Thread: Rust-no-more?

I was just at the Lee Valley website putting together a shopping list of things to get for a restoration I'm planning when I came across these:

The first one is a bag specially coated to inhibit rust formation for up to 2 years. Great invention or just an expensive alternative to a ziplock and oil?

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...55&cat=1,43326

The second item looks to be a non-corrosive alternative to Naval jelly - a product claiming to eat rust while leaving the metal alone - greatest innovation for those of us developing arthritis from hand sanding razors, or just another version of a product not suitable for razors.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...71&cat=1,43456

So, thoughts gentlemen?

Mark

Well, you're right about the first one... expensive bags that probably work as advertised. I've found Lee Valley to be pretty honest about their descriptions but a few items they carry aren't quite as good as they make them out to be.

The Evapo-rust looks interesting, I may just pop in to my local Lee Valley and pick up a quart to see what it really can do. I have 3 or 4 junk razors that won't be worth the effort to restore and one that is but I just have not found the energy to have at it... If I give it a shot I'll be sure to post back how it went.

Regards

Christian

I'd be really interested to see if this Evapo-rust stuff really works. Even if it only removes the bulk of the rust, it could save some hours worth of manual labour. If you do end up trying this stuff out, I'd be really interested in seeing your review!

Mark

Thanks for bumping the post... I'll make a point of stopping by Lee Valley tomorrow and see if they have a quart in stock... I think I have a Torry razor here somewhere with some wicked patches of rust... The blade was shortened by at least 1/2" so I'm not worried about how it turns out but it should be a good challenge for this stuff. Now, if only I get myself to bother to set up the camera and lighting... I did this stuff professionally 20+ years ago, now the only camera in the house is a cheapo Cannon point and shoot that I gave the wife so we would at least have one camera... I kind of miss my Sinar Professional 5" x 7" view camera sometimes.

Regards

Christian

Perhaps this thread should have been posted in the razor restoration section but oh well. I picked up a quart/liter of Evapo-Rust today at Lee Valley. I was a bit confused when a search did not locate it in their system but I eventually found it in the gardening catalog.

I poured some in a small plastic container and it was water thin, water clear and had no particular smell that I could detect. I placed the entire razor, scales and all in the solution and I'll leave it there for 24 hrs. I could not help but notice a warning on the bottle: "Dull tools may become sharp after cleaning!" I don't think I'll shave test this puppy without going to the hones first, that's for sure!

Anyway, here are the before pictures... warning, it's not a pretty sight!

So now we wait.

Christian

If keeping rust off is your goal, I can't recommend Militec1 strongly enough. You bake it on with low heat (like a hairdryer) and then wipe off the excess, doesn't make your blade oily or nasty. I keep it on all my metal tools.

http://www.militec1.com/

note: I am not in any way affiliated with this company, not paid to plug their stuff, just used it and was really impressed. I put it on all my razors, knives, guns, etc.

Anyone else use this stuff?

Thanks a bunch, Christian! Really good of you to put this to the test! I'm really excited to see how this turns out!

Thanks again for taking one for the team.

Mark

Me too. I am always fighting the rust monster

There are a number of chemicals under various names that "reverse" the rusting process, or at least take off the existing rust. The problem is that you are left with pits and surface irregularity where the rust once was. so you'll probably want to sand it smooth anyway.

Electrolysis works the same way, and probably cheaper since your using household items. Basically electrolysis is a "method of separating chemically bonded elements and compounds by passing an electric current through them".

And in our case it would mean removing rust from steel by emersing the razor in a solution of water and baking soda then applying an electric current to the bath of solution. I've never used it on a razor, but have done car parts with a 20 gallon barrel set up. Really, very simple.

http://www.ighunters.net/metal/electrolysis/equip.htm

This website is a good simple electrolysis set up, but you can make as big a tank as you want if you have enough power, like a car battery charger, etc.

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

There are a number of chemicals under various names that "reverse" the rusting process, or at least take off the existing rust. The problem is that you are left with pits and surface irregularity where the rust once was. so you'll probably want to sand it smooth anyway.

That was my thought also, you would still need to polish that razor....