Rust Removal

[Clinton_Reeser]

I saw this on TRUCKS this weekend and was wondering if any of you guys had tried it. It involves using a battery charger, baking soda, and water. They did it on the show and it turned out nice. Just wondering if anyone had experience with this idea.http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/Miscellaneous/Rust_Removal.htm

[Merle Coggins]

I've done it and it works well. I used Washing Soda, but heard that Baking Soda would also work. I saw it on the Stovebolt web site http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/electrolytic_derusting.htm

I mixed the solution in a plastic 5 gallon bucket and used a piece of flat steel 1/2 x 6" as the electrode. I ran my manifolds and other parts through it. Some I had to turn or flip after several hours, but they cleaned up pretty good.

Word of caution... As stated in the Stovebolt article, if you get the polarity wrong, your parts will get eaten away. I understand this warning as my steel plate electrode is toast now.

Merle

[paulseed]

I’ve been using this method to clean and de-rust my B-2-B for the last 3 years now. This truck is not a rush job - it has been a year but I’m back on it now. Right now I have the whole front clip in a 4ft by 6ft plastic swimming pool with a steel fence post as the (+) sacrificial electrode.

It works well for me but I do not fully understand the electro-chemical magic – there seems to be a need to space the electrodes equidistant around the rusty part. I check the part frequently and move it as one side or edge looks clean.

The largest part so far was the trucks bed sides that took 2 days each with my 3 amp battery charger. One of the braces on the part came out with light pitting in of its surface where there did not seem to be rust. If there is much rust it takes the rust off and leaves a pit. In this case my hunch is that because I left it in over night it was done with rust and started on the metal.

When the part looks done I remove and presser wash it off –taking rusty colored junk and most of the old paint