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The Amazing Evaporust

fredsheldon

The Lowes here carried it for a short time in a special display in the aisle a few months back but they now tell me that they never heard of the stuff and never carried it :p I ordered 2 gallons from Amazon and it cost me $21.00 per gallon. I just finished giving my retractable casters a soaking overnight and everything came out great. The rusty saw blades that came with my latest 10ER are now taking a bath. I also soaked the bottoms of my stands in a shallow plastic tub and the rust is now gone. I have lost only about a pint to evaporation over the last 3 days because I try to seal up my bucket and pan with foil to try to keep it from disappearing.

jere

I suggest distilled vinegar if you guys want something cheaper, or something that's not a "chemical". Let the part soak in a bucket the same way, just clean it off well and spray some oil on the part when you are done to prevent flash rust.

I buy in in gallon jugs from walmert for $5 or so, it works great for cleaning/disinfecting too. Our household cleaning supplies cabinet was cleaned out and replaced with just vinegar, green scrubber pads and dish soap when our daughter was born. Oh and for you welders it takes off mill scale too

heathicus

Vinegar will attack the base metal. Evaporust will not.

jere

heathicus wroteVinegar will attack the base metal. Evaporust will not.

Do you have any experience with this phenomena? I have used vinegar a number of times, even on un rusted metal and haven't seen it myself. Vinegar is a pretty slow working acid, maybe if the metal was left in the vinegar for a month or more?

JPG

jere wroteI suggest distilled vinegar if you guys want something cheaper, or something that's not a "chemical". Let the part soak in a bucket the same way, just clean it off well and spray some oil on the part when you are done to prevent flash rust.

I buy in in gallon jugs from walmert for $5 or so, it works great for cleaning/disinfecting too. Our household cleaning supplies cabinet was cleaned out and replaced with just vinegar, green scrubber pads and dish soap when our daughter was born. Oh and for you welders it takes off mill scale too

Since when is 'acetic acid' not a chemical?;)

heathicus

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/metal-corrosion-resistance-d_491.html

jere

heathicus wrotehttp://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/metal-corrosion-resistance-d_491.html

Interesting link, I think that verifies that long term effects might be a problem. Vinegar was in the same category as milk, so I don't think short term exposure shouldn't be too bad.

JPG

jere wroteInteresting link, I think that verifies that long term effects might be a problem. Vinegar was in the same category as milk, so I don't think short term exposure shouldn't be too bad.

Vinegar would not be as 'bad' as naval jelly!:eek:

FWIW coke/pepsi also work(phosphoric acid). ]at all[/B].

P.S. Methinks the milk is easily contaminated by steel/iron pipe.

jasonsabala

I picked up a gallon at the local auto parts store for $21. I poured about a pint and have cleaned lots of drill bits, files, pliers, scissors, and more. Now, my SS chuck is hanging out in that slippery, oily gook since yesterday. I think it is great!

chuckc

So from what i am seeing is that it is great for removiing light rust from way tubes etc:

I recently picked up a complete MK V 510 from a storage unit that has been stred for many years " date code 12-11-04 " with some rust on tubes.

fredsheldon

chuckc wroteSo from what i am seeing is that it is great for removiing light rust from way tubes etc:

I recently picked up a complete MK V 510 from a storage unit that has been stred for many years " date code 12-11-04 " with some rust on tubes.

Yep, get a 6' length of 2" pvc pipe and cap off the bottom. Place the tube in the pipe and fill with evaporust. Leave in for 24 hours. Take out and wipe off what's left and hit with fine sandpaper. It will look like new.

letterk

chuckc wroteSo from what i am seeing is that it is great for removiing light rust from way tubes etc:

I recently picked up a complete MK V 510 from a storage unit that has been stred for many years " date code 12-11-04 " with some rust on tubes.

Not only light rust, but heavy rust. You may need to leave it sit for a while and keep it covered so it doesn't evaporate. Look at post #5 by Heathics - that is some heavy rust.

Here is the link directly to the post.

Cavediver

FWIW, beware treating anything with nickle or chrome plating. It works just fine but it will discolor the objects.

I had to de-rust a combination hand plane a while back. Since my container wasn't big enough and the plane had some wood pieces that I couldn't remove, I had to do things in two steps. I was left with a couple of lines where the part was covered during one step and not covered during another. Not a big deal since it's a user plane and not a showpiece, but a stupid and annoying mistake on my part just the same.

ETA: I tend to hit the de-rusted parts with a wire brush or steel wool after treatment to remove the darkened surfaces. Then I rinse and follow with another 10 minute dunk to help prevent future rust. If I really want to prevent rust, I'll follow it up with a dip in a solution of parafin dissolved in mineral spirits.

JPG

Cavediver wroteFWIW, beware treating anything with nickle or chrome plating. It works just fine but it will discolor the objects.

I had to de-rust a combination hand plane a while back. Since my container wasn't big enough and the plane had some wood pieces that I couldn't remove, I had to do things in two steps. I was left with a couple of lines where the part was covered during one step and not covered during another. Not a big deal since it's a user plane and not a showpiece, but a stupid and annoying mistake on my part just the same.

ETA: I tend to hit the de-rusted parts with a wire brush or steel wool after treatment to remove the darkened surfaces. Then I rinse and follow with another 10 minute dunk to help prevent future rust. If I really want to prevent rust, I'll follow it up with a dip in a solution of parafin dissolved in mineral spirits.

I would not count on evaporust being a rust inhibitor for longer than a couple of weeks. Penetrol is more effective. When 'in use' applying/polishing paste wax(JPW) frequently serves us well.

heathicus

letterk wroteNot only light rust, but heavy rust. You may need to leave it sit for a while and keep it covered so it doesn't evaporate. Look at post #5 by Heathics - that is some heavy rust.

Here is the link directly to the post.

If I recall correctly, that took about 3 days of soaking. And I think I used a fresh batch of Evaporust about half way through, but knowing what I know now I don't think that was necessary (other than for speeding up the process).

I just wish I could afford a vat of Evaporust like this:

frank81

I checked the big box stores in my area this weekend, none carry evaporust. It looks like they are getting elbowed out by multi-line companies selling rust removal products I didn't care to try.

Anyone know the active ingredient? They made the thing so safe and neutral the MSDS isn't required to report much of anything. The chemical properties basically look like rain water.

If I can't find a decent alternative by the weekend I'm just going back to my tried and true method of standing in the driveway with a wire wheel on a drill and getting filthy.

Cavediver

frank81 wroteI checked the big box stores in my area this weekend, none carry evaporust. It looks like they are getting elbowed out by multi-line companies selling rust removal products I didn't care to try.

Anyone know the active ingredient? They made the thing so safe and neutral the MSDS isn't required to report much of anything. The chemical properties basically look like rain water.

If I can't find a decent alternative by the weekend I'm just going back to my tried and true method of standing in the driveway with a wire wheel on a drill and getting filthy.

Have you tried Harbor Freight or Ace Hardware? I know HF carries it, not sure about Ace.

I've read that citric acid works pretty well. It's available in powdered form from health food stores and (I believe) wine making stores.

JPG

Harbor Freight and AutoZone.

I just got the last qt at Lowe's in Lexington - 1.80.

Online price now 1.12. None close by!

AIUI it is being closed out at Lowes.

AutoZone qt 8.99 Gal 22.99

letterk

frank81 wroteI checked the big box stores in my area this weekend, none carry evaporust. It looks like they are getting elbowed out by multi-line companies selling rust removal products I didn't care to try.

Anyone know the active ingredient? They made the thing so safe and neutral the MSDS isn't required to report much of anything. The chemical properties basically look like rain water.

If I can't find a decent alternative by the weekend I'm just going back to my tried and true method of standing in the driveway with a wire wheel on a drill and getting filthy.

Menards in your neck of the woods carries a knock off call Metal Rescue, but probably not worth the round trip drive of 2 hours, but if you are in the area. Try local auto parts and hardware stores.

dusty

heathicus wroteIf I recall correctly, that took about 3 days of soaking. And I think I used a fresh batch of Evaporust about half way through, but knowing what I know now I don't think that was necessary (other than for speeding up the process).

I just wish I could afford a vat of Evaporust like this:

If you could afford the vehicle that this engine block came out of, you'd be able to afford the evapo-rust.

I think that is an engine block from an Abrams Tank.

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