De-rusting

[Cleggy]

Take a look at this re citric . Lots of happy customers. Make sure you degrease well before using any aqueous product.

[roadster]

I have an old cast iron stand for my Myford ML 3 lathe but its absolutely rusty (its an old barn find). I have never got around to cleaning it (it might be a bit to heavy for me lift too now as well). Could it surface cleaned by electrolysis (I think it might be a wee but hard to do so?).

As it is only a lathe stand, I would give it a quick rub over with a wire brush, degrease, thick brush coat of primer and finish with a thick brush coat of top coat. Runs don't matter as nobody will be looking at the stand. Even in a damp workshop it will probably be several years before the paint starts to lift.
Electrolysis wouldn't be practical as it would either have to be dismantled and the bolts are probably well and truly seized, or a big tank would need to be made and the stand lifted up and into the tank. The time taken transporting it to and from the blaster would probably be longer than the time spent wire brushing and painting.
Rod

[Bushbaby]

Hi Rod,
I did think about this. The stand is in pieces BUT because of my back issues I am not sure how much I can move it around to do any work on it........its now making me wonder if I will ever use it again because of my health issues!

Best Regards

Rob

[Amie]

FYI

Talking to a neighbour on Saturday who tells me that he was an industrial boiler engineer. He was interested in my hobby, and mentioned that he was often asked to clean corrosion from items for people, radio chassis and cast iron, amongst them. If he was de scaling a boiler for an insurance inspection he would make a few pounds on the side cleaning the small items in the boiler acid/ caustic rinse.

He says people would then refinish the items as they required, even re galvanize them.

May be worth finding one of these guys if you need this kind of work done...

[Amie]

Take a look at this re citric . Lots of happy customers. Make sure you degrease well before using any aqueous product.

Just tried this... It works well

[reset]

Take a look at this re citric . Lots of happy customers. Make sure you degrease well before using any aqueous product.

Just tried this... It works well

The old tool guys use citric acid to de-rust old tools. It is good for old saws, chisels and such.

For larger items that will not fit in a bucket for the soak you should look for a phosphoric acid based product. It comes in several brands which would vary with your location. One local brand here is "naval jelly". The phos acid converts the iron oxide to iron phosphate which is inert. It kills the rust and "seals" the surface to prevent future rust.

[Amie]

Hi Unc. 
I guess that treatment with phosphoric acid would be OK for doing items to be paint refinished  but not plated.

(DBAS)

Amie

[Radio Fixer]

Jenolite (Phos. Acid) is the best to me.  Can get thin stuff if immersion possible and gel for if not.  If parts go a nice even black then spray lacquer or shellac can look quite original.

Love getting chassis and parts plated, leave all the rust removal to the platers.  If bad you see some pits but thats patina if not its a great finish done in "old nickel" is what my guy calls it.
   
   
   
   

Gary

[Amie]

Superb job Gary, a real complete restoration.

[reset]

Yes maam.
We would use it for equipment that was to be painted. Treat and paint and it would last for years.
We had a contractor to sand blast the equipment before applying the phos acid treatment.
His paint job did not hold up until the next annual shutdown.