Rust Removal Recomendations

[Cheese]

I have about 8 old cross cut saws that are rusty and need to be cleaned before we file them and get them ready for competition.

I have sanded one for about 6 hours. It is a mess, a pain and just bores me.

I would really like to find something to take the rust off chemically, then spray it down and only have a little touch up with sandpaper.

What do y'all use? I do not have a blasting cabinet big enough, I do not want to spend another 6 hours per saw.

Thanks.

[slosurfer]

Isn't there some way you can put it in some kind of water and "something" mixture and hook a battery to it and it will take the rust off. I want to say the "something" is baking soda but don't quote me on it. I actually saw them do it on one extreme4x4 on tv.

[MTL_4runner]

Isn't there some way you can put it in some kind of water and "something" mixture and hook a battery to it and it will take the rust off. I want to say the "something" is baking soda but don't quote me on it. I actually saw them do it on one extreme4x4 on tv.


Yep, you're exactly right!

Here's some good writeups to follow:
http://www3.telus.net/public/aschoepp/electrolyticrust.html
http://www.davidbradley.net/ERR.html
http://www.rustyiron.com/engines/electrolysis/index.html

It'll beat the heck out of sanding for hours! :laugh:

[slosurfer]

http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/Miscellaneous/Rust_Removal.htm

Here's another one.

[AxleIke]

It is called electrolysis. It works very well.

[Bighead]

Naval Jelly... http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81756-Naval-Dissolver-Bottle/dp/B0007TQW5G

[Cheese]

Thanks guys.

The anal jelly looks the easiest unless someone has a cheap idea for a plastic tub that would hold a 7 foot long saw...

[garrett]

just build a box out of plywood and put a tarp in it to hold water.

[Bighead]

The anal jelly...
Just because it's "Naval" doesn't mean it's for "anal". ;)

[MTL_4runner]

just build a box out of plywood and put a tarp in it to hold water.


Yep, that's what I'd do. Make a very shallow box out of plywood and lay in some 4-6 mil plastic (double it over a few times to prevent accidental punctures). The use a long steel bar to lay along side the saw blade in the tank you just built. Set your battery charger and leave it to do its work. You'll need to flip the blade since the side lying on the plastic won't see as much exposure.

Naval jelly may be a little easier and you can just do small sections at a time. Not sure on cost either. Show us some pics when you do it......it would be nice to see the before and after shots.

[tulsa_sr5]

The active ingredient in naval jelly is phosphoric acid. It's cheaper to just buy the acid at home depot & wash it down with a nylon scrubbing pad & phosphoric acid. Turns rust black, and you can wipe a layer off. Depending on how think the rust is that might work OK and be cheaper/faster than anything else. Just wear gloves and eye protection.

[surf4runner]

The anal jelly looks the easiest ...

:spit: thats one rusty hole

use of phosphoric acid (works :thumbup: ) usually requires painting over it to seal it, dunno how it would shine after...