Thread: Rust removal

Thanx to JimmyHAD's post in the Downunder forum:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/down-...-book-aus.html

One of the links I followed came up with an interesting method of rust removal.
Haven't tried it myself yet but putting it here for the experimentally minded:

The Traditional Tools Group (Inc.) -- Submitted Article

It sounds like a great method for those that love their patina!
"Citric Acid not only removes rust, but (like all acids) etches iron and steel"

Yeah, I've used oxalic in the past for "blueing" tangs but at least citric won't kill you as easily.

Common white vinegar will dissolve rust as well, just keep an eye on it while it does, and don't leave it in more than 30 minutes at at time.

Hey There

So I was wondering if anybody had used EDTA to dissolve rust? I know citric acid works by the process of chelation, EDTA is super powerful at this. After reading this post I immediately went to eBay and bought some EDTA lol.

Thanks

Carl - SRH

Originally Posted by Eekspa

Common white vinegar will dissolve rust as well, just keep an eye on it while it does, and don't leave it in more than 30 minutes at at time.

I keep hearing that warning, but I've never seen any evidence to back it up. On separate occasions I've experimented with white vinegar on rusted cast iron pans, steel nails, and an old SR. I have left and checked on these materials in the vinegar for 10+ hours--in the case of the steel nails, I left them in there for 5 days-- and found that the vinegar did not harm the material. The vinegar loosened up the rust and made it easier to scrub it off. The SR got a patina on it, which I was able to easily scrub off.

Evaprrust works well and quickly. Posted a thread on here a couple of months ago with photos, Search Evaprorust. You can reuse the same solution over and over again. A good value, over night is usuallly enough time to remove all rust. I put a couple of blades in a enpty 12 oz water bottel.

I've taken them to my work and used the sand blaster at about 60 psi, using .50 micron aluminum oxide. It's taken every bit of rust off, red or black, down into pits and all. Never harmed the metal even a bit.

Anyone used evapo-rust? I picked up some today from O'reily's, it's supposed to be no fumes, non-toxic, biodergradeable, and is only supposed to chelate rust, and not harm good steel. Opinions, advice, and general comments always welcome.

Does it do the dishes too?

Originally Posted by tiddle

Anyone used evapo-rust? I picked up some today from O'reily's, it's supposed to be no fumes, non-toxic, biodergradeable, and is only supposed to chelate rust, and not harm good steel. Opinions, advice, and general comments always welcome.