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I had a bunch of bolts from the car. I let them sit in a mix of salt and vinegar...looks a lot less greasy and will look a lot cleaner when done (imo).
Let's see some after pics. I've seen on the HAMB where those guys use molasses (and other concoctions) to soak things in to remove rust. One guy even had a big plastic barrel and soaked a entire flathead engine block in it!!
I'll generally drop them into a gallon or 1/2 gallon container of white vinegar and let them soak with modest hand shaking of the container over several days so they're completely submerged.
Simple electrolosys does the trick. All you need is an old style battrey charger, some good household wire, a big plastic pan or bucket, and a piece of sacrificial metal like a big chunk of steel or a bolt depending upon the shape of the container. I used a one foot by three foot 8 inch deep plastic storage container with a big bolt in each corner. Fill it with a mixture of water and washing soda like 20 mule team borax. After the rust is gone clean up with soap and water.
I would wash the oil off them first with Dawn dish soap and water and air dry.
Then soak in white vinegar or use a wire wheel to remove rust. Vinegar is cheap and easily disposed.
Electrolysis might be better/faster, but requires more equipment.
WHY would someone sprinkle SALT on metal parts ? Salt eats up metal.....look at car bodies.
Last edited by OLDSter Ralph; Mar 13, 2023 at 06:47 AM.
I use xylene for grease, put in plastic bucket with lid, swish, let sit a couple hours, pull out, with good plastic gloves, dry off, then put in evaporust for rust.
be careful with xylene. Wear eye and mask as wellas hand protection. I like it cuz it works fast but it has irs hazards for sure if not handled carefully..
Some folks use diesel or kerosene.
Simple electrolosys does the trick. All you need is an old style battrey charger, some good household wire, a big plastic pan or bucket, and a piece of sacrificial metal like a big chunk of steel or a bolt depending upon the shape of the container. I used a one foot by three foot 8 inch deep plastic storage container with a big bolt in each corner. Fill it with a mixture of water and washing soda like 20 mule team borax. After the rust is gone clean up with soap and water.
Show a picture of your process if you or anyone else can.
I tried the molasses trick. It didn't work. The only thing it would work to clean would be large items (i.e. control arms, springs, brake drums, engine brackets etc.). Since the molasses quickly molded over there's no way it could clean smaller or delicate parts (i.e. carburetor, alternator, starter, water pump, distributor, etc.).
Actually salt (NaCl) + Acetic Acid (Vinegar) is a good method to remove rust. The Rxn yields HCl (Hydrochloric Acid) referred to in layman’s terms as Muriatic Acid. The strength of which would have to be determined stoichiometrically. Borax will easily neutralize the Rxn.
I have seen electrolysis 5 gallon buckets with vertical rebar pieces around the perimeter as the anodes. Baking soda and water solution. Suspend the work as the cathode in the middle and use the battery charger.
In the past I have used a product called "Evapo-Rust". Great stuff and reusable. Did a fine job on the parts I needed rust free. Check it out!
Wayne
The salt was dissolved in the vinegar (fyi) . I also had a couple dots of dish soap in there. My dog is always watching the garage if I'm not there. I don't want her to eat anything toxic. There are TONS of natural ways to polish or clean/degrease pretty much anything.
Right now they're all in a big zip lock waiting their
final rinse. I'm not gonna need them till the sun lets me finish painting some things. I just learned salt on a half a lime makes a great magic eraser type thing
Baking Soda+hot water with a couple drops of soap. Then I got vinegar in the spray bottle and went to town it didn't affect the SS or the white letter. Or wherever you need things to get clean.... A bag helps keeps things soaking This stuff (brush on) is great! Definitely not all natural but still worth keeping some around....not for painted or polished surfaces....kinda a prep for paint thing.
