Thread: Derusting

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Not sure of how many of you gents that need to derust parts, I just tried a process this week that a person suggested from another board, white vinegar, put in a plastic bucket, I put a set of lower rear shock mounts in for a `64 chevy truck, so they have 50 years of crust on them, I spent zero elbow grease, it cost me 1.93 for the vinegar and four days, when done I used a weak solution of dish soap and baking soda to neutralize the vinegar. before and after pics.

Yeah, Vinegar is great -- it will even remove zinc plating& galvanising from steel and dissolve aluminium as well

Rich I used the vinegar for several years to derust odds and ends, but over the last couple of years have started using citric acid instead. Besides working better/faster it is as cheap or cheaper and doesn't have as strong of an odor.

I did a side by side test between citric acid and vinegar when I did the last batch of tools I brought back from the old farm and it sold me on the citric acid. This is the result after 24 hours with the vinegar on the left and citric acid on the right. The vinegar probably would have done a little better had the temperature been a little warmer.




It's a little harder to find, but stores that sell canning supplies usually have it. I just ordered 5 more pounds from Amazon ($18). I used 2 pounds to clean about 2-300 pounds of old hand tools so this batch should last me several years.



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Well Mike I guess I`ll try citric acid next, thanks for the tip....