Muriatic For Rust Removal

Part Time Pete

Well-known Member
I picked up an old Lely fertilizer spreader, which is pretty solid, other than the moving parts being rusted from sitting for so long. I was going to try sandblasting it, but a friend of mine suggested muriatic acid. Has anyone tried this
Thanks
Pete
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I would use electrolysis. Acid is NASTY, then you have to neutralize it in every nook and cranny, or you will be worse off than before.
 
Think I would go with your sand blasting idea. Have heard all bad about acid especially if any of the parts are cast iron. I seeps into the pores and you can never get it out or neutralized. Harbor Freight sells Evapo-Rust which is safe for cast and works well, use a 20% discount coupon. Electrolysis works but it is messy and you still have allot of cleaning to do after the fact.

In the process of rebuilding a neglected John Deere planter I experimented with all the rust removal methods and came to the conclusion that if it will fit in my blast cabinet use it. Cleanest fastest method I found, 2nd was Evapo-Rust but it's expensive.
 

For those parts I would use either 5 gal Evaporust or bulk phosphoric acid. If I had access to phosphoric acid it would be preferable because it transforms the rust to iron phosphate. You can get it from a dairy supplier or a restaurant supply.
 
I use muratic acid. Works fairly well. I use a paint brush to apply it and then scrub it away with steel wool and soap water. obviously you need to wear gloves and eye protection. Possibly a mask if doing it inside.
 
What about Naval Jelly. Supposed to be what the USN uses for rust cleanup prior to priming and painting. You retired Navy guys ought to know what that stuff is. Is it MA also?
 

I think I'd hit the parts that come off easily with a wire wheel in a grinder and soak the rest really good in drain oil. Then lube it up good and see if it works. Keep lubing until things run clear. You can wash it down and paint it later to protect it. I would not use acid at all. Sandblasting requires a lot of cleanup on anything with bearings.
 
Brett,
I gave your method a try - I soaked it good with PB Blaster, then soaked it with old oil through my siphon sprayer. After some working and a little heat on the wing nut, I got it working. I'll try it out this weekend.
It's actually a well built unit - much heavier than most of them you see at places like TSC
Pete
 
I have used muriatic acid a lot and have had good luck with it. I used it last fall on a plow I bought on the mold boards and shears and they cleaned up really good. Took it right out after that and put it in the ground and cleaned up great from that point on. I used it on some ATV tools that were left in the back compartment. A pliers could not even be forced to move. After soaking it in acid for a short while they looked like new and moved like new pliers would.
 

I'm sure acid will work, but how do you get it out of bearings? Pliers are one thing. Having it seep into a bearing and stay there is something else again.
 

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