Topic: Rust Removal

[BenelliSEI]

Posted this before and if you follow Terry P., this will be old news.....

Recently purchased a gallon of 75% Phosphoric Acid from a local farm supply (See photo). I’ve also found same stuff sold as “Stearns Milkstone Remover”. Used by dairy farmers to flush milking equipment after use, in very diluted form. As per Terry’s suggestion, I diluted it 10:1 with distilled water. Mixed a small batch to start, and had amazing results on the choke levers from my ‘69 cable carbs.

Yesterday, after I removed the exhaust spigots from the s/c engine, tossed one in. Again, amazing results. See photo, the back spigot is the “before”. Terry fills a large Rubbermaid tub with 10-12 gallons of the brew (1 gallon acid: 10-11 gallons water) and keeps it for long periods of time. Toss in anything that needs rust removal, leave overnight. Doesn’t seem to touch paint, or chrome. If the painted part has rust under the paint, beware, it will disappear! Just flushed out my gas tank with thinners, then acetone. Letting it dry and then plan to fill with this brew.

CAUTION. Pour the acid INTO the water, NOT the other way around. Apparently, after it looses effectiveness, you can toss the leftovers onto your lawn!

[PeWe]

Good information!
The chemical names differs and more variants increase the chance to find here for affordable price.
I have found one variant very expensive. $12US/ liter.

[BenelliSEI]

Good information!
The chemical names differs and more variants increase the chance to find here for affordable price.
I have found one variant very expensive. $12US/ liter.

The stuff in the picture was about $30/ US gallon.

[seanbarney41]

But what does it do to what is left of the original plating(other than chrome, like zinc and cadmium)?

[BenelliSEI]

Appears to leave chrome completely untouched.

[flybackwards]

My experience is that it likes to eat cadmium and zinc plating - don't toss that on your lawn if it contains metals.

[seanbarney41]

My experience is that it likes to eat cadmium and zinc plating - don't toss that on your lawn if it contains metals.

yep, so no more rusty hardware...for like one season if you are lucky.

[BenelliSEI]

My experience is that it likes to eat cadmium and zinc plating - don't toss that on your lawn if it contains metals.

yep, so no more rusty hardware...for like one season if you are lucky.

I disagree. I cleaned up those spigots, gave them a bit of polish, and they look new. They might even last another 50 years.

[PeWe]

If bike is parked inside when not used, the rust can not come back

[newday777]

Appears to leave chrome completely untouched.

Did it clean out the carbon deposits inside the spigots?

[seanbarney41]

My experience is that it likes to eat cadmium and zinc plating - don't toss that on your lawn if it contains metals.

yep, so no more rusty hardware...for like one season if you are lucky.

I disagree. I cleaned up those spigots, gave them a bit of polish, and they look new. They might even last another 50 years.

Yes!  Works great for chrome parts.  I am talking about parts that are not chrome plated such as your choke linkage.  If the acid removes the little remaining plating, then those parts are gonna look worse than ever very soon.

[Maltboy]

If bike is parked inside when not used, the rust can not come back

PeWe, generally speaking that's true, but for humid climates like we have on the Gulf Coast we also have to worry about dewpoint. Because most garages aren't climate controlled, shiny bits will slowly corrode because of micro-condensation that forms on metal parts in the morning when they are still cool and the ambient air's dewpoint rises above their temperature. I had significant corrosion form on plated parts over the period of a few months. My solution was to run two dehumidifiers in my building. I have seen zero corrosion problems since I did that. Plus it's a lot more comfortable to work in there when it's hot.

[PeWe]

OK, you have salt in air too spread by the winds...?
Air dehumidifier is not that cheap either.

[Maltboy]

Not a lot of salt air since I'm about 20 miles inland, but the dehumidifiers aren't cheap (about $250 each) and they cost a buck or two a day to run during humid days. They don't normally have to run continuously, and some days when humidity is low they don't run at all. I figure it's worth it to keep my expensive toys from rusting and me from passing out. 

[BenelliSEI]

Appears to leave chrome completely untouched.

Did it clean out the carbon deposits inside the spigots?

Softened it up enough I just wiped them out.....

[RAFster122s]

Oxalic acid in powder form is a weaker acid and seems to be much safer for removing rust. You can buy 5 lb bag at Amazon for $19 US, or $27 for 10 pounds. There is one seller selling 40 pound pail for $125 but the only reviewer didn't like the lid seal being very tightly sealed and the material being clumped causing them to have pouring issues. Sounds like it was not really dry...but 5 gallon buckets can be a real pain to remove the lid, you do want it to seal well.

You mix it a pound to the gallon of water (distilled recommended) and it turns black as it removes the rust from parts. It chelates the rust just like Evaporust and Metal Rescue.
I think it is the same stuff.

Mix it in very warm water and it works faster... Leave parts in about 2-4 hours depending upon the amount of rust. It will not attack good metal and I don't think it affects zinc plated parts.

[ekpent]

 Used to use that same acid in my woodwork refinishing biz back in the day for removing water stains from wood tops etc.. Its also considered a bleach.

[Freebirdbeachbum]

Not a lot of salt air since I'm about 20 miles inland, but the dehumidifiers aren't cheap (about $250 each) and they cost a buck or two a day to run during humid days. They don't normally have to run continuously, and some days when humidity is low they don't run at all. I figure it's worth it to keep my expensive toys from rusting and me from passing out. 

My plan has been to move to my house in Galveston on retirement but I know, from bitter experience, my vintage cars/MCs don't thrive in that corrosive environment even in my garage. I dont think all the dehumidifiers in the world would save them.

I could keep them in a climate-controlled facility on the mainland but that is so inconvenient I predict I wouldnt enjoy them as often as I would otherwise want to for my sake and need to for their sake.

Is there a bubble I could keep them in?

[RAFster122s]

Not a lot of salt air since I'm about 20 miles inland, but the dehumidifiers aren't cheap (about $250 each) and they cost a buck or two a day to run during humid days. They don't normally have to run continuously, and some days when humidity is low they don't run at all. I figure it's worth it to keep my expensive toys from rusting and me from passing out. 

My plan has been to move to my house in Galveston on retirement but I know, from bitter experience, my vintage cars/MCs don't thrive in that corrosive environment even in my garage. I dont think all the dehumidifiers in the world would save them.

I could keep them in a climate-controlled facility on the mainland but that is so inconvenient I predict I wouldnt enjoy them as often as I would otherwise want to for my sake and need to for their sake.

Is there a bubble I could keep them in?

ACF50 or similar coating on the bare metal pieces and keeping all painted areas waxed. I do mean all painted areas. ACF50 isn't recommended for paint but there are spray on coatings for motors that won't attack the paint but protect the metal and painted hot painted surfaces from rusting...cannot think of them at the moment.
Boeshield some guys use as well...

[Maltboy]

Believe it or not, they make clear plastic bubbles for cars, but they use ambient air to keep them inflated, so they probably won't help with salt air. They're for dust mainly.  I live in Santa Fe which is about 20 minutes from the Galveston causeway.

[Stev-o]

Is there a bubble I could keep them in?

Yes and a "car condom"!!

https://www.goodmans.net/i/9783/car-condom-disposable-plastic-car-cover-with.htm?sc=GOOGLEBASE&k=GC-85013&utm_source=GOOGLEBASE&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_term={QueryString}&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrsGCBhD1ARIsALILBYqjI4IInaNO9lR-XdCxxyHvolnXzLsRJHGqpHSEw8LER5aZHWwq9MUaAqByEALw_wcB

[PeWe]

Is there a bubble I could keep them in?

Yes and a "car condom"!!

https://www.goodmans.net/i/9783/car-condom-disposable-plastic-car-cover-with.htm?sc=GOOGLEBASE&k=GC-85013&utm_source=GOOGLEBASE&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_term={QueryString}&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrsGCBhD1ARIsALILBYqjI4IInaNO9lR-XdCxxyHvolnXzLsRJHGqpHSEw8LER5aZHWwq9MUaAqByEALw_wcB

Drive safely, use a condom.
It might also be a problem with unwanted cars!!

Sealed "condom" around a bike will not let the humid air in. Rice in fabric bags inside absorb the initial moist.
Might work for longer storage.