John Edgar Park likes to make things and tell people about it. He builds project for Adafruit Industries. You can find him at jpixl.net and twitter/IG @johnedgarpark
I posed the question recently about how to remove rust from this toolbox full of neglected tools. I got lots of suggestions in the comments recommending different methods. I’ve decided to try out as many of them as possible. First up: soda.
Owing to its phosphoric acid content, Coca Cola has a pretty good reputation as a remover of iron oxide. I chose a bottle of Mexican Pepsi, since it’s made with cane sugar and I’m pretty sure high fructose corn syrup is bad for tools (kidding).
I placed this lovely wrench in a small container, poured in the Pepsi, and let it sit for four days. When I pulled it out I was half-expecting a gleaming, new tool to emerge. Instead, it had removed some of the surface rust, but none of the more serious crud.
I’ve decided to put it back in with a fresh bottle of soda (this time a Mexican co*ke) for another week, and then see if there’s much change. As usual, if anyone has advice on this technique, please let us know about it in the comments.
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Steven Spraguesays: I know this comment is not about using co*ke to eat rust, but if getting rid of rust without using harsh chemicals is your end result then – Evapo-Rust!
I have read lots about it for hand plane restoration. I have been dying to try the stuff, it is supposed to be the bomb for rust removal.
I have scene potatoes are supposed to work really well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYgnHDB3VNI - FlatTopsays:
+1 on the oxalic acid; I have some scabby motorcycle parts soaking in it at home right now. An overnight soak is usually enough, just brush off the resulting green crud with a brass brush, rinse in baking soda/water solution, and wash with clean water.
It’s sometimes sold as wood bleach or wood brightener. I ended up getting some at West Marine.
BTW, that wrench will never look like new because the chrome finish is gone. And before soaking it anything, be it co*ke, molasses, oxalic acid, or whatever, knock the loose, flaky bits off with a steel brush so the chemicals can get to the rust at the surface. - Anonymoussays:
Use a battery charger and some washing soda….check out the process at about 2:40 into this video on restoring an old hand plane.
- JamesBsays:
I’ve done electrolysis rust removal on car parts and it works well: the rust just sheets off. Clamp an automotive battery charger lead on the part, clamp the other lead on a stainless pot (I used a piece of mild steel, but you have to scrub it fairly regularly), then put both pieces in a tub of water with washing soda. It makes hydrogen gas, which can supposedly accumulate to the point of being a hazard, but I tried to light it and no burnee. Also, you are creating something of a directional electrical field in the water; so it helps to occasionally rotate the piece relative to the collector plate, or use more than one plate.
- Stephensays:
No, the field is completely screened by the electrolyte. There is no electric field beyond (at the very most) a few nanometers from the electrode. Rotating either electrode does nothing for a surface process like rust reduction — if you are plating and have generated a concentration gradient, then you might see a benefit from stirring, but rotating the electrode every once in a while will have almost zero effect.
- Adric Menningsays:
Indeed my dad’s shop has restored many a ugly rusty tool that way. plastic bucket, bundle of rebar, a few teaspoons of washing soda and a battery charger.
avoid doing it with stainless steel as the container or positive electrode. , the water can have chromates in it and would require evaporation and hazardous material handling/ disposal.
Pretty neat to take a saw thats totally red and covered in scale, and in a day or two you can wipe off the rust, and read the stamped info.
post electrolysis de-rusting you should bake it dry, and then apply protectant.
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- Ross Hershbergersays:
What about temperature? I assume this was left at room temp. A warmer place might speed the reaction. Most of the chemicals for removing oxidation from steel are pretty nasty. We use a product called DMB (Descaler Metal Brightener). It’s effective and fast but probably a lot worse for the environment than cola.
- FlatTopsays:
Naval jelly is fantastic, but it’s best used on simple shapes. Also, it leaves a film of iron phosphate, IIRC, that will protect the surface from flash rust for a while and since the surface has been acid etched, a self-etching primer isn’t necessary. This post explains it pretty well:
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2257 - Kevin Cooleysays:
Birchwoood Casey’s Blue and Rust Remover is the best rust remover I have ever seen. It’s sold as a firearm product, but it is safe to use on any metal. A little bit of it goes a long way. I think it would be perfect for tool restoration. You could even use some gun blue to coat the wrench when you’re finished. Or Dura-coat it. ;)
http://www.cabelas.com/solvents-lubes-bluing-birchwood-casey-blue-rust-remover-1.shtml
- Mel Webadssays:
Think of this people – rust is really a very harsh by product of water and iron and rust is poisonous. Now, rust can be removed by acid. Now, if Pepsi and co*ke can actually removed the rust in tools, then it must have contain a lot of acid and could be harmful to the health.
- Johnsays:
Well, after hearing that you tried co*ke, I had to chime in with my experience. One day my dad came home with an old bike for me ( I was about ten at the time). that apparently had spent too much time outside in the rain. My older (twelve) brother knew of the power of co*ke, and since more is better, he suggested we add vinegar to the mix, too. What the heck…
The specific target was the completely rusted handlebar nut and bearings assembly, which had to be removed so we could strip all the old paint from the frame with paint stripper. The co*ke and vinegar combo was poured into the neck of the bike numerous times over a couple days, and sure enough, it finally broke free. We then spent many hours with wire brush and rag clearing the rust from the bearings and threads so it would all work properly when we put it all back together.
Did the co*ke / vinegar really have any effect? I don’t know, but it was fun to tell the story to all our buddies. The bike turned out pretty good in the end too. Candy Apple Blue. NNNNNNNice….
- Norman DeVallieresays:
With a wrench like that, the size of the opening is important, but unless it is collectible, I would feel fine about going at it with abrasives. WD-40, with wire brushes, steel wool (or the synthetic substitutes), and sandpapery things of one sort or another – any of these would make quick work of getting it clean of rust.
Getting rid of the pits is fun too. If the milled sides of each end are in the same plane, you could lay the tool flat on an oilstone and lap it until smooth. But, you probably don’t want to make it look like jewelry :-)
- Anonymoussays:
I’ve had decent results cleaning a rusted workbench with a small amount of diet co*ke agitated with aluminum foil. I chose diet co*ke because the sugar in regular co*ke seemed like it would be counterproductive. It may not make something magically gleam, but it’s less hazardous than breaking out naval jelly in an enclosed space.
- John Doesays:
I’m looking forward to see the final result, after the Mexican co*ke. I suggest you to try to remove the rust with a solution of baking soda and vinegar, but I do not know if it will work.
Regards from an Enfield cleaner!
- Argo csays:
A product I’ve seen work real good , is from Nu-Calgon . It’s called liquid ice machine cleaner . It turns rust (iron oxide) into iron phosphate , which is a black looking material and it also blocks further rusting .
The msds sheet identifies it as Phosphoric Acid , which is why cola kinda works .
- Anonymoussays:
Pretty component of content. I
simply stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to say that I get in
fact loved account your blog posts. I have ever seen. It’s sold as a firearm
product, but it is safe to use on any metal. A little bit of it goes a long
way. I think it would be perfect for tool restoration. Pretty neat to take a
saw that’s totally red and covered in scale and in a day or two you can wipe
off the rust, and read the stamped info. Thanks once more for the information
and keep up the really great work. I will probably be returning and will check
your further posts. - Anonymoussays:
Pretty component of content. I
simply stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to say that I get in
fact loved account your blog posts. I have ever seen. It’s sold as a firearm
product, but it is safe to use on any metal. A little bit of it goes a long
way. I think it would be perfect for tool restoration. Pretty neat to take a
saw that’s totally red and covered in scale and in a day or two you can wipe
off the rust, and read the stamped info. Thanks once more for the information
and keep up the really great work. I will probably be returning and will check
your further posts. - Anonymoussays:
I’ve seen a few great blogs that don’t have comments at all.They have many readers and rust preventative no comments whatsoever.
- Vladimir Stefanovicsays:
I have been in the rust removal business for years, from developing products to marketing them. They are many options, sum easy but not safe and some easy and extremely safe. That is the route i suggest. Get a Non-toxic , acid free, solvent free rust remover and let it do its work. They are a few on the market. Some work better than others.
- Jasminesays:
I work among some large companies and currently they are using a non-toxic rust remover as well. I saw Valdimir posted about them above. One that we have found that works well and fits into our company budget is http://www.Rust911.com. Take a look and see what you think.
- 20 Alternative Uses For Coca-Cola | Our Daily Ideassays:
[…] Some even compare this drink to some sort of a super-hero, because it can even fight rust away off metal tools. Andwith not much effort in the process.Learn exactly how to do this–> here […]
- 25 Practical Uses for Coca-cola, Proof It Should Not Be In Human Body | "OUR WORLD"says:
[…] Rust Fighter: If you want to get rid of the gross rust then dip that object into a mug full of fresh co*ke or if the object is too big then soak a cloth in co*ke and try to rub the rust out. The phosphoric acid in the drink will cause the corrosion process and the rust will loosen and can be easily taken off from the affected object. source: https://makezine.com/2011/03/21/rust-removal-using-soda/ […]
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John Edgar Park likes to make things and tell people about it. He builds project for Adafruit Industries. You can find him at jpixl.net and twitter/IG @johnedgarpark
