Classic & Vintage - Source for phosphoric acid? (or other rust remover)

From my gathered knowledge, phosphoric acid will work best as a rust remover

Haven't been able to find a source for any though. Any suggestions


Been using the tip I got from this forum to use aluminum foil to remove rust on metal parts and it works great! Just think some acid would speed along the process

Any decent hardware store should have some in stock.

"naval jelly" rust remover, available in hardware stores, i believe, is the same thing.

Phosphoric acid is corrosive. Its like battery acid if it gets on you, and it'll eat paint. I know because I use to haul the sh't by the tank loads. Phosphoric acid is an excellent aluminum cleaner though, but dont know if I'd want to use it on rust. I always thought naval jelly was good for that.

Phosphoric acid is corrosive. Its like battery acid if it gets on you, and it'll eat paint. I know because I use to haul the sh't by the tank loads. Phosphoric acid is an excellent aluminum cleaner though, but dont know if I'd want to use it on rust. I always thought naval jelly was good for that.
Naval Jelly = Phosphoric Acid :)

http://www.shorechemical.com/Section%207%20Tech%20Sheets/naval_jelly.htm

From my gathered knowledge, phosphoric acid will work best as a rust remover

Haven't been able to find a source for any though. Any suggestions


Been using the tip I got from this forum to use aluminum foil to remove rust on metal parts and it works great! Just think some acid would speed along the process

A can of Coca Cola? :rolleyes:

Oxalic Acid is safer for rust removal. Just remove the rusty parts and soak in Oxalic Acid and water. There are several threads in this forum about using Oxalic Acid to remove rust and restore the luster of chrome parts.
http://www.chemistrystore.com/oxalic_acid.htm

Thanks for the replies everywhere

I checked Lowes and HD in their solvents section and only saw muriatic acid, I was probably just blind.


Is there anywhere local that I could get oxalic acid? Chemical supply only kind of thing?

Oxalic acid at Lowes is sold as "wood bleach", usually in the decking section. It is used to remove stains from wood. Find wood bleach, or something similar, look at ingredients. Should say Oxalic Acid.

Thanks for the replies everywhere

I checked Lowes and HD in their solvents section and only saw muriatic acid, I was probably just blind.


Is there anywhere local that I could get oxalic acid? Chemical supply only kind of thing?Local hardware store or a woodworking shop should have it, even your pharmacy can get it. It comes as a powder and should cost around $5/lb.

There is stuff in a can just like those cardboard cylinders of Ajax or Comet called Bar Keepers Friend (http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/). The active ingredient is Oxalic Acid. I have used it--bare handed--and swear by it. Literally. I restored a like-new shine to a rusty wheel and said "Mein Gott!" It's fast, easy and cheap. I buy it at my local hardware store.

Even spots that are lightly pitted are much less visible with the rust cleaned away.

Zud is much better than Bar Keepers Friend. There is a side by side of the two of them somewhere on the internets tubes that analyzes both products. Zud has more oxalic acid and contains more fine abrasives (ground quartz, among others, if I recall correctly) than BKF. I recently used both cleaning up a couple of old Schwinns. Zud proved to have more oxalic acid.

edit, here's the test:
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Canyon/2609/cleaners.html

and a Google comparison:
http://www.google.com/search?num=20&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=zud+bar+keepers+friend&spell=1

Check paint or deck supply specialty stores if you can't find oxalic acid at lowes. I couldn't get it at any number of hardware stores here, but found the crystals at a little Sherwin-Williams store.

There's a 'Jersey company [POR-15] that specializes in the whole rust removal, rust prevention, surface prep, rust paint-over thing. . .pricey but bullet-proof. Nothing ferrous at Hacienda Coyote gets put up without a final coat of POR paint*. . .tho' I use Lowes' offerings of phosphoric acid for rust removal and metal prep 'cause of the cost. http://www.por15.com/ [No affiliation.]

* - Just don't get any on you. The can warns that "only time will remove POR-15"! True.

+1 on the Sherwin-Williams.

Only place I could find it.

I also used Nevr Dull for surface rust on chrome. Found it as Wal-Mart in the car care section.