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Another question for a repair I got, got to clean some rusty and messed hardware, thought i would soak it all in Coke for an hour and steel wool it.... anyone else have good or better ideas?

WD40 - there are better rust removers than Coke - I think Coke would leave sticky spots, you can't reach to clean out, due to the sugars.

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

Google "Rust removal by electrolysis" and see what you come up with, a 12v battery charger and some washing soda can be quite effective. For very light corrosion of chromed parts try soaking and then scrubbing with a tooth brush (not mine thanks) in a solution of naphtha and light machine oil.

Cheers

Kim

that electrolysis idea is excellent, i think i will try that on my own stuff first tho THANKS

Your welcome,

The method works very well and soon after switching on the charger you will very see small bubble forming on the submerged component and rising through the electrolyte solution. The reason these bubbles are so small is because they are pure hydrogen gas which is very light, in fact its the very same gas that they used in 1937 to suspend the Hindenburg airship ...........




That video should give some insight into why it is important to use this method of rust removal in a ventilated area. As mentioned the gas is very light so will very quickly dissipate in all but a 'closed' environment, but none the less the implications of ignoring the warning are worth considering.

A very good thing about electrolytic rust removal is that its gradual, light rust is quickly removed with a short period of submersion and heavy rust, regardless of severity, will eventually be removed or converted to oxide over a longer period of submersion. This last point is worth considering if you are trying to clean up old hand tools such as planes. The process will not cause 'more' pitting but it will certainly expose all that was there prior to treatment which you may not have been aware of and it is so effective that it will even remove the desirable japanning from the tool if left long enough.

Cheers

Kim

Hey Kim

Thanks for the info on rust removal. Awesome!

Bob

Check out this tutorial it is from right here on our forum from Steven Wheeler. viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=22473