Rusty Mould? Vinegar!

[centershot]

Well, I can't claim this as an original idea, I read it here somewhere a few days ago. My old Lyman 311041 had some rust in the cavities ( I know, I know, spank me.......) and when I read that I thought "Hmmmm, can't hurt!" I used some white vinegar and a clean toothbrush, that vinegar started bubbling as soon as it hit the metal! I scrubbed it for maybe one minute then rinsed with hot water. OMG! Coulda' knocked me over with a feather! It looked as good as new! I showed it to my wife, She said "I could have told you that would have worked, I use vinegar for cleaning lots of stuff!"

[GhostHawk]

Make sure you get it all off.

My Dad and I were building a Dock for his lake place. Asked the guy we bought the steel from what was the best way to clean all the crud off so we could get paint to stick. He said Vinegar.

We got it home, got some vinegar, setup sawhorses and worked every inch of every piece. Came out the next day to go to work, every inch of steel had an 1/8 inch of red fur on it. Yeah, did not get it all off again, combined with high humidity.

We polished on that steel for a week to get it back. I will admit, it held the paint. 24 years later dad sold it with the Cabin. Replaced deck once, but the frame. I'd of drove a small car out on that thing.

Little soda and water makes sure the acid is gone. Then I would heat it, drive off any moisture. Pour some lead in it will work.

[blackthorn]

I have used a soak in a citric acid solution to remove light rust on a mould. I have also used the same thing on a VERY heavily rusted small cast pot. After an overnight soak, there was "streamers" of rust hanging off the handle like Spanish moss off trees. Pot came up like new!

[Grmps]

both HF and HD sell a good water based rust remover.

[TexasGrunt]

Baking soda mixed with water will neutralize the vinegar. Or one could simply get some Evapo-Rust.

[buckwheatpaul]

I noticed some light rust on a Lyman mold and used Balistol on it....cleaned up great.....like the vinegar solution information.

[Baryngyl]

Will vinegar remove the blueing on a rifle if used to clean off some light rusting?


Thank You
Michael Grace

[TexasGrunt]

Will vinegar remove the blueing on a rifle if used to clean off some light rusting?


Thank You
Michael Grace

Yep. Bluing is rust.

[303Guy]

Sugar soap removes acid. Bicarb neutralizes acetic acid just fine but bicarb in itself causes rusting. Dish washing liquid breaks down rust quite well, especially when hot. It can be used neat or in a strong solution. It also removes oils which means the steel will start rusting again if not oiled.