Proven tiphacks, how to easily remove rust from the metal surface
There are a huge number of different ways to remove rust from metal, except that not all of them work the way you would like them to. We will tell you about the tried-and-true tiphacks that will help you get rid of rust in a matter of minutes.
Important: As a rule, rust remedies are always very toxic, so be sure to wear gloves and, if possible, a respirator and safety glasses. Rust burns on mucous membranes can happen almost instantaneously if you don’t follow safety procedures.
Where does the rust come from?
To know how to fight rust, you need to know where this “enemy” comes from. Rust can appear on any metal surface, and you should not “underestimate” it: this problem can lead to the fact that the metal objects affected by it will have to be completely gotten rid of.
Rust can appear only with the help of water or moist air. Under these conditions, iron molecules react with oxygen molecules, in other words, iron oxidizes. To avoid this, the surface is treated with an anti-corrosion coating. If this has not been done, rust can be removed – there are a number of different ways to do this.
All of the following methods will help to get rid of rust of any nature on absolutely any object, whether it is some metal part, car body, spare part, grid, pipe, knife or anything else.
The methods below will help you get rid of rust on any object
The best ways to remove rust
Kerosene
Kerosene is also quite good at dealing with this “nuisance”. The rust is also first scrubbed or metal brush, or “sandpaper”, and on top wipe with a rag that has been abundantly soaked in kerosene. You can place a metal object covered with rust in a container of kerosene. Machine oil can also be used in the same way, but it will be a little weaker.
Let’s look at how to properly clean rust from metal in this way.
| Illustration | Description |
|---|---|
| There is a metal bicycle chain, covered with rust after long use. It is to be cleaned with kerosene. | |
| To get rid of the rust, technical kerosene (200 ml) will be used. It is also necessary to prepare another container – a can or, as in this case, a plastic bottle | |
| The chain was placed in the bottle, where it was then poured kerosene. It is recommended that it covers all the metal parts completely – so you can get rid of rust faster. Then everything is simple: you need to shake the bottle well, and then leave it for a while – from 10 minutes to 2-3 hours: it all depends on how rusty the object. | |
| After the specified time, the metal chain is taken out. The result is pleasantly striking: the rust was removed almost completely, and the kerosene turned black. |
Important: It may happen that the rust is not completely removed if there was a lot of it on the metal. In this case, it is worth repeating the procedure again – then there will definitely be no trace of it left.
Auto Cleaner
Such a cleaner can be purchased at any automotive supply store. Before using the auto cleaner, it is better to clean the metal surface with a stiff brush, and then apply a thick layer of the product – 3-4 mm. Leave it on for a couple of minutes, and then remove the remnants of the product together with the rust with a damp rag. You can repeat this procedure several times if you cannot remove the rust at once.
A normal car cleaner can be used to get rid of the rust
Hydrochloric or Sulfuric Acid
If you have hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, using it to remove rust is a great solution. You need to add urotropine to the acid, which will inhibit the corrosion process by removing the rust that has already appeared.
- 5% acid solution – 400 ml;
- 0.5 grams of urotropine.
The resulting product is poured or gently treated with a brush on the “affected” area of the metal. If you do not have urotropine (which is an inhibitor), then you cannot use pure acid – it will simply destroy the metal.
Sulfuric or hydrochloric acid is a good way to get rid of corrosion.
It is even easier if small metal parts have been affected by corrosion. You need to throw them in the same concentration of solution for literally 5-10 minutes, and then gently remove and wipe dry. Nothing will be left of the rust.
By the way! Instead of urotropin, you can use an inhibitor made with your own hands from potato tops. To do this, half-fill the jar with potato tops, pour it to the middle of hydrochloric or hydrochloric acid, stir it constantly for the next 20 minutes, and then use it as an inhibitor.
Let us consider an example of the proper cleaning of metal from rust by this method.
| Illustration | Description |
|---|---|
| First of all, to clean metal parts from rust, you need to prepare containers. In the first – hydrochloric acid and urotropine, in the second – 2 teaspoons of soda mixed with a glass of water. | |
| Before immersing the part in the container, it should be cleaned with a brush or iron brush. This will make it easier to remove the rust. | |
| First of all, the part should be immersed in a container of hydrochloric acid – for 5-10 minutes, depending on how “affected” the metal is. Remember that it is better to work with gloves on, and to immerse the part with a pair of tweezers! | |
| After this time, the workpiece was put into a container with water and soda for 30-60 seconds, and then wiped dry. | |
| Of course, traces of affection will remain if the metal has long been corroded, but the “enemy” in the form of rust will not remain. This way you can successfully clean any metal objects. |
Video – How hydrochloric acid works with rust
Phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid will also work well. A 15% or 30% solution is applied to the rust with a brush or sprayer, leave it until it dries, and then easily remove the rust from the surface.
You can also make a solution:
- 1 L of phosphoric acid;
- 15 ml tartaric acid;
- 5 ml of butanol.
Such a remedy will be even stronger in the fight against rust. It is applied in a similar way.
Phosphoric acid can also be used.
Solutions from rust with their own hands
There are several recipes for rust remedies that are easy to prepare even with your own hands! Here are the most effective, tested by us personally.
- Formalin solution. To prepare it, mix 300 ml of water, 50 g of caustic soda, 50 g of ammonium and 250 g of formalin (40%). The resulting solution is diluted in another liter of water. Metal parts are placed in it or metal covered with rust is treated with it. Usually you do not need more than 35 minutes to see the effect. It is recommended to rinse the metal with hot water after the treatment, and then wipe it dry. It will shine like new.
- A mixture of 100 g of liquid paraffin and 50 g of lactic acid. The acid will first turn the rust into salt, and then it will dissolve in the paraffin. This works very quickly and works without fail. When finished, wipe the metal surface with a dry cloth.
These remedies are very effective, but you have to get the ingredients to prepare them. However, you can also use homemade remedies. It is safer and just as effective. Ingredients for such means are sure to have in every home.
Handy remedies for getting rid of rust
- Vinegar and lemon juice. Both components are mixed in equal parts and gently applied to the rust – with a sponge, cloth or brush. Such a remedy will remove the rust from the metal in a few hours. After this time, you need to rub the rust with a metal brush, wash the place with clean water, and then wipe it dry.
- Fish oil. Surprisingly, fish oil also helps get rid of rust! The grease gets rid of the rust very quickly, and it will leave a thin film on the metal that will keep the rust from forming again. Just crush a few capsules and apply them to the rust.
And here are step-by-step instructions for cleaning rust from metal with acetic and citric acids – this is also very easy to do.
| Illustration | Description |
|---|---|
| In this case, two “pancakes” need to be cleaned of rust. To conduct the experiment, let’s put one in dilute citric acid (1 bag of 20 g pour 300 ml of water), and the other in acetic acid (9%, 300 ml). There is no need to clean the metal beforehand. Unfortunately, this method is quite long, and this is its main disadvantage – to see the effect, you will have to wait 12-24 hours. | |
| First of all, let’s take the pancake out of the container with acetic acid. Let’s notice that it is covered with something black – this is dirt that has just risen to the surface. | |
| The acetic acid removed the rust well, but still not completely – some “blackness” still remained. We can conclude that vinegar works, but it is better to use it when the metal is not “affected” too much. | |
| Now consider the pancake, which was in a solution of citric acid. Surprisingly, there is nothing left of the rust at all: the pancake looks almost like new. So it is quite clear that this method works somewhat better. |
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to get rid of rust – there are quite complicated, and there are the simplest, which are quite feasible at home even without additional purchases of different “ingredients” mixtures. The main thing is that all these methods have been tested by other people and by our website experts. Choose any of them – you will not be disappointed!
Effective ways to remove rust from metal before painting
Conducting a rust treatment before painting metal is a necessary component of repair work.
The purpose of this exposure – not only to return the metal product attractive appearance, but also to preserve the functionality, as well as extend the life of the product.
About what to treat metal from rust before painting it, we will tell in the article.
Types of treatment of rusty metal surface
The choice of rust treatment method depends on the degree of corrosion and the type of object itself. You should also consider what metal care products are available and available for use.
Some of the most common treatments include:
- Chemical.
- Mechanical.
- Thermal. Conducted with the use of a torch.
Rust cannot be removed by rinsing with plain water. Targeted, comprehensive treatment is needed for this purpose.
All the most useful and important information about rust removal methods and techniques can be found here.
Thermal
The thermal method is rarely used. The use of an oxyacetylene torch will remove the mill scale well, but will not remove the rust completely.
The use of torches must be carried out in suitable conditions. Although the method is highly traumatic, its effectiveness is inferior to chemical treatment.
Mechanical
The physical action on the rust is designed to remove the top layer of material that has become loose. This can be done in several ways:
- By hand (using a brush with metal bristles and scrapers);
- With the use of a grinder or a special machine.
In addition to those tools that are available at home, serious devices are used in industrial plants for the treatment of rust, involving the use of special equipment:
- shot blasting;
- water-blasting;
- sandblasting.
The best result is a combination of abrasive and chemical action.
Chemical
Chemical treatment is carried out with the help of home-made and purchased, ready-to-use preparations. In addition, large metal surfaces are also subjected to special effects to preserve and protect the material:
- compounding with organic additives to provide blistering;
- cementation – a chemical reaction with carbon
- nitriding, etc.
The chemical method eliminates rust by a chemical reaction using substances active to the corrosion products.
Treatment performed at home includes:
- material preparation;
- Chemical exposure;
- rinsing.
The type of chemical action must take into account the degree of damage to the metal.
How to remove plaque by folk remedies?
Increasing the effectiveness of the method of exposure gives a combination of chemical treatment and mechanical action. Home recipes are based on the use of readily available means, which may already be in the household. Their main advantage is cheapness and availability.
As a rule, the choice in favor of folk recipes is made with minor corrosion. To cope with it most often not difficult.
Coca-Cola
The use of Coca-Cola in the home allows the cleaning of various surfaces. One popular recipe is to use the drink to remove rust.
In order for the orthophosphoric acid in the drink to work, you can use a rag soaked in Coca-Cola . The rag is abundantly soaked in the drink and applied to the surface that needs to be cleaned of rust.
This recipe is suitable when the rust has not penetrated deep into the metal, as the concentration of phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola is low. The exposure time should be at least a few hours, preferably a day.
But this method is ineffective if the metal is seriously damaged. At the end of exposure, Coke is washed off with water and the surface is wiped dry. When using Coke, it is sufficient to use only rubber gloves as protection. Read more about the use of Coke against rust here.
Acids
Various acids have proven themselves in the fight against rust:
Lemon .
One of the easiest recipes to deal with rust is to use citric acid.
To do this, the acid powder is diluted so that a very concentrated solution is obtained, with all grains completely dissolved.
The remedy can be applied in two ways:
- Apply with a sponge liberally to the affected areas of the metal;
- Saturate a rag with the solution and apply to corroded areas.
The latter option is more effective, but even this method will not eliminate serious corrosion.
The time of action of the composition is at least one hour. After that, you should clean the metal with a stiff brush, and rinse off the residue. Read more about the use of citric acid in the fight against rust here.
Vinegar
Vinegar can also help remove rust from nonsevere corrosive processes. Undiluted vinegar is used for exposure.
If rusted items are small, you can put them in a container and simply pour . For larger metal objects, ensure that the cleaned surface is in contact with the vinegar.
After exposure to acetic acid, the surface is refinished by mechanically scrubbing and rinsing off the vinegar residue.
The metal should be primed before painting directly. Learn more about the use of vinegar to combat metal corrosion in this article.
Alkalic Acid
Alkalic acid is a drug that comes in the form of powder . This product gives a good result, but requires very careful use, since it is a poison. It can only be used if all necessary safety precautions are observed.
Before using the acid, the metal surface should be prepared – washed with soap and water and dried. The solution for treatment is prepared by diluting 6 tsp. of acid in 300 ml. of water.
Procedure of use:
- Apply the solution liberally with a brush.
- Keep it for 30-40 minutes.
- Remove the loose rust which has become loose.
- Rinse off the rest of the remedy with water.
Alkaline acid is suitable for neglected cases and treatment of large surfaces.
Orthophosphoric
Orthophosphoric acid is a frequently used component of ready-to-use rust converters.
This substance is highly effective and can be used even in neglected cases.
An acid concentration of 15-20% is required to prepare the metal for painting. Exposure to orthophosphoric acid should not be long – only 5 minutes is enough. After that the surface can be brushed.
All work must be carried out in conditions of sufficient ventilation and with the use of protective equipment. Read more about the use of phosphoric acid here.
How to clean with special compounds?
Commercially available rust removers are saturated with active ingredients in high concentrations . These preparations will help in cases where there is neglected corrosion with serious damage to the metal, covering a large area or damaged the surface of serious equipment, such as cars.
These products may be acidic or acid-free. In addition to the main active ingredient, ready-to-use products contain corrosion inhibitors, thickeners, and other additional components.
Before applying the converter, the surface must be prepared:
- remove dirt;
- clean off the loose rust layer;
- degrease the surface.
Hi-Gear Rust Treatment
Hi-Gear is a rust converter that can cope even with neglected corrosion, as it penetrates even to the deepest layers of the material. It is applied by spraying. As a result of the chemical reaction the rust is removed and a polymer protective composition is formed on the surface.
Application of Hi-Gear requires caution, as the compound is able to react not only with the products of corrosion, but also with the paint coating. After exposure to the converter, it must be necessarily washed off, using alcohol-based solvents.
Despite the high price per bottle, the purchase can be considered profitable, since the consumption of the product is very economical. The price of a package is about 700 rubles.
Fenom .
Fenom is a rust converter, which is often chosen by car enthusiasts. The product is well distributed on the surface and creates a dense polymer layer. The preparation is reliable, allowing to prevent the recurrence of corrosion in the place of treatment for many years.
The phenom is available in a compact black package and is a white liquid. Because of the small volume of funds in one bottle, to process a large area of metal may need several bottles.
One of the main disadvantages is the small volume. If you buy several bottles, the cost of treatment increases significantly.
Pros of use:
- Efficiency;
- affordable price for 1 bottle;
- creates a protective layer;
- quick and easy application – brush application;
- qualitative processing of metal by complex action.
The price of a small bottle is about 150 rubles.
Kudo KV-70005
Kudo – structural modifier, which effectively copes with rust due to the inclusion of acids. The preparation can be used to remove small areas of corrosion. The product is packaged in small bottles, easy to apply with the brush that comes with the kit.
Due to the fact that Kudo does not react with paints and varnishes, you can safely use it on machinery, including bodywork. After application and the passage of the reaction, a protective film of zinc is created on the metal surface.
The price for 15 ml is 120 rubles.
Recommendations
For the treatment of rust on the metal to be as productive as possible, it is necessary to adhere to the following recommendations:
- The corrosion process begins with the most vulnerable areas. Prevent its spreading is possible by scraping and creating a protective coating.
- When carrying out work to remove rust, personal protective equipment must be used.
- Working with purchased agents, rust converters, you must first study the instructions for the selected product, and strictly follow it.
- Even expensive rust converters can not restore the metal if it has very significant damage, such as end-to-end corrosion.
- Preventing rust formation will help keep metal products in good condition.
- The best protection for metal is to galvanize it. Using products with zinc can help prevent corrosion.
Video on the topic of the article
How to get rid of rust on metal, the video will tell you:
Conclusion
Preparing a rusted surface for painting is a necessary condition that will allow the coating to hold up well. This requires a comprehensive approach, and the complete elimination of corrosion.
