Rust removal with vinegar

[John-T-53]

Over the years I've tried a number of different things. At present my favorite is the electrolytic removal process. Non-toxic, doesn't eat away at good metal, no smells, very fast, etc. Longest I've had to leave something it to get it totally clean was over night. A little more work to setup as you need a sacrificial electrode and you need to haul out the battery charger rather than just filling a bucket with chemicals, but well worth it.

For small parts like nuts and bolts I don't find the electrolytic method as good as there are too many things to wire up. So those go into the vibratory cleaner I got from Harbor Freight. I don't like it anywhere near as much as it's quite noisy and unless you have the right media very slow or too aggressive so you have to be a bit more careful.

Tod, I never knew you could remove rust by electrolysis. What do you submerge the parts in and what works for an electrode? Do you use a car battery?

Thanks,

[TodFitch]

Tod, I never knew you could remove rust by electrolysis. What do you submerge the parts in and what works for an electrode? Do you use a car battery?

Thanks,

Let me Google that for you.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=electrolytic+rust+removal&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

The first two links seem good:

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/electrolytic_derusting.htm

http://www.instructables.com/id/Electrolytic-Rust-Removal-aka-Magic/

I use some scrap sheet metal for my sacraficial electodes and use a 5 gal plastic bucket for the container. I generally leave my battery charger on the 6v setting but I guess that does not matter much. The hardest part for me was finding washing soda. Seems like that is not a popular item in the laundry sections of the local super markets. But one box will last basically forever if all you need is a tablespoon now and then for a new de-rusting solution.

[John-T-53]

Thanks...I have an old battery tray that'll be perfect to experiment with this process. Now I just need my friend to return my battery charger!

[Don Coatney]

I cleaned my Spitfire head using this process.

[48Dodger]

I was looking for these pictures on an old thread yesterday Don......these were the pictures you posted way back when on th H.A.M.B when I first found out you exsisted, lol.

48D

[greg g]

Wow yours came out red!!! Mine came out pretty much cast iron colored, perhaps because my container was white????