Ten Methods to Remove Rust from Iron
A method 1, using electrolysis.
This can be done using a battery charger, salt water, and two anodes. What you want is one iron piece for an anode. You want a container large enough for your restore project and water. Some baking soda will do it, but you can use ionized salt. You also can use salt water from the sea. I have been told that sea water works best.
When doing this project, make sure you have the poles correct. If you put the piece being stored on the wrong end, you will destroy it further. The negative pole side gets restored, and the positive side gets destroyed. Test this out on bogus metal pieces, before risking your restore project.
You have to also keep this project ventilated. It puts off a deadly gas called hydrogen. It is not only extremely flammable, but it is one of those orderless gases. Its best to keep the electrysis tank outside, and away from sparks and heat sources.
In your container of water and salt. You place the positive end attached to a piece of iron. It does not have to be iron, but anything else is more dangerous. Without the store piece and the anode touching each other. You turn on the battery charger. This should start the process of removing the rust. You have to watch this close, because the water will get more and more rust in it. You may have to change the water after a while.
If this is your rust removing choice, I suggest researching more on it.
A method 2, Molasses.
Molasses is a sugar cane extract. It is used to bake certain kinds of cakes and bread. It is tasty, and is also useful for removing rust.
What you do is place your restore object in a container of water, and put the molasses in with it. I remember that the formula is 1 part molasses to every 10 parts water.
“Slow as molasses”. That comment becomes true in this process, but it is worth it. It is a safe way to remove rust and help you restore your object.
I used this method on a one piston vertical engine. I am sill in the process of molasses, but it has cleaned up the cylinder well. The cylinder is my reason for removing the rest, because I am attempting to save it without boring.
Its best to keep this outside, and a reason is the molasses will become spoiled.
A method 3, human urine.
You just keep saving up the pee, and then soak your object in it. There are a lot of chemicals in urine, and I think the most commonly known one is ammonia. This along with the other methods should be kept outside.
A method 4, ammonia.
Ammonia is another method for removing rust. Ammonia has harmful gas fumes, and this should be kept outside. I know ammonia itself can be purchased, and human urine contains it. “Windex” also is known to contain ammonia.
A method 5, alcohol.
Alcohol is another chemical that can be used to remove rust. Soak your object in it, or keep applying it. God gave us alcohol, and all perfect gifts come from him.
Again, keep your rest removing project outside. There are harmful and flammeable gasses.
A method 6, rust removers.
Rust removers can be purchased at stores. They will come in spray bottles, so that you can clean your rusty object. I guess it depends on your project, but I think these formulated chemicals would work the best.
The problem with using commercial rust removers, is the cost of it. For small objects, I think this is the best chemical method.
It depends on what your rust remover says on the label, but I suggest keeping it outside.
A method 7, scrapping, scrubbing and washing.
Taking steal wool, or metal brushes can be used to remove rust. You scrap and scratch off the rust. This method has the labor pain problem, along with the scraps and nicks on your object.
A method 8, fire.
Make your object hot. You can heat it up in a open fire, and beat and bang it. You get it hot enough and leave it in the fire the rust will get removed.
This has the danger of warping your object. It depends on how hot you get it, and what your object is. This method is used on iron skillets and pans.
A method 9, sand blasting.
This is a well known way of getting rust off of your iron. The problem with sand blasting, is sand is very toxic and dangerous. It also takes off a layer from your iron object.
There are none toxic sand blasting materials, such as glass beads, and something called soda blasting. But you still can lose a layer of metal.
A method 10, acid chemicals.
This is a dangerous thing to do for you and others, along with being dangerous to the object. Acid has been used to remove rust, and in my opinion this should not be done except in a last resort.
No more methods in this article.
Every method written in this article all have dangers. The electrolysis method gives off toxic gases, along with the chemical methods. The chemical methods have problems with toxic waste also. And there are dangerous things with the other methods.
This article only talks about removing rust on iron. This is not for removing oxide from any other type of metal. The list is for Iron only, and that also excludes stainless steal. Iron oxide and iron have different effects than nickel or aluminum do with these methods. You should read on your specific metal on removing the oxide from it.
When restoring an iron object, the object has to be protected immediately after being treated. Usually the object will rust, and rust quickly after being restored.
