass of cotton waste. It will take off the rust and leave the finish. Just oil he part up afterword. Good Stuff Jim at R and J ------- From: Charles Brumbelow To: Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2001 3:13 PM Subject: Re: [atlas_craftsman] rust removal > Check out this site and its associated links dealing with rust and its > removal also. Charles NOTE: YOU CAN GO TO THE MENTIONED ADDRESS WHICH HAS LIVE LINKS BY SIMPLY COPYING THIS ADDRESS INTO YOUR BROWSER DESTINATION. http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/rust/rust.html A Primer on Rust by: Bob Neidorff I Hate Rust When I lived in Arizona, my tools never rusted. Arizona is hot and dry. Here in New England, rust is a significant problem. It is especially bad for people who have shops in their cellars. Cellars tend to be damper than heated rooms or garages, and dampness leads to rust. What Is Rust? Many materials react with oxygen to form a chemical compound that is a combination of that material and oxygen. When iron combines with oxygen, it forms iron oxide, or rust. Iron oxide is a larger molecule than iron, so if iron oxidizes, it often puffs up and may even flake. This is because the rust requires more physical space than the original iron. Some things cause steel or iron to rust faster than others. Water will cause iron and steel to rust. Dissimilar metals rust faster than single metals because of electrochemical reactions, so steel rusts faster than iron, and joints between dissimilar metals rust very quickly. Salt water will cause rust faster than water because salt water is a better electrical conductor. Like most chemical reactions, heat also speeds rust. If steel starts to rust, it will puff up because iron oxide is a larger molecule than iron. The puffing causes cracks and voids, which expose more bare metal to the environment. So the rusting of iron can progress and is only limited by destruction of all solid iron. Other metals oxidize, but the oxides of some other metals are no larger than the metal themselves, so they don't puff up or flake. For example, aluminum doesn't puff up when it oxidizes. This helps make aluminum oxide a good protective coating, rather than the start of rapid degeneration. Rust is really Fe2O3, a reddish form of iron oxide. Iron has another oxide, Fe3O4, which is sometimes called black oxide, black rust, or hammerscale. Black oxide is a good protection for steel. Like aluminum oxide, black oxide molecules are the same size as iron molecules, so black oxide does not grow or flake. Black oxide is true gun bluing and the oxide found on some drill bits. Black oxide is also seen on iron and steel that has been hot-worked. You can coat steel with black oxide by a careful regimen of rusting the right amount and boiling the rusted metal in water to convert it. This is how non-caustic gun bluing is done, and although it is tedious, it produces very attractive and durable results after several treatments. Is Rust Alive? Many people say that rust lives and that you have to kill rust to stop metal from continuing to rust. The real significance is that once rust is formed, there is mobile oxygen in the metal, and the oxygen can move deeper into the metal causing further rust. Techniques to kill rust are described below. All rely on dissolving rust or converting rust into black oxide and then coating the metal with something that inhibits the formation of more rust. Preventing Rust on Tools You can discourage rust a number of ways. For my woodworking tools, like my table saw and jointer tops, I use Automobile Paste Wax. I put it on fairly heavily and often. It seems to work well. There are also cream waxes, but these contain some water, so I stick with paste. Another excellent product for protecting woodworking machinery is Bostik Top Cote. This is a product specifically engineered for protecting the surfaces of woodworking machinery and lubricating the working surfaces to reduce wood-to-metal friction. As this was developed for contact with wood, it has no additives which might interfere with wood finishing. For machine tools, Way Lube is the right thing. Keep unpainted parts of your lathe and mill covered with Way Lube. It's really inexpensive, often less than $12 per gallon. For small tools, cutting bits, and stock, it is more complex. You really don't want to dunk a center punch in Way Lube or wax it, because you don't want it to be slippery. You also want the best possible protection up front, because it won't be renewed. There are many commercial products that claim to displace moisture and prevent rust. Some common ones are WD-40, Starrett M1, LPS-1, and LPS-3. All come in aerosol cans, which is convenient although expensive and bad for our environment. All leave a film of light oily stuff on the metal. Other products are Sprayon Corrosion Supressant, Rustlick 631, CRC SP-350, CRC SP-400, Boeshield T9, Birchwood Casey Sheath, and Rust-X. Some of these products are petroleum based, while others seem to be wax based. However, they all prevent rust by keeping air and water off of the metal surface. Not surprisingly, each product is claimed to do everything well and to surpass every competitor. Some claim that one works better than the others, but the real differences between these products are more related to their uses. For example, some leave a heavier, tougher coating than others. Some leave an easy-to-remove coating. Some are better in the presence of salt spray. But any of them will keep rust at bay as long as the work is well coated. In general, I hear very good things from people about Boeshield T9 and I get poor feedback about WD-40. Perhaps this is because WD-40 is meant to do everything, while Boeshield T9 is specifically engineered as a treatment for long-term storage of materials. One common complaint about WD-40 is that it gums up mechanisms. You can make your own rust protection coating by mixing 1 part Anhydrous Lanolin with 5 parts Paint Thinner. Just brush it on or dip the metal in it. You can get Anhydrous Lanolin from a pharmacy by special order. Dillon Case Lube is a commercial rust protection made from Lanolin and Alcohol. Many people have reported excellent results with Lanolin and Lanolin-based rust protection products. Contrary to popular belief, Lanolin is not perfectly safe even though it is natural. Some people have allergic reactions to it. In addition, it can clog pores and cause infections. Another great technique for preventing rust is to protect the metal with a coating of zinc. This coating process is often called galvanizing. (Named after Luigi Galvani. Luigi Galvani is best known for experiments making dead frog muscles contract with electrical impulses.) Zinc is more electrochemically reactive than iron. Zinc prevents rust by oxidizing itself instead of iron. Many of today's cars are made with galvanized steel panels. These panels won't rust until after the paint is damaged and the zinc corrodes through to the underlying steel. You can buy Crown 7007 Cold Galvanizing Spray and other zinc based primers in aerosol cans. Still another technique for preventing rust is to surround the metal with fumes from a material that discourages rust, such as Camphor (C10H16O) or Moth Balls. Some Moth Balls are naphthalene (C10H8) while others are paradichlorobenzene. Gun suppliers sell protective wrapping material and blocks which prevent rust by a similar technique. For example, Brownell's sells VPI Paper and Rust Blocks Vapor Tabs. Another good product is Permatex In-Charge Corrosion Inhibitor, a moisture absorber which also releases rust-protecting vapor. Just storing your tools in a tight wooden box will discourage rust. Wood acts as a fairly good barrier to humidity and absorbs what remains. One person stored tools in side-by-side tool cases, one a Gerstner Wooden Case, the other a Kennedy Metal Case. After years of storage, the tools in the metal case showed surface rust while the tools in the wooden case were clean. Dust can be a good magnet for moisture, so if you can keep dust off of your tools, you will discourage rust. A breathable canvas tarpaulin or fitted tool cover is effective. However, avoid a cover that goes all of the way to the floor. This will trap moisture and encourage condensation on your tool. Instead, just cover the tool down to the bench or chip pan. Another great way to prevent rust is to put a dehumidifier in your shop. If your shop is a closed room or cellar, then a dehumidifier will be very effective. A dehumidifier will not be helpful in a drafty garage, but a garage may not be as humid as a cellar, either. Removing Rust When iron or steel starts to rust, it will puff up and expose clean metal to the open air, allowing rust to continue to the depths of the metal. If your favorite possession is already rusting and you want to clean it or at least stop the rusting, you have a few alternatives. There are a few products on the market which fall into the category of organic rust converters. These products contain acid to convert rust to black oxide and polymers which bond to rust. Instructions say to remove all loose rust, paint on the product, and let it dry. I've used one of these products and it did work. However, the resulting surface is black and rough. Also, the converted rust is not durable, so this may not be the right treatment for tools or stock. Some trade names for these products are: POR-15, Glean Tech Rust Killer, and RustX. Another rust treatment is to remove loose rust and coat the metal with a product like WD-40. This fills pores and rust with a noncorrosive substance and prevents additional rusting. Often, this is sufficient to slow the progress of rust and leave the tool protected for future storage. There are also techniques which remove rust. The most crude is sand blasting or bead blasting. This is standard practice in auto body repair shops. Sand blast will remove some good metal and will work-harden the surface, so glass bead blasting is used for more delicate parts. Immediately after any blasting, metal is clean and exposed, so it is essential that some form of rust proofing goes next. In auto body work, this is often an acid metal wash (see below) followed by self etching primer, but could also be a coating of a product like Boeshield T9. Sand paper and steel wool will also remove rust, but they don't get into tiny crevices. Rubber abrasive sanding blocks like those made by Cratex are good at removing a thin coat of rust and can also remove rust from minute pores in the metal. Another technique for removing rust is etching with Phosphoric Acid. Phosphoric Acid has a unique property of dissolving iron oxide quickly while etching iron very slowly. This means that you can leave metal in Phosphoric Acid for much longer than necessary with very little damage. The acid will attack bare metal slowly and will start the process of hydrogen embrittlement, so use the minimum etch time that removes all rust. Another unique advantage of Phosphoric Acid is that it leaves a fine coating of iron phosphate behind. Iron phosphate prevents rust. However, the iron phosphate coating is not very thick and not durable. Some additional protection is still required. Phosphoric Acid etch will leave a hard, bright metal finish. This is because it will etch the surface slightly, exposing new, bare metal. Often this is desirable. It leaves an attractive surface and a surface ready to paint. A common product which contains Phosphoric Acid is Naval Jelly. The soft drink Coca-Cola contains Phosphoric Acid, so Coke will etch rust. But Coke also contains carbonic acid and other nasty things. You're going to drink that stuff? Auto body shops treat metal with acid metal wash, a solution of Phosphoric Acid and alcohol before painting. This removes waxes and oils, removes slight amounts of rust that form between sand blasting and painting, and leaves a thin protective coat of iron phosphate. One commercial solution for this is DuPont Quick-Prep. Sherwin Williams has a similar product called Metal Prep. Other acids will etch rust, but not as selectively. Hydrochloric acid can etch rust very quickly. Oxalic acid has also been used. However, if you leave metal in these acids a bit too long, you will lose a significant amount of metal. Also, neither acid leaves a protective film behind. Oxalic acid opeartes to remove rust by forming a water-solable complex ion (called a chelate) around each iron ion. So do cyanide compounds. Both react likewise with the iron in your blood, meaning the oxalates are just as poisonous as the cyanides. I read of using a solution of 1 part black molasses and 9 parts water to remove rust. Perhaps this works because the molasses is slightly acidic. The procedure is very slow. After treatment, metal starts rusting quickly, so this is probably not a phosphoric acid treatment. All acids contribute some hydrogen to the metal structure. This weakens steel by a process called hydrogen embrittlement. If the metal is a cutting tool or gun barrel, for example, this weakening can be dangerous. One person claimed that if you bake the metal at 400F for an hour after acid cleaning, then you can drive out the hydrogen and prevent this embrittlement. With all acids, use rubber gloves and splash goggles, no matter how weak the solution. When thinning acid, add acid to water. Never add water to acid. One more technique for removing rust is Electrolytic Rust Removal. Rust can be electrically etched off of iron or steel in a bath of mild alkali, such as Sodium Carbonate. Connect the rusty part to the negative terminal of a 12V battery or battery charger and a scrap piece of steel or iron to the positive terminal. Use one tablespoon of Sodium Carbonate per gallon of water. This technique has many advantages. First, the alkaline solution is much safer than some of the acids mentioned earlier. It is still a chemical, so rubber gloves and splash goggles are recommended. Another advantage of electrolytic rust removal is that it will have no effect on good metal, so you can leave the work in the bath for a long time and not damage the metal. There is no risk of hydrogen embrittlement nor of etching unrusted metal. Electrolytic rust removal will leave a black oxide surface, which is the result of a process that doesn't remove any good metal at all. The only thing removed is loose rust and embedded oxygen. If your goal is to keep as much of the original metal behind, this is the best technique. However, be prepared to immediately follow this technique with one of the rust prevention procedures, such as using Boeshield T9 or VPI Paper wrap. Guy Lautard mentioned Knorrostol in one of his popular bedside readers. He recommended it for precision tools. This is a mildly abrasive rust removing polish that can remove light surface rust on smooth metal surfaces quickly. It comes as a paste in a tube. There's another rust removal technique used for restoring chrome on old cars and motorcycles. Rub the area vigorously with the end of an aluminum bar. This will scrape the iron oxide off and at the same time the aluminum dust formed will penetrate and react with the rust to form aluminum oxide and iron. I haven't tried this myself. Beware of Mr. Rust Some people have a reputation for rusting everything that they hold. These people have unique body oil. I don't know if it contains metal salts, high moisture content, or low pH. If you have guests in your shop, be careful about letting them handle good steel or tools. You might be the first to discover that Uncle Bert is one of those guys with a corrosive touch. If you have this unique body oil, consider wearing cotton gloves oiled with something like Breakfree CLP to keep your body oils off of tools. Breakfree CLP is a multipurpose teflon oil designed to clean, lubricate, and protect metal. Another approach is to wash your hands and give them a light rub with mineral oil before handling metal. Sources of Supply Anhydrous Lanolin - Many pharmacists, on special order Automobile Paste Wax - Any auto supply store Birchwood Casey Sheath - Brownells (see below) Black Molasses - Many grocery stores Boeshield T9 - McMaster-Carr, Woodworkers Warehouse Bostik Top Cote - Specialty wood tool suppliers such as Woodworkers Warehouse Breakfree CLP - Many gun supply shops including: Brownells Camphor - Many large drug stores. Available as blocks and as Oil of Camphor. Crown 7007 Cold Galvanizing Compound - Wholesale Tool Cratex Rubber Abrasive - Many tool dealers (MSC, Travers Tool, Wholesale Tool) CRC SP-350 - MSC CRC SP-400 - MSC Dillon Case Lube - Many gun stores. For a local dealer call Dillon Precision at 800-762-3845. Dupont Quick-Prep - Auto paint supply stores which sell Dupont paint Gerstner Tool Boxes - Many tool dealers (MSC, Travers Tool, Wholesale Tool) Glean Tech Rust Killer - Bomar Knorrostol - Many tool dealers (Hammar Industrial, Kennametal, MSC). For a local dealer, call SPI at 888-774-8200. Moth Balls - Many hardware and drug stores. Naval Jelly - Most hardware stores. Permatex In-Charge Corrosion Inhibitor - Travers Tool or other Permatex distributors. POR-15 - RestoMotive Laboratories Rust-X - Integrity Industries Sherwin Williams Metal Prep - Auto paint supply stores which sell Sherwin Williams paint. Sodium Carbonate - Swimming pool supply stores. Ask for product to raise water pH. Starrett M1 - Many tool dealers (MSC, Travers, Wholesale Tool) LPS-1 and LPS-3 - Many tool dealers (MSC, Travers, Wholesale Tool) Rust Blocks Vapor Tabs - Brownells VPI Treated Paper - Brownells Way Lube - Many tool dealers (MSC, Travers, Wholesale Tool) WD-40 - Any department store or hardware store Addresses Bomar Corporation (sells Glean Tech Rust Killer) PO Box 80555; Baton Rouge, LA 70898 Phone: 888-264-2626 E-Mail: bomarcorx~xxdemco.net Brownells, Inc. (gunsmithing tools and accessories dealer) 200 South Front Street; Montezuma, IA 50171 Phone: 515-623-5401 E-Mail: brownelusax~xxAol.Com Hammar Industrial Supply (local broad-range supplier) 175 Amherst St; Nashua NH 03060 Phone: 800-388-3232 Integrity Industries (makers of Rust-X) PO Box 5342; Kingsville TX 78383 Phone: 512-595-5561 Kennametal (sells Knorrostol) 1600 Technology Way; Latrobe, PA 15650 Phone: 800-446-7738 E-Mail: dbaldwinx~xxkennametal.com McMaster-Carr Supply (national broad-range supplier) PO Box 440; New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0440 Phone: 908-329-3200 MSC Industrial Supply (national tool supplier) 151 Sunnyside Blvd; Plainview NY 11803-9915 Phone: 800-645-7270 E-Mail: Prod_Infox~xxMSCDirect.Com http://www.mscindustrial.com RestoMotive Laboratories (makers of POR-15) PO Box 1235; Morristown NJ 07962-1235 Phone: 800-457-6715 E-Mail: techsupportx~xxpor15.com Travers Tool (national tool supplier) 128-15 26th Ave; PO Box 541550; Flushing NY 11354-0108 Phone: 800-221-0270 E-Mail: Infox~xxTravers.Com Wholesale Tool (national tool supplier) 12155 Stephens Dr.; PO Box 68; Warren MI 48089 Phone: 800-521-3420 E-Mail: WTMichx~xxAol.Com Woodworkers Warehouse/Trendlines (sells Bostik Top Coat) Many Woodworkers Warehouse retail stores Also by mail at: Trendlines 135 American Legion Highway; Revere MA 02151 Phone: 800-767-9999 Useful Internet Web References Auto Paint FAQ Electrolytic Rust Removal FAQ Metalworking FAQ Model Engineer Support Metal Web News Credits and Disclaimer I have taken much of the above from others, including: Robert Bastow Pete Bellas Kevin Eva Jim Hardman Chris Heapy Scot Heath Russ Kepler Ted Kinsey Dean Lake Randolph Lee Harry Phinney Keith Taylor Doug White Thank you for teaching me. Forgive me if I omitted someone. I tried to check information and test many of the above techniques and materials. However, I have not tried every technique or product listed here. Some may be better than others. I am not affiliated with any company represented here. Please use proper safety precautions when dealing with all chemicals, machines, and other dangerous procedures. I welcome comments, suggestions, and corrections. Email: Bob Neidorff neidorffx~xxunitrode.com Rev: 12/23/98 ------- Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 15:34:33 -0000 From: "outlawmws" Subject: Re: Greg Yotz How Did You Remove The Rust On Your Lathe (was:Yahoo! I used my tool to make a tool I needed....) --- In atlas_craftsmanx~xxy..., Ronald Thibault wrote: > Greg; How did you remove the rust on your lathe? Ron, I don't know how Greg did his but I have been having very good luck with Jasco metal etch. Just keep in mind it is phosphoric acid and used the proper safety measures. The good thing about phosphoric acid is that it is one of the least hazardous acids. Think about it, its in most soft drinks. Not that I'm claiming it's totally benign, but you get the idea. I would be cautious about hi tolerance machined surfaces, but for as cast or non-critical surfaces it's great. I have used it full strength in a bath for small parts by using an old plastic milk carton cut down to make a basin. It could be stored in them too, except the cap is not suitable for hazardous materials. I was able to get some screw top containers, identical in style, from my waste disposal company. They are used for oil recycling. They won't accept regular milk jugs for oil recycling since the top doesn't screw on securely. Rinse the residue thornily with water after the heat dry or spray down with WD-40 or any water displacing light oil to give immediate rust protection. Used diluted as per the package markings it makes a great pre-paint treatment. -Outlaw ------- Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 14:52:42 -0000 From: "wjw2000athotmaildotcom" Subject: Re: Greg Yotz How Did You Remove The Rust On Your Lathe (was:Yahoo! I used my tool to make a tool I needed....) I've been soaking rusty parts in Limeout. Takes a while, but it does remove the surface rust. ------- Date: Sun, 05 May 2002 14:21:31 -0400 From: Ronald Thibault Subject: Re: Re: Greg Yotz How Did You Remove The Rust On Your Lathe (was:Yahoo! I used my tool to make a tool I needed....) At 07:38 PM 4/19/02 +0000, you wrote: >Sorry for the delay in response. I've been out of town for a fly-in >at Lakeland Florida. >I used good ol steel wool and oil. I first cleaned every thing with >mineral spirits(in my engine parts cleaner). This removes old oil >and grease, not rust. WHat I couldn't get in the parts cleaner, I >used an old toothbrush and a margarine bowl with ms in it. Then I >used the steel wool and a light machine oil. I would clean every >thing off every so often with more mineral spirits then start back >in with the wool and oil. Really didn't take that long and I'm sure >of not "hurting" anything this way. >I'm not ready to remove and repaint yet, as I really needed the use >of the lathe. So when I have some down time, I'll strip and repaint. >I need to clean the ways up a little first. I have some wear in the >area of the chuck like most older lathes. So if I snug up the slide >near the chuck it's very tight near the tail stock. So I make >adjustments depending where I'm working at. Greg Thanks! Ron Thibault Warrenville, SC USA http://pages.prodigy.net/thibaultr/ ------- Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 06:51:10 -0700 From: "Marty Escarcega" Subject: Polishing secrets I want to share with you guys a neat secret to polishing tarnished metal. Grungy/rusty machined surfaces. Get a bench grinder, on one side put on a medium/coarse wire wheel. On the other side put on TWO of these: These are stiff scotch brite wheels impregnated with abrasive. It is not super aggressive, so in order to save it, wire wheel off the thick grunge and the use it to polish the metal. 00319921 6"x1/2" Maroon A-Med 3M High Strength Disc $3.83 This pad is cheaper and softer I like running one of these to get into some tighter spots. 00490161 6"x1/2" Maroon 3M High Strength Discs $1.93 Now, if you have the benefit of a variable speed 7" grinder with a hook and loop pad (I have a Makita) use one of these: This thing is tough, like stiff Scotchbrite. Wait until you see what it does with large rusted surfaces. Cuts the rust scale right off. 00319749 Grade SXCS 7 3M Coating Removal Disc $14.73 All of these are available from MSC Industrial Supply, if you don't have their BIG BLUE BOOK catalog you all should. They also sell handwheels, levers, balls, knobs you name it. http://www.mscindustrial.com/ Last thing, none of the above like sharp edges, while unavoidable, learn to have the wheels rub off the edge instead of rubbing up onto the edge. They will last longer. They do last quite a while if cared for. When they get too small, I get more use out of them by putting them on a die grinder with a mandrel I built. Just a tip for old iron restorers. Marty ------- Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 10:48:53 -0000 From: "casy_ch " Subject: Re: Polishing secrets Hi Marty, I am very interested by that secret. I am renovating a 1927 engine lathe, sandblasting the parts, but no cabin large enough to fit the bed and the feet. I have been using spring wire discs which are very fast to get down to the iron cast, but absolutely no good in recesses. They break on the spot (cheap chinese ware) and are then dangerous without wearing a shield. When going to the site of MSC, I find only pages 883-888 and 897-897 but do not find the descriptions you habe been giving. Could you please mail the adress of the pages you mean. Thank you. Happy and healthy New Year to you and all the Group members Jean-Claude, Switzerland www.homestead.com/turnandmill ------- Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 07:11:48 -0700 From: "Marty Escarcega" Subject: Re: Digest Number 376 The numbers I quote are actual part numbers. Perhaps a search on the MSC part number will turn up the info you are looking for. Personally, I would send the bed and legs out for sandblasting. Anything too big for my cabinet goes to a good local sandblaster. Marty ------- Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 11:04:18 -0600 From: "Ray Ethridge" Subject: Re: Polishing secrets I have started cleaning up the Rockford. The ways have a coat of rust on them from being stored in a warehouse without heat/AC in Houston. I started to go get the scotchbrite that Marty recommended but thought I would try the steel wool and wd40 route first (since I already had that and nothing is open this morning anyway!). Low and behold, the light rust came right off the ways, and below it is the original scraping marks, still clearly visible! I am still going to get the scotchbrite, there is way too much surface that needs attention to use the steel wool everywhere, but I am pretty happy with how easily the ways cleaned offwith the steel wool and WD40. Maybe a safe approach is to use the steel wool/WD40 (or some other light hydrocarbon for a lubricant) to do the initial cleaning, and if more is needed then use the Scotchbrite? There is probably a judgement call there, but it sure didn't take much effort to get through the light rust on the ways with the steel wool/WD40. By the way, anyone have any good ideas for what to do with about 25 gallons of some pretty grungy hydraulic fluid? Ray Ethridge ------- Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 12:07:33 -0600 From: "Ray Ethridge" Subject: Re: Polishing secrets >> Do you have any gravel roads around your place? Or for weed control along a fence line. Joe Williams << Ahh, yes, but that was before the EPA Joe! If I was to get caught doing that stuff even out in the country they would string me up! Ray Ethridge ------- Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 13:53:20 EST From: n8as1x~xxaol.com Subject: Re: Polishing secrets 1 use as hardening quench, 2 . mix w/ lard ,50/50 , for old tyme mineral lard oil, 3.....by the light of the moon, pour on ur dirt/gravel drive to keep the dust down ( yes young uns, we really did do that ,county trucks regularly spewed it out )... 4 . use it to start ur trash fires ..5 do some bartering w/" Rocco the torch" 6 ...donate it to fire dept. for training exercises 7 gift wrap 5 gal. containers & leave it in ur pickup bed when u go to a mall in the worst part of town....... best wishes for 2003. docn8as. ------- Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 16:30:18 -0700 From: "Orrin Iseminger" Subject: Re: Help! From: "tdt128" To: Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 3:37 PM Subject: [sherline] Help! > Back again looking for some help. Someone gave me an OLD piece > of machinery which is mostly of brass BUT, the fastenerns were steel > and all the bolts, nuts, pins, Etc. have rusted in place with the > resulting mess. My question is, is there a way to remove these things > from the brass short of drilling them out? These are 1/16" pins, 2- > 56; 4-40 bolts, and other rather small pieces. The smaller items have > all but disappered, and there is no way to grab them. I should > mention that some have blind holes. I have already tried WD-40, and > other liquids that I would rather not mention. Any help would be > greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Tom Use acid to get rid of the rust. Then, use a saturated solution of alum (in the spice department at your supermarket) to dissolve the remaining iron. You'll have to immerse the item in the alum solution. It may take a couple of weeks. Orrin ------- Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 13:10:36 -0700 From: "Patrick Lee Rooney" Subject: RE: Cleaning ways [atlas_craftsman group] > What is the recommended way to clean the surface rust off of the > ways and lead screw? Thanks! I just brought a lathe back into service that had surface rust on the ways. I like to KILL the rust with a phosphate acid (ospho) and a scotch-brite pad. Do a small section at a time, and do not work the solution for more than a few minutes before wiping down with a rag. Carefull with the acid.. it will remove parent material. Cleam well and let the surface dry overnight. Polish with fine scotch-brite and a "WD_40" like lubricant. Cleanup with laq thinner and white rags, apply way oil. Many will flame this approach (phosphate acid) as too harsh, but it has served me well. NEVER use a wire brush, sandpaper, abrasive blasting, and cleanup well after tool grinding operations. Make sure your carriage wipers are adjusted properly. ------- Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 21:31:52 -0500 From: "jerdal" Subject: Re: Cleaning ways > I like to KILL the rust with a phosphate acid (ospho) and a scotch-brite I will discourage, but not flame, this approach. I have reasons, not at all about "harshness" per se. All the methods are "harsh", it is RUST, after all. The precision surface is already DESTROYED, you are in "salvage mode". The main problem I have with it is that the acid will etch the surface to a sandpaper-like surface finish. You have no control over what is removed and what is not. The other methods, like steel wool, will leave linear scratches, which are pretty much like what would be on the ways anyhow. They are not as destructive to the "slidability" as a rough surface. And, it is hard to remove much material with even sandpaper. At least it is when you WANT to remove a couple tenths.............. Also, phosphoric leaves the surface so clean that if you leave it for 20 minutes, never mind overnight, the surface will have orange dusty rust on it AGAIN. The oil rubbed finish given by steel wool etc will not rust for several months, depending on exposure. I would NOT use most types of sandpaper, it will drop grit. The steel wool does drop strands, but they are generally much easier to clean off afterwards. A few bonded coatings may hold the grit, but it will still fracture off. That said, I HAVE used wet-or-dry type sandpaper, and had no noticeable problems Incidentally, I generally use WD-40 as the light oil for the process. it has enough cutting action to work much better than a "real" lubricant oil. Doesn't say much for it's lubricant properties though........... Jerrold ------- Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 20:44:44 -0700 From: "Patrick Lee Rooney" Subject: RE: Cleaning ways Ospho has a very dilute phosphate base, and is actually considered a PRIMER. Once dry, the parts can remain rust free for months. I am not talking about soaking the ways for an hour is undilute acid! The bed in question was actually a 30 year old NOS purchase with some light surface rust, and the procedure and product was recommended by the machine tool dealer. It is dead nuts accurate, lubed with way oil, and rust free for about 8 weeks now. It worked for me, and I would recommend it...for the ways only. Of course, the best solution is to keep the machine rust free in the first place. ------- NOTE TO FILE: Remember there is another big text file called Lubricants General where there are extensive helpful ideas as to which products are best in particular applications. And yes there are different opinions. Some are very well argued and documented. No single product does everything well, at least not for very long. ------- Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 23:19:41 EDT From: LouD31M066x~xxaol.com Subject: Re: Cleaning ways Take a look at what you will have in end before you begin. If ways are worn badly removing rust may not be best use of time and effort. It may pay you to look into having ways surface ground (or some might prefer hand scraped.) A complete tear down and cleaning of a newly acquired used machine can reveal much that a preliminary inspection overlooked. When you have it apart you can decide what parts need replacement and incorporate them into reassembly. When you see what makes up a lathe you will understand how the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Btw a newly ground bed is a joy to behold and it is equally joyful to use. When you turn the handle it no longer goes stick, stick, stick --- it now goes slick, slick, slick. Louis ------- Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 10:52:13 -0400 From: "mertbaker" Subject: Re: Confirmation & introduction With 50 years in the gun biz, I've had rust to remove aplenty. To get it all off quickly, immerse in dilute phosphoric acid. This is available in auto parts stores under various names. I don't use it right out of the jug, but dilute it with water 1:1. Watch your parts carefully, & remove & rinse well with water as soon as the rust is gone. This treatment is only for serious rust, pitting, etc. It will remove any old blue left, also. There will be ultra fine surface pitting from the acid, but this will polish right out with the #240 grit wheel. For fine surface rust, #10 or 20 motor oil & 0000 steel wool. If more abrasion is needed, Scotchbrite pads work well, but will dull the original polish, where the steel wool & oil won't. In fact this combo won't remove the original blue, just the rust. I have, over the years, tried most of the magic folk removers, but have settled on the above. Mert ------- Subject: Re: Metal - How to "Finish"?? From: Jim Thompson Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 12:49:55 -0800 On Tuesday, February 24, Bob Nelson wrote: > Hi Andrew, > I don't know how Naval Jelly might be bad otherwise, but it sure leaves > iron looking like he**. I never used in on iron/steel again after the > first time solely on that basis. But it did use up most of what was > left cleaning brass; it's actually pretty good for that. I have to disagree. I use phosphoric acid exclusively for rust removal. You just ain't doing it right. Tools put into a phosphoric bath need to be constantly agitated, and/or brushed constantly with a plastic brush. When you reach the point where there is still patina but the rust is gone, or mostly gone, you stop and rinse with water and the brush again. The result is a tool which does not look as if it has been over cleaned. If you just leave the tool in the acid and come back the next day it isn't going to look pretty, I agree. But my method works. I did not like the over cleaned look of tools put through the electrolysis process. I stopped using it for that reason. I don't want to remove EVERYTHING! And that is my 2 cents worth. Jim Thompson, the old millrat in Riverside, CA ------- Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 00:18:41 -0000 From: volzmechatronicx~xxyahoo.com Subject: Re: New Logan shaper. Info please. --- In Metal_Shapersx~xxyahoogroups.com, "johnrouche" wrote: > I may take a part to the paint store and have them color match it. > There are areas that definitely need paint. John-- A computer match would be the right way. And then buy the best paint you can find. > I have already placed some of the bare metal parts in > my "soda/battery charger" bucket for a quick de-rusting. No major > rust, just that fine powder that can accumulate. The nice thing > about the soda soak is it doesn't attack the good metal. No rust on > the slides which is important. Also check out Bill H's site-- http://www.homeshopsupply.com --he has an interesting, illustrated with PIX, article about removing rust using HCL acid (Muriatic Acid) that is cheaply available from places like Home Depot, Lowe's, and others. I haven't used his method before, but I intend on getting a jug either tonite or manana...might even get a jug with HCL in it too. :-) Got some old Armstrong tool holders that need cleaning. > Time to go back down and check the "Brew" It's time for me to knock the tops off of a couple myself: Lone Star, the National beer of Texas. :-) Art (Houston) ------- Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 03:47:11 -0500 From: Dan Subject: Re: Re: New Logan shaper. Info please. I have used the muratic and it works pretty well. It will tend to eat at the grain and leave a grainy appearance if it has to be left in a long time. I have removed some pretty heavy rust with it. If you have two parts frozen together it might loosen them. I have had it free stuff that penetrating oil wouldn't get. But once it is free, dissasemble it or it will corrode back and be stuck worse than ever. Don't breath the fumes. Do it outside. Just put the piece in and leave it. Go away. Come back to check on it. I have gotten very sick, twice, from this stuff. And it didn't happen right off. There was a 24 hour delay. ------- Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 13:57:43 EST From: n8as1x~xxaol.com Subject: Re: Re:muriatic acid > have used the muratic and it works pretty well. It will tend to eat at > the grain and leave a grainy appearance if it has to be left in a long > time. I have removed some pretty heavy rust with it. used to routinely use a quick dip before blueing gun parts , allowed hardened parts to color blue ,rather than red, ....it will etch , depending on time ..allowing cold rust blues to "bite" , & creates a satin ( ersatz olde tyme rust blue) finish w/ the hot caustic process ....it WILL etch if left in sol........ best wishes docn8as ------- Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 19:20:48 -0000 From: "johnrouche" Subject: Re: New Logan shaper. Info please. I have used various acid based rust removal techniques over the year. For my Shaper I only use the electrolytic process with Arm and Hammer super washing soda and a small battery charger. I already did the tool head yesterday. I disassembled it including the small parts and laid everything on a piece of old sheet metal. That stuff gets the neg. lead and another piece of sheet metal gets the pos. lead. After about five hours it was done. I removed it and gave a final rinse under fresh water. I used a s.s. brush to buff up the dials and knurls. Then went in the vice complete without disassembly. I left it in over night at about 5 amps of trickle charge. It was disassembled and given the wire brush to the parts I want shiny. When the parts are removed they have a slight oily feel to them so immediate oiling is not as critical as with acid but still oil the parts. Next is going to be the table, all at once. I will leave it in there all day. It's not extremely rusted but I have other things to do. You can leave parts "cookin" for days without worry of metal erosion. The process does not eat into the good parent metal, just the rust. I have used this on heavily rusted parts as well and it seems to work even quicker. Also, if you are in a hurry you can turn up the current and the process speeds up. For large sheet metal sections too large for my 20 gal. tub I use a phosphoric acid solution. It leaves a phosphate coating on the part after it dries that protects it until finishing. A commercially available product called Must for rust is sold in some auto refinishing supply houses (no affiliation). Anyway, rust, no longer a pain. John P.S. What I like about this system is that it is safe for hand, kids, pets and the environment (not a tree hugger). The soda is available in stores. If not on the shelf have the manager special order it. The UPC is 33200-03020. I have also tried the lye as an electrolyte while waiting for the soda to arrive. It seemed to be more aggressive to the rust but its also a pain to work with. Basically your just making an electrolytic solution with either an acid or a base. Please look at the links supplied below. The second link is a great page. http://www.bhi.co.uk/hints/rust.htm http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp ------- Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 14:07:13 -0800 From: "Don Kinzer" Subject: RE: Re: New Logan shaper. Info please. > I take it, this soda is available at the supermarket? Be sure you get washing soda (sodium carbonate) not baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). The former is a stronger base than the latter. Washing soda will generally be found with the other cleaners while baking soda will be found on the baking aisle. ------- Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 23:51:47 -0500 (EST) From: Woodchuck Subject: Re: Re:muriatic acid I've also used boric acid ("eye wash") as strong as can be dissolved to etch small parts, it produces a "frog hair" satin-matte surface suitable for instrument work or guns. Takes a while, and you need to "pay attention" to it. It also removes rust, it is something I would try on a rusty micrometer, say, before going to stronger stuff. Can be heated. Dunno about blueing afterwards, but I learned of it from a book on blueing. Dave ------- Subject: Re: Electrolytic Rust Removal Q [OldTools list] From: hunter.coxx~xxinfilcodegremont.com Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 15:00:20 -0500 I just got my electrolysis rig up last week and have been impressed. I just use a 5-gallon bucket, get the WASHING SODA and dump a little bit (1-2 tablespoons) into the water - got the washing soda at the local grocery (I think they need to be well-stocked to carry it) and used an old file for the sacrificial electrode. For the power supply, a $20 battery charger (12 VDC/6A) is what I use, got it a W*L M*art in the automotive seciton. I just use some binding wire (I think it is zinc-plated steel) that is easily bent to hang the parts for zapping in the tank off a wood dowel I put across the top. The file that is sacrificial, it is just the right height for the bucket so the tang is even with the top, I just clamped it with the battery charger clip to the side of the bucket. They say that you get better contact if you wire brush/grind the contact surfaces a little. A lot of places talk about using SS as the electrode, but other sites say that makes the resulting waste liquid dangerous (chromium, etc). Hunter in Richmond ------- Subject: RE: Electrolytic Rust Removal Q From: "Meltsner, Kenneth" Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 15:55:26 -0500 If you want to try a lower amperage supply, you could try cutting the amount of washing soda (or other additions) -- that should increase the resistance of the bath and cut the amount of current flowing. Of course, it will also run slower if there's less current. There will also be more voltage drop in the bath, but that's probably not a terrible thing since 12 volts is way more than is needed to reduce iron oxide to iron. Ken ------- Subject: An alternate rust removal process [oldtools list] From: "Roger Turnbough" Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:02:05 -0500 GG's, while browsing on WoodCentral this morning, came across an alternate way of derusting our tools. While I have not tried this myself, it looks worthy enough to look into. Especially considering the effects that electrolysis has on our iron. http://tinyurl.com/69dhv Hope this can help someone out. Roger South of Chicago [Note: the essence of the suggestion at that URL follows] >> Subject: Another answer from Oz Posted By: Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA arbuchx~xxsonic.net Date: Thursday, 16 September 2004, at 11:19 a.m. In Response To: Calling all chemists (Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA) Ron Fenton, who apparently lurks here, sent me the e-mail below, with permission to post it (Ron: GREAT information. You should step up to the table and post more often). << >>> I am a chemist (qualifications in metallurgy, PhD in Inorganic Chemistry and a retired University Lecturer) and have tried all known chemical methods for rust removal (electrolysis, phosphoric acid, salt/vinegar, EDTA etc) I have been successfully using citric acid for rust removal from old tools for a number of years now. I took the idea from my grandmother who used to use citric acid (lemon juice) for removing rust stains from clothes. I have cleaned planes, saws, squares, bevel gauges etc. I am a hopeless collector of rust and seem to be always cleaning something since I retired. The chemistry is fairly simple, the rust (iron oxide) is solublised by the acid (ammonium ion is also acidic) and the citrate ion coordinates to the iron ion forming soluble iron citrate. How do you do it? I make a solution containing about 10% citric acid, obtained from the cake cooking stuff at the supermarket. Add a bit of alcohol (methylated spirits, ethanol, rubbing alcohol) it does not matter which, it is only to break down surface tension, and a squirt or two of detergent. The article to be cleaned must be absolutely free from grease or it will not work. I use auto thinners or petroleum spirits depending on whether the item is painted etc. Soak item for a few hours and give it a scrub with a green Brillo pad under running water. Repeat as required. Some badly rusted items will need soaking overnight. Advantages: environmentally friendly, non-hazardous, non-toxic, does not affect paint japanning, plating etc. Solution can be reused many times, just add some more citric acid. Disadvantages: slower than electrolysis (but much safer). Solution grows some biological slime on storage but I just strain it off. The method can be used for things such as ebony/rose wood and brass squares etc without affecting the brass or wood. I hope that this answers your question and if you have any further questions please contact me. You can post the content of this email if you find it useful. Regards, Ron Fenton <<< ------- Subject: re: Citric acid help please From: "Greg Hahn" Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 01:49:44 -0000 OK, something right up my alley: I am a winemaker. We use citric acid to adjust the acidity of the wine just before bottling. Citric is not Acetic, Ascorbic(Vitamin C) or any acid not spelled c-i-t-r-i-c. If there is a winery or food processing plant in your area, you can probably bum 4-5 pounds of the stuff for a dollar or so. We get it in 100 lb. sacks. Or try a home beer/winemaking store. That said, I personally prefer using 5 grain strength distilled white vinegar (2 gallons at Costco for 5-6 dollars. Citric forms a "glaze" on steel if left too long, whereas vinegar acetic acid) is milder and seems to get under the rust and make it come off with a little scrubbing of a scotch pad, without attacking the rest of the metal. ------- Subject: Citeic acid follow up From: "Steve lineback" Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 09:55:10 -0000 Galoots. First I finally found citric acid at the health food store. What was supposedly pure stuff (they break bulk down into smaller packages so no label) was $3.50 a pound. I used it on a standard cut file, a 12 inch cabinet rasp, a chip breaker and a very heavily rusted 1/2 inch chisel. The file and rasp were rusty but not pitted and came out better than my experiments with zapping. Took about four hours. The chipbreaker had light surface rust and came out much cleaner and shinier than with zapping. The chisel soaked overnight and the rust was gone but was a funny pewter color. I have had this before on older heavily corroded parts. I think that this is easier than the zap tank and though it takes longer since you can do several pieces at once it evens out. I'll post any further experiments and want to find a tank big enough for a saw blade. Finally if you have an open cut or abrasion on your hand the solution will let you know it. Steve [later] I started with the one tablespoon per pint as recommended in one of the wood central postings. The solution is not saturated as nothing has settled out. One of the Galoots recommended going to saturation and I may as an experiment. The thing I'm most impressed with so far is that the residue is much easier to get off on files and rasps. Running water seems to remove most of it (I used the squirter on the kitchen sink). I see no evidence that this will hurt anything so far but I'm going to dunk a plane body tonight to see what it does to the japanning [black original finish]. Now if I can just find a rusty plane. ------- Subject: Re: Citric acid follow up From: Steven Longley Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 20:53:34 -0700 (PDT) GG's: I tried the citric acid rust removal on a Stanley framing square that has had little respect from its current owner (oops, that would be me). I found powdered citric acid at a compounding pharmacy here locally - it wasn't exactly cheap, but I decided to go for it. The formula that I used was one heaping tablespoon of citric acid, 10 tablespoons of water, one drop of dishwashing liquid, and a teaspoon of denatured alcohol. I was shooting for around a 10% citric acid solution by volume (if one of you Chem-Galoots can give me a better method of measure I would be much obliged). Since a square is flat I decided that I could just lay it out on a work table and coat/clean one side. That way I would have a before side and after side for comparison. I used a foam brush to apply the solution and since it was exposed to the air and evaporation, I renewed it a couple of times over a 2-hour period. I used a paper towel to remove the resulting sludge and then buffed it somewhat vigorously with a dry paper towel. I neutralized it with water and dried it off. I'm impressed with the ease of the process and the lack of mess. I'm sure that I will be making a run to Lowes [HARDWARE STORE] in search of those plastic containers [BALCONY PLANTER BOXES] that were mentioned earlier. Steve (looking at rusty iron in a new light) in Dallas ------- Subject: Re: Citric acid fans, ahoy! From: Mark Marsay Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 21:05:52 +0100 >>> What do you do about de-rusting tools with wooden parts? I have a seriously grotty corner brace to work on, for instance, as well as a bunch of other tools the handles, pads, or stocks of which won't come off without serious damage. In general, I'd be loath to soak wooden parts in any aqueous solution--so what to you foks who like the citric acid bath method do? Or, for that matter, you fans of electrozapping? John Wadsworth Delhi, NY <<< If the wood is beat up I just drop it in anyways - got a stanley square with a rosewood stock in terrible condition in the bath as I type! I give the wood a good coat of hot wax first - makes a good seal. Great source of hot wax is the stuff women use for their fuzz removal! Regards, Mark Marsay, ------- NOTE TO FILE: There were many follow-ups of successful use of this method. ------- Subject: Re: Citric acid..a word of caution & ? [oldtools list] From: Anthony Seo Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 12:46:06 -0400 At 12:13 PM 10/20/04, Jack Kamishlian wrote: >OK Todd, Do you clean your tools the old-fashioned way with scotch >brite and WD-40 or a similar lubricating oil like I have been doing? >Or what? Inquiring minds, etc. Well here at ye Olde River, we have a big tank of a new product that we invented and are going for the patent rights on called "Make-Em-Pretty" tm. I just dump the tools in and let them sit over nite and all the rust is gone and the metal parts are soaked with special penetrating oil. Wooden hammer and chisel handles come out will all the paint removed and a nice coat of wax on them. Chisel backs are cleaned and flattened. Matter of fact if I leave a chisel in there without a handle a second nite, dang if it won't grow a new one! Great for planes and saws too. Yepper don't take no time at t'all to "Make-Em-Pretty" I don't need all that sand paper, wire brush, scrubbing pads, paint stripper, penetrating oil, brass polish, and Butchers Wax that I used to use. Matter of fact the local hardware store is seriously considering closing since I stopped buying all that stuff. I'll let y'all know when it's available for purchase. Tony Olde River Hard Goods 350 West Catawissa Street Nesquehoning PA 18240 570-669-9421 http://www.oldetoolshop.com ------- Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 23:40:18 -0600 From: "jerdal" Subject: Re: Re: Rusty Atlas Bed [as to whether Scotchbrite is too abrasive here] I think you are way over-reacting.....I can prove it..... Think for a minute.....you would have to remove quite a bit of material to "destroy accuracy". Certainly a tenth, probably considerably more. Your bed would be considered "perfect and new" if it had only 4 tenths of a thou wear on it. You'd be braggin about your great find...... Now, you get a piece of iron or steel a half inch wide and 5 inches long. Measure it carefully to the nearest tenth in thickness. Then get out your scotchbrite, and rub like crazy. For that matter, get out some 600 grit paper, and rub like crazy. When your fingers ar tired, clean it off and measure again.......odds are that you won't be able to reliably measure the amount you took off. I know that when I WANT to remove a thou with sandpaper, it is darn hard work. Scotchbrite is not as capable of removing metal as sandpaper. I hand-scrape to flats, etc, when I restore equipment. I can tell you that with a carbide edged scraper, working hard, it takes a while to remove a half thou over a larger area. Now think about a rusty bed way.....how long do you rub it? Long enough to get the rust off, then you stop, right? If hard work doesn't remove enough to measure, on a small piece, how much does removing the rust and immediately stopping remove? Oh, and also, how about that rust....? Didn't THAT "destroy accuracy" to any degree? The rust removed iron by converting it to iron oxide, which you have to remove in turn. Nope, if you need to remove rust, use what works, and don't sweat it. If you need to use 400 grit paper, go ahead, although I would probably prefer 600 grit or scotchbrite, actually, just because of the finish. BTW, "wet-or-dry" paper holds its grit, don't use open coat paper on a machine, it sheds grit. JT ------- Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 16:37:45 -0700 From: "Bill Rittner" Subject: [OldTools] Electrolysis Re-visited Pt 1 There has been some interest in the method I now use for electrolytic rust removal. So I am posting a link to the site that got me started on my current method. If you are happy with your present method of electrolysis then there is no need for you to read any further. However, if your electrolysis tank looks like an old septic tank after one tool and you are not in a hurry then you can start at the link below. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm#intro Read this article completely and thoroughly. All the info you need is here. Don't be put off by the purpose built power supply. It is not needed. What is needed is patience as electrolytic rust removal, when done to its best advantage, is a slow process but one that does not need to be attended. Bill Rittner R & B ENTERPRISES Manchester, CT ------- Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 05:39:22 -0500 (CDT) From: roygriggsx~xxvalornet.com Subject: [OldTools] Re:Metal color after citric acid derustification GG, Dwight asks... > However, I noticed that all the different pieces (brace bits, calipers, plane iron) ended up with the same battleship gray color. This is correct? < Yes Dwight, that is what happens. I buff the parts with a Scotch Bright pad after rinsing and drying and the gray goes away...see this http://www.shavingsandsawdust.com/projects/planeCleaning/index.asp Roy Griggs www.shavingsandsawdust.com ------- Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2006 15:28:34 -0700 From: Kirk Eppler Subject: Re: [OldTools] Re:Metal color after citric acid derustification Yes, but I've been doing e-zap, not per Bill Rittner but some other site I found eons ago, and then give them a dunk in the CA bath when complete. The CA seems to reduce the gray from e-zap, but a good scrubbing (grey scotch- brite) really seems to help that graying problem. Will post some later, just did a fleet of craftsman by MF planes over the last few days off. Kirk Eppler Process Development Engineering ------- Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:10:44 +1000 From: Peter Robinson Subject: Re: [OldTools] That grey color... All knowing ones... so what is that grey colour? I have searched the archives and the only mention I have found so far is in a note from Jim Cook back in 1997 http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/get.phtml?mes sage_id=32282 > If there was any pitting, the bottoms of the pits will have > black residue in them, so the result will be gray. I have been looking closely at the surface of some tools I have given the citric acid treatment but have not subsequently scrubbed. I wish I had some way to view them microscopically, but to my eye, the surface seems to be covered with tiny pits - really tiny. The brace (an all metal spofford chuck brace) that I am looking at does not have any of the type of pitting that Jim referred to. It only had light surface rust before treatment and was more an experiment in general cleaning than significant rust removal. The surface now looks like it is completely covered with the tiny pits. It is my conjecture that the citric acid removes the tiny fingers of rust that were working their way into the structure of the metal, thus leaving an irregular surface. The irregularity of the surface scatters light in all directions and so the lack of reflection either causes or adds to that dull grey look. Scrubbing after the cleaning presumably polishes the surface and gives some reflective quality back but the tiny pits are probably still there and reducing the directly reflected light. Of course that's all just observation and imagination on my part - does anybody have a decent reference? regards, Peter ------ NOTE TO FILE: Descriptions of rust removal by electrolysis in this file are useful, but visiting WoodCentral's website will give you both a description of the process along with a series of pictures in an article "The Chemistry of Cleaning Rusty Iron by Electrolysis" written by Bill Tindall and Spencer Hochstetler which you can find in the handtools section of WoodCentral's main index of articles and reviews: http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl Then spend at least an hour to read just a few of the other many (many!) articles. A truly amazing resource for metalworkers as well as woodworkers and craftspeople in general. Enjoy, and bookmark. ------- Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:06:19 GMT From: "pedger66x~xxjuno.com" Subject: [OldTools] citric cilliness Galoots, I took the plunge (well, a plane did) yesterday and tried the citric acid thing. So far I am pleased with the results. This seems cleaner, easier, and less complicated than the electrolysis I was using. I do have one question. Folks have mentioned not leaving the metal in the solution too long. How do you tell if it is too long? What does that look like? I have a piece that is clean now except for 3-4 small spots of intense rust. I'd like to leave it in until those are gone. What say ye? TIA, Phil E. ------- Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:17:45 +1100 From: "Peter Evans" Subject: RE: [OldTools] citric cilliness Phil, citric eats metal as well as rust. Therefore hot, strong, quick are the principles. If you leave tool in the solution for a long time you will get tiny pitting in the good metal, as well as get rid of the deeper rust. Citric will not penetrate deep hard rust on cast iron, for example legs of a cast iron stand that had sat in damp soil for 40 years. Best practice is to check the tool often, cleaning each time you remove from the solution; scrubbing the affected area with a wire brush helps to dislodge the rust. If takes more than one hour to derust, then you have a deeply pitted tool. Cheers Peter in Sydney ------- Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:20:06 -0500 From: Tim Pendleton Subject: Re: [OldTools] citric cilliness When using citric acid, I periodically give the extra rusty areas a quick scrub with an old toothbrush. Popping loose heavy rust lets the solution get to the root of the problem more quickly. With any acid, less is probably more. Electrolysis stops working when the rust is converted. It is my understanding that acid continues to work. Tim ------- Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:36:03 -0800 (PST) From: Thomas Conroy Subject: [OldTools] Re: citric cilliness Phil and Galoots: Don't try to dig out deep rust pits with citric acid. I made this mistake and it was a big one. Left a nice scorp in the solution for over twelve hours, checking it periodically to see if two or three deep pits had finally been cleaned out. The pits never did get cleared to the bottom, but the citric acid produced a lot of new tiny pits on the hardened steel at the edge (not so bad, I think, in the soft steel it was welded to). I don't know how long is too long (though I have more recently left things in, with hesitation and checking, for a couple of hours), but I would say you should use citric acid for clearing away the majority of the rust but dig out the last few stubborn spots individually. Less a matter of time than of understanding what it can do and what it can't. I've put in tools that I would have sworn were almost destroyed because of the thick red coating, and had then come out almost perfect, just needing a bit of steel wool to get off the black gunk. But I don't push it too far any more. Tom Conroy Berkeley ------- Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:37:17 -0800 From: James Thompson Subject: Re: [OldTools] Re: citric cilliness On Jan 19, 2008, Bretton Wade wrote: > So, uh, what's a realistic source for citric acid? > Bretton Wade (aka Noz Moe King) in Parkton, MD I get mine from a local home brew supply store. Last time I bought it it cost about $15 for 5 pounds. And by the way, I now use about half of that 5 pounds in 4 gallons of warm water. That seems to be a strength that gets the job done in a reasonable time. Jim Thompson, the old millrat in Riverside, CA. ------- Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:15:12 -0600 From: "Joseph Sullivan" Subject: RE: [OldTools] Re: citric cilliness Paul, Breton and all: Sure, citric acid works, phosphoric acid works, even the acetic acid in vinegar works, as does electrolysis. Question is, why take the bother and/or risk? Evaporust is now available at Auto Zone, Lee Valley, and on the web. Good prices can be had. It takes from a few hours to a day or so (with the worst), but it des not etch, it is non-toxic, it does not irritate skin, and you can safely and legally pour the spent solution into your flower beds (and I have) or down your drain. I just keep about a gallon of it in a drywall mud bucket and drop in tools as necessary. As the stuff evaporates, you just put in more water. For saws and other long stuff, I bought two heavy plastic drawer liners, cut off one end of each and fastened them with waterproof tape. Last Sunday I found a very expensive pair of side-cutting wire dykes lying in a pasture where GIT had dropped them over a year ago. They were a corroded mess, rust welded and useless. It took two days in the solution and a wee bit of steel wool, followed by some Parts-Blaster to loosen the hinge, but they are now slightly pitted, but perfectly functional and look fine. I have also taken the rust out of a 19th century kettle that nothing else would do (and I feared acid) because the metal was thin on the bottom), and have cleaned up old dug and deeply corroded ranch relics such as hand forged rings and hooks -- along with many other tools. Cheers! J Joseph Sullivan ------- Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:28:42 -0600 From: Marcus Ward Subject: Re: [OldTools] Re: citric cilliness You can pour citric acid down the drain, does not irritate your skin, and is non toxic. I've never had it etch a tool but I also keep an eye on things and take them out when they're clean (I'm impatient). It's also about 1/5th the price. You can also legally pour it down the drain or into your flowerbed. I'm just sayin... ;) M ------- Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:13:24 -0500 From: "Gary Katsanis" Subject: Rust Removal (was Fw: [OldTools] Re: citric cilliness) I tried citric acid. I have this awful tendency to get interrupted, and once I left a tool in a fairly strong solution for about a week. When I got back to it, the tool had kind-of a frosted white surface, rather than the specular reflection of tool steel. I still use it, but I'm a lot more careful now. I like electrozapping tools; I've found that if I get them out and clean them right away under running water with a grey or white 3M pad, then dry and wax promptly, I have good results. I also have some control over patina - if I rub hard for a longer time, I get a brighter surface; if I rub less, it's still flat and smooth, but more character and patina remains. You can tell it's been zapped of course, but it's quantum levels better than rustoleum and belt sanding. That said, what kind of surface does Evaporust leave? Does it leave a bright, just machined look? Does it preserve any character? Before and after pictures would be nice, if available. Eager to learn as always, Gary K Close to Buffalo NY, USA ------- Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:59:25 -0600 From: "Joseph Sullivan" Subject: RE: Rust Removal (was Fw: [OldTools] Re: citric cilliness) Gary: Evaporust leaves a grey carbon film that can be washed off with mineral spirits or even soap and water with a nylon pad. The resulting finish ranges from dull steel grey to bright steel, depending on how motivated you feel. It also depends on the steel or iron you are cleaning. The best tool steels come out with the most carbon film. In fact, you can see the union between the tool steel and milder steel. I once linked pix of that on an old mortising chisel I cleaned. I have done several heavily rusted saw blades. They come out silver grey, and are of course not bright if the rust was on them for a while and spoiled the finish. I bought a very rusty Disston #4 backsaw from Bruce when he closed his shop. After treatment and then waxing with Renaissance, it is still grey and of course pitted, but I have sharpened it and was using it effortlessly today to make white oak countertops. If Brie remembers that saw, he can attest that it had a hard life before he rescued it. On the other hand, lightly rusted tools or tools with specks or rust over plating come out sparkling. The Evaporust does not hurt plating of any kind, or paint, or rubber, or plastics, etc. It does however, destroy bluing and other oxide coatings. I treated my nickel plated Stanley 45 with very pleasing results. Cheers! J Joseph Sullivan ------- Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:45:20 +1100 From: dynnyrnex~xxnetspace.net.au Subject: [OldTools] Re: citric cilliness, etching Hi everyone, I come late to this discussion, after a long and busy weekend, so sorry if the thread is palyed out.. Phil asked in part > I have a piece that is clean now except for 3-4 small spots of intense > rust. I'd like to leave it in until those are gone. What say ye? My experience with CA has been a little different to Jim T's. Maybe I made my CA solution to strong, but I dunked a small Stanley cast shave body with some other stuff. I got everything else out but I forgot the shave body for 24 hrs or so. It came out super clean, bright silver grey and looking like a piece of old fibrous wrought iron. Etched beyond all belief! No big deal: it was from a bucket of rusty metal and I didn't have the cap or the iron, but it was a warning for me. IMHO the CA method is effective and the by-products are safe but the process is NOT benign. My advice is to watch anything in the solution closely, fish things out and inspect frequently and quit while you are ahead. Regards, Tony B Hobart, Tasmania -------