Electrolysis and Rust Removal

I just get lazy! I'm not smart enough to figure out how to include the website stuff in my signature, so I have to copy/paste/move it around.

On the vinegar, I've never tried that. Vinegar is, of course, Acetic Acid, which is a pretty weak acid, chemically speaking, so it won't hurt any. It's probably on a par with etching ability with Phosphoric Acid. The benefit you get with Phosphoric is that you get a rust-inhibitive phosphate coating. With Acetic, you really should rinse it with a baking soda wash to neutralize any acid remaining, because the dry acid salts could draw moisture from the air later on and possibly pop your paint, but that's probably not a real big worry.

BTW, my wife says I'm "Mr. Stinker".

Frank-in-Tallahassee
70D // 855 // VAC
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• F-I-T's webpage.....ALWAYS under construction....

Frank

Aha!! Another convert to the Dark Side!!!!! Soon my work here will be done !!!! (evil laugh)

Just rinse it under a hose stream, wirebrush if you want to remove the majority of the black oxide (you do not have to remove that, but I do...it looks nicer). Or scrub with a plastic scrubbing pad or some Scotch-Brite (I like the brown pad).

A powerwasher really does a slick job. Knocks off any loose paint, black oxide, various ashes of dirt, etc. As soon as it's dry, either prime it, oil it, or treat it with some Phosphoric Acid, so it won't rust. It will be so clean, the moisture in the air will get it rusting again.

Captain Coulomb
F-I-T's evil twin.....