Subject: HELP! Flash Rust Everywhere

From: [email-masked] (Michael Gilmore)
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 97 14:36:39 GMT

HELP...

I have a converted garage/shop.
Recently we had an unfortunate accident.  My wife was doing a marathon
laundry session Saturday while I was away at work.  Unknown to her, something
had fallen  and broken the aluminum piping for the dryer that ran through the 
end of my shop.  When I got home and stepped out into the shop, it was like I 
walked into a San Francisco Fog.  Every unpainted steel surface in my shop was 
covered with rust.  Band saw, jointer, saw blades, bits, even my screwdrivers 
were covered in the stuff.  <Fortunately my Ryobi table saw has an aluminum 
table.>  I immediately sprayed all the major surfaces down with WD-40.  I have 
tried since to remove the rust by using steel wool, and even wet/dry sandpaper 
but  I don't seem to be getting anywhere, I haven't tried power sanding yet 
but was afraid of damaging something.  And it's hard to sand drill and router 
bits. If anyone has any suggestions I would be very glad to hear them.  I am 
just sick about this.

Thanks a lot,

Michael Gilmore
[email-masked]

Petoskey MI
"where this week 10 below is a warm spell"

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From: [email-masked] (Gary Lowell)
Date: 13 Feb 1997 23:05:52 GMT

Michael Gilmore <[email-masked]> wrote:
...
>bits. If anyone has any suggestions I would be very glad to hear them.  I am 

I've had pretty good luck with LPS 2 and a scotch brite pad or brass
brush.  Occasionally a wire brush in my drill or dremal tool.
For some reason, I've just never gotten on well with WD40.

I've also had pretty good luck with electrolysis on some heavy rust
on old tools.  There is a web page that describes the process.  I 
don't have the URL, but I originally found it using altavista.

Naval Jelly (phosphoric acid) also works very well, but I don't
like the darkening of the metal that results.  So I use it only
on surfaces that I plan to re-paint.  It can be removed with
a wire brush or scotch brite pad.

A product that comes highly recommended, but which I havn't tried
myself is Knorrostol which is available through SPI distributers.

Cheers,
Gary Lowell
[email-masked]

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From: David Carson <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 01:12:40 -0500

> "where this week 10 below is a warm spell"

Drill bits, saw blades, screwdrivers, and router bits should clean up
rather easily.  Soak 'em in any light oil--even motor oil--overnight. 
Then work on 'em with steel wool or a wire brush (relative fine) on your
grinder, drill, or dremel tool.

For cast iron tables, I usually use an orbital sander--any kind will
do--then apply paste wax with a steel wool pad.

Good luck.

Kit