Very Rusty Vee Blocks

[Malcolm BannisterParticipant @malcolmbannister38996]

Hi All…

I have four vee blocks that are extremely rusty. It's not just fine surface rust – it's quite crumbly but they aren't too pitted.

I can clean up the flat faces ok with fine wet'n'dry on a sheet of plate glass. I don't want to risk damaging the surface plate. I'm not sure of the best way to clean out the vees safely. One idea is to wrap wet'n'dry around a square HSS blank and rub carefully. Any other ideas would be gratefully received.

Cheers

Malc

[Malcolm BannisterParticipant @malcolmbannister38996]

How to remove rust safely.

[norman valentineParticipant @normanvalentine78682]

Soak them in citric acid, that will remove the rust and then a quick rub down with fine emery and oil them and they will be fine.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Any cheap sugar-free cola for about 45p a bottle will do the job.

Neil

[VicParticipant @vic]

Washing soda and a battery charger.

http://www.fergusonenthusiasts.com/restoration%20helps/tech/Rust%20Removal%20Using%20a%20Battery%20Charger.pdf

Unlike Acid it won't attack the steel. Use a blue non abrasive scourer to remove any residue or a green one if you must.

[Malcolm BannisterParticipant @malcolmbannister38996]

Brilliant suggestions

Thanks very much.

Malc

[Ray CaldonParticipant @raycaldon]

Malcolm I have tried electrolysis and was quite happy with the results, until I found a post somewhere recommending Molasses. After trying both I would say molasses is the way to go. Gentle and effective and much easier to setup. The only caveat being that molasses doesn't shift grease so your part needs to be clean before putting it in solution.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Malt vinegar works too. 20p a bottle the last time I used it.

Immerse fully and scrub with a toothbrush every 12 hours or so

You may be surprised by the amount of pitting when it's finished, especially if they are pretty guffy

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

My wife uses cheap cola for cleaning secondhand cheap jewelry that she sells to raise funds for an animal charity.

Works well!

Also is good stuff for cleaning or fluxing for soldering. Dip a "bronze" coin in for a few minutes, and you'll see why we never drink the stuff! Phosphoric acid is a constituent, I think, which is what I use to deal with rust on car panels..

Howard

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Is there any limit to the uses of cola? Thirty years ago I used to take holidays in Milan, and the next door neighbour to my sister's flat was an instrument mechanic. In his workshop he had a huge bath of the stuff, in which very dirty instruments and gauges got a soak for several days. I've used the stuff for getting seized screws out of gun actions, and I'm also told It can be used as an emergency soft soldering flux. For all these reasons, I wouldn't drink the stuff!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Cola is just an expensive way to get phosphoric acid but in a buffered Ph neutral solution with bubbles to help dislodge dirt. Better to find a proper solution of Phosphoric acid and paint it on rather than dunk it. repeat brushing every few minutes up to half an hour and wash off. You will become familiar with how it reacts. It leaves a protective coating which can be polished off with scotchbright if necessary.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> Cola is just an expensive way to get phosphoric acid

Not if you use Tesco 'everyday value' cola at 17p for 2 litres

Dump it in and check daily.

Neil

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