Denny
Canned Monster
This has never been talked about here so I’m going to bring it up now. We all know about sanding, sandblasting, wire wheeling and scraping to remove rust from our beloved karts. What I’m bringing up are alternative less labor intensive ways of removing rust from our beloved hulk’s steel bits. Now understand most of the methods I’m about to bring up will not remove paint, but it won’t harm it or chrome either. These are the methods I’ll be covering and the pro’s and con’s of each one. We can discuss the methods after I get them all pointed out please?
1. Citric acid bath
2. Molasses bath
3. Evaporust soak
4. Safest Rust Remover
5. Electro-Chemically
Citric acid and molasses. I put these 2 together because they work the same way. The citric acid in both break down the rust to dissolve it. It is a mild form of acid and will slowly eat into the parent steel also if mixed properly but only extremely slowly! That’s the con side of things. The pro side is it is one of the faster, cheaper least energy required types of rust removal. It works much better in hot weather and molasses stinks to high heaven as it ages from decomposition. It will also attract bugs and critters (mice and rats). Citric acid will not attract dinner guests or stink. Submersion therapy will work in about 10 or so hours for really rusty stuff. When you are done you can simply pour it on the grass to get rid of it as it’s non toxic and even safe to use in California I think? But who knows in Cali it may cause pregnancy or something! You do have to neutralize it with baking soda, both parts and solution.
Evaporust, oxacylic acid, and Safest Rust Remover.
I’m going to lump these together also. These are commercially available products that also destroy rust and neutralize it. I have never used any of these before but have seen the most impressive results from others. The big advantage with Safest is it does not destroy aluminum like the others do.
And last but not least Electro-Chemically!
This method uses a solution of Arm and Hammer washing powder, a cathode, and a dc power source. It is also one of the more costly ways of doing it but it does reverse some of the rust damage to steel. It is like electroplating in reverse. It’s also a bigger pain in the but to do and runs the highest risk of a hydrogen explosion or wrecking your steel.
So these are some of the ways you can derust your steel and maybe save that axle and wheels from a beating trying to get them off. Let’s keep this thread open and going with questions and answers on other methods you may have tried or know about!
1. Citric acid bath
2. Molasses bath
3. Evaporust soak
4. Safest Rust Remover
5. Electro-Chemically
Citric acid and molasses. I put these 2 together because they work the same way. The citric acid in both break down the rust to dissolve it. It is a mild form of acid and will slowly eat into the parent steel also if mixed properly but only extremely slowly! That’s the con side of things. The pro side is it is one of the faster, cheaper least energy required types of rust removal. It works much better in hot weather and molasses stinks to high heaven as it ages from decomposition. It will also attract bugs and critters (mice and rats). Citric acid will not attract dinner guests or stink. Submersion therapy will work in about 10 or so hours for really rusty stuff. When you are done you can simply pour it on the grass to get rid of it as it’s non toxic and even safe to use in California I think? But who knows in Cali it may cause pregnancy or something! You do have to neutralize it with baking soda, both parts and solution.
Evaporust, oxacylic acid, and Safest Rust Remover.
I’m going to lump these together also. These are commercially available products that also destroy rust and neutralize it. I have never used any of these before but have seen the most impressive results from others. The big advantage with Safest is it does not destroy aluminum like the others do.
And last but not least Electro-Chemically!
This method uses a solution of Arm and Hammer washing powder, a cathode, and a dc power source. It is also one of the more costly ways of doing it but it does reverse some of the rust damage to steel. It is like electroplating in reverse. It’s also a bigger pain in the but to do and runs the highest risk of a hydrogen explosion or wrecking your steel.
So these are some of the ways you can derust your steel and maybe save that axle and wheels from a beating trying to get them off. Let’s keep this thread open and going with questions and answers on other methods you may have tried or know about!
