Cleaning rusty parts?

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:09 pm

I'm in the middle of an engine swap with a new (to me) car and there are a lot of rusty brackets in the engine compartment. While everything is out of the car, I'd like to clean them up and hit them with some paint so they quit rusting.

Does anybody have any personal experience with doing something similar? I did a search and it seems that a lot of people are soaking parts in vinegar and then scrubbing them down with somewhat mixed results. That looks to be fairly effective and it is certainly cheap. There are also a few products on the market designed to do the same thing but it seems that for every positive testimonial I find, I find a negative one.

I know I'll probably wind up experimenting a bit but if anybody has any positive experiences with a certain technique or product, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks,

Jim

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94978

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=40925

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

On the cheap I've used Naval Jelly over the years. Just be careful with it. Very good for prepping iron, steel and galvanized parts prior to paint.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:54 pm

I use what Mike uses.

Sam Blanton · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:09 pm

This worked for me.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm
also
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/board/ ... p?id=31004

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:33 pm

Thanks guys.

The HF "blast box" solution is very impractical for me at the moment since I don't have a good place to put it. The only place I can put something like that is inside the house and even though I'm currently rebuilding an engine in my living room, I have to draw the line somewhere.

I am looking for something more along the lines of what Sam suggested (thanks Sam!) with the overriding criteria of it being cheap. Minimal fuss is the next priority I guess.

The EE in me is very curious about the electrolysis method. I may give that a whirl just for kicks. Besides, I haven't electrocuted myself since grad school so that could be fun.

Jim

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:02 pm

Jim, I've got a decent sized blast cabinet you can come use if you want.

--Donnie

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:06 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Jim, I've got a decent sized blast cabinet you can come use if you want.

--Donnie

I would second that. Bundle up a few parts that you need to media blast then cart them over to someone's house. With a day notice or so, I could help you out as well.

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:01 pm

I've used a chemical called ospho if I remember correctly. I think I got it at a farm store or true value hardware. It was like $15 for a gallon and I've had it for years. Anything it's touched has never rusted again.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

JamesFeinberg wrote:

I'd like to clean them up and hit them with some paint so they quit rusting.

There's really nothing you can do to prevent rust on a Camaro. :twisted:

However, if you insist, paint the brackets reddish-brown so you won't be as disappointed later on.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:01 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

JamesFeinberg wrote:

I'd like to clean them up and hit them with some paint so they quit rusting.

There's really nothing you can do to prevent rust on a Camaro. :twisted:

However, if you insist, paint the brackets reddish-brown so you won't be as disappointed later on.

Technically speaking, wouldn't taking the rust off a Camaro make it illegal for stock class racing? I mean they come from the factory that way, don't they?

--Donnie

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:16 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Arthur McDonald wrote:

JamesFeinberg wrote:

I'd like to clean them up and hit them with some paint so they quit rusting.

There's really nothing you can do to prevent rust on a Camaro. :twisted:

However, if you insist, paint the brackets reddish-brown so you won't be as disappointed later on.

Technically speaking, wouldn't taking the rust off a Camaro make it illegal for stock class racing? I mean they come from the factory that way, don't they?

--Donnie

if nothing else, i am sure the rust helps hold it together. long live "The General"!!!

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:08 am

I'll echo what the others said.

I've got the big pot blaster for steel parts/non sensitive. I've got the little media box with glass bead for aluminum/sensitive stuff.

I live near by and you won't overwork my compressor. On the other hand, last I checked, it's cold and rainy outside.

How about washing all the parts in the dishwasher first?

Johnathan Eshleman · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:39 am

Not the smartest thing I've ever done and much to my wifes disapproval but I've used the dish washer to do a final clean on some parts. Be careful with Aluminum parts as some detergent will react with it and leave a white chalky residue.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Johnathan Eshleman wrote:

Not the smartest thing I've ever done and much to my wifes disapproval but I've used the dish washer to do a final clean on some parts. Be careful with Aluminum parts as some detergent will react with it and leave a white chalky residue.

It is the bleach that is in most (if not all) automatic dishwasher detergent that reacts with aluminum.

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