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rust removal

J

jim buford

Member
I am getting ready to paint my first tractor as the weather permits and was wondering how you guys remove rust from sheet metal and the cast iron parts. All the sheet metal needs rust and paint chips removed. Thanks
 
If you want to make life simple at this time of year I would talk to some professional outfits. Sheet metal can heat and warp from blasting and then you are toast. Auto body, sandblasting outfits etc. The strip process with a kiddie pool, drain cleaner, and a battery charger is my recommendation. Sand blasting cast iron this time of year is torture. See what the other guys say, but for me...no thanks.
 
I fought rust for years, until someone told me about molasses rust removal. It takes about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks for the process to work, and it stinks. Water washes off the stink. Mix 9 parts water to 1 part molasses. I but a 5 gal pail from a feed store. Not real good for cast iron. A lot of information on the internet. Stan
 
You can use a 4 1/2 inch or 7 inch angle grinder with a wire brush but it is a hard dirty job and you have to be carefull on the edges it can catch and kick back and eat your skin
 
I agree, use right angle and brush. I slow my right angle down using a variac, a variable transformer to apply a voltage less than 120v.

Or you can use a dimmer switch to slow right angle grinder.

Or you could use a large diode to cut voltage in half.


I use a sander to do sheet metal and after applying rust converter use a rustoleum primer.
 
Sheet metal unless you have a body shop do it I always used a 120 or 150 grit disc's then only John Deere paint. Cast iron I found the best for me was a needle scaler then scouring pad with paint thinner. Sand blasting is an absolute pain not to mention it gets into every nook and cranny that you do not want. Again it has to be done the best way you can unless you hire it all out something I always tried to avoid.
 
Steer away from sandblasting anything that isn't removable. Sand gets everywhere!

Phosphoric acid is my go-to for paint prep and rust removal. Relatively inexpensive safe (used in soft drinks to provide tangy flavor) and very effective. Available at Home Depot in the paint department.

mvphoto27184.jpg


Use a cupped brush/angle grinder on cast parts. Treat any rust with phosphoric acid.

Sheet metal gets treated just like an automobile. Remove paint around rusted area with a flap disk and treat with phosphoric acid.

[b:d4d72193f6]How To Use PA[/b:d4d72193f6]
Mix it in a sprayer bottle - Spray the part until it's completely wet and then wipe if off with a clean cloth. Don't worry about the lint on the rough cast parts, blow it off with compressed air before the PA dries. Pickled parts will remain rust free providing you keep them indoors. When you're ready to paint, wipe down with a damp cloth, blow dry and shoot it with your favorite primer.
 

I agree that the primary weapon is the cup type twisted wire wheel. I put smaller pieces in a bucket with phosphoric acid because I have access to it. After most of the rust is gone, if you don't want rust bubbles coming up in 2-3 years you need to kill the rust that is still down in the pits. You do this with any of the phosphoric acid based rust converters.
 
George I know very little about electric so I have a question. Will running a power tool on less power harm the motor ? I had heard in the past it is not good for them. Kinda like trying to run too many appliances off a generator when the power goes out. Just asking.
 
start with oven cleaner it is a good cheap degreaser and will loosen up paint primer and rust and dirt. Spray it let it sit over night spray it again and then pressure wash might have to repeat in some areas. Get a couple of twisted wire side grinder cups and a couple of silicon carbide wheels. A needle scaler works where rust is really bad.
 
Power tools have brushes making them a universal motor. So no, lower voltages don't harm them. On the other hand an induction motor needs full voltage and must come up to full RPM's.
 
(quoted from post at 11:49:49 11/27/18) thanks for all the tips. Do the new Milwaukee power drills have brushes?
Click to expand...


Not sure but a side grinder works better. And if your careful you won’t need to cut down the speed.
 
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