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Lynn, I suspect the rust removal virtue of molasses is due to the organic acids in the molasses. Citric acid, oxalic acid and other organic acids will help reduce iron oxides. I would think you would want to use a commercial rust remover due to the fly and bee problems if being used during warm weather. For cast iron and steel parts, I've found that muratic acid (hydrochloric acid) will remove rust down to new metal. I've filled plastic buckets with dilute HCl and left them there. If you have brass fittings or aluminum inserts it will dissolve them completely. When I was restoring muscle cars, I could take brake drums, exhaust manifolds, backing plates, battery boxes, etc. and soak them in the HCl. Go back in a few days and beautiful gray iron or steel. There are some rust removers that contain a phosphate that is a good conversion coating to hold paint bette. I used the one from Edmunsons and it worked great. Ken McWilliams
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