How to Remove Rust Faster?

[ugoleaf]

Hello,

Sitting here, trying to restore old ruler with 800 grit grade sandpaper but it's very slow. Any way to make the process more effective?

20211204_172901.jpg (221.17 KiB) Viewed 3010 times

Thanks

[wine~o]

baking soda mixed with vinegar, mix to a paste apply and polish off with a cotton cloth. Risne and dry after.

[ugoleaf]

wine~o I read that wiping with sandpaper and WD40 can work. Your opinion?

[wine~o]

Wet and dry might work with WD 40, can't say I've ever tried though.

[aeromech3]

For steel phosphoric acid which is usually what is used in car de rust solutions and gels from the likes of Halford's, I still have a bottle of Navy Jelly from my Austin days, but heavy rust does turn black and this is not used on Stainless Steel which I suspect your ruler might be. However if you are a Coca-Cola fan and want to give it a try, as there is a food grade of this acid in fizzy drinks, you might try dunking in Cola.

[Rorschach]

I use citric acid for my rust removal these days (assuming I can easily immerse the item).

It's very cheap, very safe and works well. I mix it with HOT water and soak the item for a few hours, depending how bad the rust is. A scrub with a stiff brush every half hour helps if it's a thick layer of rust.
After it's clean I dip in a bicarb solution to neutralise any remaining acid (though it doesn't tend to attack non rusted metal), dry it really well and then oil.

[Grendel]

wine~o I read that wiping with sandpaper and WD40 can work. Your opinion?

I've used wet and dry paper with brasso and that seemed to work better than just the sandpaper on it's own.

[ugoleaf]

After it's clean I dip in a bicarb solution to neutralise any remaining acid (though it doesn't tend to attack non rusted metal), dry it really well and then oil.

I have citric acid powder. Do you oil with WD40 or sewing machine oil or car oil? I have former two but not car oil.

[Rorschach]

After it's clean I dip in a bicarb solution to neutralise any remaining acid (though it doesn't tend to attack non rusted metal), dry it really well and then oil.

I have citric acid powder. Do you oil with WD40 or sewing machine oil or car oil? I have former two but not car oil.

Depends on the item, any of them will be fine but some things I don't want too oily, so for instance a drill chuck I would use a heavier oil, a ruler would only be some wd40.

[ugoleaf]

Rorschach I will just spray WD40 on kitchen paper towel and wipe?

[Rorschach]

Yep that'll work

[big-all]

as this is the front grill on the computer, you need to be really really careful that nothing goes inside that may cause damage assuming the same grill
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=105850&p=849541#p849541

[Someone-Else]

as this is the front grill on the computer

I thought he said (in this post) he wanted to clean his steel rule?

[big-all]

as this is the front grill on the computer

I thought he said (in this post) he wanted to clean his steel rule?

yes indeed it could be but just checking incase as a computer grill is involved
its just very unusual to get 2 rust removal posts from the same person at the same time
if it is a ruler please ignore my comments

[ugoleaf]

its just very unusual to get 2 rust removal posts from the same person at the same time

I am Anti-Rust superhero.