Paint on rust removal

[ronan]

Is there anything i can buy (cheaply) or make to remove rust ? I made a bench, about 2ft square by 18 inches high about a year ago for my pillar drill to sit on in the shed, and lost focus on the job, leaving it outside in the elements since.

I cleaned off the rust on the outside with a wire wheel in the grinder tonight, it was dirty and dusty but easy enough, but getting rid of the rust inside is a nightmare though. If there was something i could paint on it would make life so much easier. Would vinegar or something like that work ?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm watching this as the inside of the gas bottle BBQ is the same and a pig to get at properly. I've already got BH Deox gel for something else, but if there's anything cheaper which will adhere without running off.....??

 

[james butler]

i use jenolite which was ok for surface rust and turns the rest black which supposedly stabilises it enough to paint over.
no idea if this will work long term as ive not done anything that long ago to go by.
i did use wickes patio cleaner to derust items in the past and it works brilliantly but takes a bit of time, the only problem is if you put it in an area you cant easily get it back out again it might sit there eating its way through the metal.
the bottle suggests washing excess away with water which on steel isnt great.
although the plus side is its cheap for 5 litres.
stuff i did a while ago and painted are still going strong.

 

[Burdekin]

Concrete/brick cleaner with hydrochloric acid in it.

 

[8ob]

Is there any point in completely removing rust? I can understand getting the flaky/loose stuff off but I think paint keys better on a slightly rusty steel surface than a bright shiny one, on lightly rusted angle I would use a 3m conditioning pad, degrease with brake cleaner and paint.

Feel free to disagree

Bob

 

[ajlelectronics]

I cleaned off the rust on the outside with a wire wheel in the grinder tonight, it was dirty and dusty but easy enough, but getting rid of the rust inside is a nightmare though. If there was something i could paint on it would make life so much easier. Would vinegar or something like that work ?

Could you enclose the area and use washing soda with electrolysis?

 

[WorkshopChris]

Is there any point in completely removing rust? I can understand getting the flaky/loose stuff off but I think paint keys better on a slightly rusty steel surface than a bright shiny one, on lightly rusted angle I would use a 3m conditioning pad, degrease with brake cleaner and paint.

I am with bob on 8ob on this have built lots of bits from steel that has been sitting outside for years, as long as its clean and dry with the worst removed once painted with a decent paint it will be fine.

 

[dieselsamurai]

I use citric acid granuals mixed with water then sprinkle in some wallpaper paste it ends up like a gel then brush it on leave over night then jetwash off , did a whole truck chassis that way

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5Kg-Citr...-beer-brew-making-descaling-mono/181107422925

 

[Onoff]

Electrolysis. Works better than I could have imagined. Washing Soda crystals from Tesco at a quid a bag.

If you could get a container big enough to contain the bench like an old cold water storage tank you could use electrolysis or molasses like some like on here.

 

[dieselsamurai]

Ive used electrolysis and its great but is line or sight to the cathode (metal that atracts the rust off part) i just find a tank of citric acid is handy because you just leave it in there as long as you like and its enviromentally friendy
Phosphoric acid is the best as it actually leaves a protective coating on the metal as the other methods tend to 'flash' rust after you dry them off

 

[ronan]

I use citric acid granuals mixed with water then sprinkle in some wallpaper paste it ends up like a gel then brush it on leave over night then jetwash off , did a whole truck chassis that way

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5Kg-Citr...-beer-brew-making-descaling-mono/181107422925

I might give this a go. Cheap and not too much labour involved.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Think I'm going to go with @8ob and @WorkshopChris - easier, less messy and it'd be coated in food fat in short order, I'm sure. Got some Lidl FTP which, according to the rattle cans, needs no primer/undercoat. Got the inside rails/ grille supports to weld in, make a tray to hold the charcoal and that's the interior finished. Hope to make some progress with the tail and snout this afternoon......