Thread: Experiment...Rust Removal

Reminds me of the time we used coca cola to clean brass coins, bolts and nuts. Do molasses work better?

Coca Cola would eat the coins, nus and bolts if left in there for to long. So far the only thing missing from this blade is the rust. I am using regular old Brer Rabbit Full Flavor molasses.

I am really enjoying the results so far!

I don't know if you've seen any of the vids out there but some people leave the rusted material in the solution for weeks only taking it out just to scrub off the rust and put it back in. The idea of beet molasses is it naturally absorbs iron in the soil and does so again when, well, you use it as a rust remover in molasses form. For best results scrub the rust off as mentioned to help move the process along faster and remember to scrub it off outside of the solution as the molasses will continue to eat the rust if you leave it all in there. Bondpunk, are you using just straight molasses or are you diluting it? Just curious as I've read some dilute but the ratios are all over the place.

Once the project is complete just use some MAAS or car buffing wax to stop the rusting. If you restore like some of the people on here all you would have to do is just wash off the molasses, wipe dry and hit the buffers or sand paper.

This makes me want to find a razor that is so rusted you can't even identify it and try this project.

Looks like those ebay rust monsters may soon be tamed by Molasses of all things! Now just the results of the etching experiment. Very interesting post!

Logistics, I have been using undiluted. I poured the molasses into a small glass. marked with tape so i could know how much was in there and refill to that level. I have been taking the blade out. rinsing it in hot water wiping it dry with a paper towel, then taking the picture. blade goes back into molasses and I refill back to the tape line. other than topping off the molasses I have used the same cupful since I started. Leaving it in for an extended length of time does not seem to be hurting anything but the rust still. I have noticed the progress has been slowing down since the 36 hour mark. Changing the molasses or leaving the blade in longer probably wouln't hurt anything.
here is the 60 hour photo taken at 11:30 this morning.

I am going to take one more picture tonight at the 72 hour mark.
I am leaving for vacation tomorrow morning. So I am trying to decide if I should sneak it along with me,(which would make my girlfriends extremely happy) or just leave the blade in a new glass of fresh molasses and check it when I get home on Thursday, seeing how 5 days straight does without removing it.

and Logistics, thank you for all of your input on this.

I vote leave it in there for 5 days, but that is just me. Take a pic before you leave, top off the cup and off to vacation bliss! Come home and see the results.

Well, there's some good method to that madness. It will show clearly if there's going to be a pitting problem from the molassas if left long term, just how effective it can be if left alone for a while, what kind of long term staining issues there might be AND given the condition of that blade I don't think there's much to lose in the process.