Rust removal guide

[Barry Wolk]

Excellent guide to rust removal. All types of products discussed.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/body/hrdp_0901_rust_removal_guide/index.html

[Doc]

Barry - Great catch on that article. Some very useful information on some products I'm unfamiliar with. I've got a restoration project (not our Mark II) that's calling for some rust removal. Thanks for bringing it to the forum's attention.

[Barry Wolk]

Mad got me started. He doesn't believe that molasses removes rust.

[Doc]

Molasses? So that's why his bright work includes some areas that look gold?

[Mad Scientist]

Well I know you can use Coke to remove rust but this was the first I have heard of using molasses. :eek:

Anyway along with the Hotrod article here is another rust removing technique. It is basically a form of electro-plating in reverse and is simple to do. Once you get past all the standard warnings about playing with electricity and chemicals.
http://www.oldengine.org/members/orrin/rustdemo.htm

Now this is a process that I had heard about but never tried. So I decided to do a little experimenting. Found a nicely rusted threaded spacer placed it in a small plastic cup added some water and a bit of muriatic acid. I used the acid just because I had some lying around. Then used an ordinary nail as the sacrificial anode. Connected to power supply and adjusted the voltage to give about 4 amps. After about 4 hours I noticed that the current had drop to zero, seems my sacrificial nail was total scarified. Replaced with new nail and ran for another two hours. This is what I got.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/mscientist/rust1.jpg

Finial result after a quick wire brushing.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/mscientist/rust2.jpg

[Molasses colored powder coat :D]