I came across some old tools that are still useful, but some have more rust than I care for.
Can anyone recommend and easy to use chemical rust remover?

I have never found chemicals to be satisfactory for this. I do it mechanically- steel wool, wire brush, wire wheel on a drill motor or a bench grinder, wire wheel or wire cup brush in an angle grinder. Those are my methods from gentle to harsh. Finish with some gun oil or whatever to keep rust at bay.

+1 on the wire brushes...........fyi some of that crud may be good old fashioned dirt/grime; wash 'em first.......

OXALIC ACID.

Come on, dudes. Do a search on rust removal and you're bound to find several threads regarding it and many if not most will come with high praise for oxalic acid. Here's what you do with oxalic acid:

You put it in water. You put the rusty part (or frame) in water. You let it soak. The rust disappears.

It's the easiest rust removal method in the known universe. So a search on it and learn more about it.


UPDATE- Oh, tools. I'm tired today.

Sorry, it would work for tools too but the beauty of oxalic acid is it works great on old chrome and paint, etc. But tools aren't delicate so...
phosphoric acid works well too, it turns rust into a new form of iron (forget what it's called), rust turns black and that black coating is rust proof.

Right- they're just a box of wrenches and pliers from my great uncle in Kansas (nothing metric of course)
no 'precision' stuff.

Where can i get Oxalic Adic?

Big Box hardware store?

It's sold as wood bleach. It's a crystalline powder and says on the tub that it contains oxalic acid.

Phosphoric might be better for tools though. Like I said it actually chemically changes the iron oxide to iron... something (I'd google if I weren't lazy) and it becomes totally rust proof.

The phosphoric thing started to bug me so I looked it up:


[edit] Rust removal
Phosphoric acid may be used by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools, or surfaces to convert iron(III) oxide (rust) to a water-soluble phosphate compound. It is usually available as a greenish liquid, suitable for dipping (acid bath), but is more generally used as a component in a gel, commonly called naval jelly. As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces. Care must be taken to avoid acid burns of the skin and especially the eyes, but the residue is easily diluted with water. When sufficiently diluted, it can even be nutritious to plant life, containing the essential nutrients phosphorus and iron. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer." It should not be directly introduced into surface water such as creeks or into drains, however. After treatment, the reddish-brown iron oxide will be converted to a black iron phosphate compound coating that may be scrubbed off. Multiple applications of phosphoric acid may be required to remove all rust. The resultant black compound can provide further corrosion resistance (such protection is somewhat provided by the superficially similar Parkerizing and blued electrochemical conversion coating processes.) After application and removal of rust using phosphoric acid compounds, the metal should be oiled (if to be used bare, as in a tool) or appropriately painted, by using a multiple coat process of primer, intermediate, and finish coats.

If memory serves, Phosphoric acid comes in a product called Naval Jelly.

I've always found that steel wool and oil works wonders (especially on chrome).

If it is just a bunch of old wrenches stop by any large machine shop [with a six-pac in hand] and ask them to bead-blast them for you. Then oil'um up a little to prevent future rust.

DON

I got some rust remover stuff that comes in a little squirt bottle from my local Action Autoparts. You squirt it on the rust, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub off. Works pretty well.

Steel Wool will destroy your chrome.

Regards,
J T

PS Coca-Cola contains phosphoric acid, as do some root beers.

Soak in Coca-Cola.

#0000 steel wool does nothing to chrome, used it dozens of times. I have used SOS a number of times with no scratches too. A brass bristle toothbrush removes rust in seconds. No soaking, nothing. Hold the part in your hand, and brush it, no more rust.,,,,BD

Any abraisive will scratch/remove the chrome;

what you will be looking at is

the nickel plating.


Regards,
J T

Doesn't look like nickel to me? Looks like chrome. I know what nickel plating looks like, I used
to have an early Mongoose.,,,,BD

Why do I even bother?

J T

Isn't Coke a source of Phosphoric (weak) acid?

Phosphoric acid is available in marine stores under the brand name Ospho.

I scrub the rust with Ospho and brass wool. I use brass wool because it is soft, so it removes the rust which relatively soft and doesn't scratch the good steel or chrome as much. I don't use steel wool because it leaves traces of steel which readily rusts.

A myth. It rusts because it has already rusted. It has little bits of rust still there, just less visible. Any water hits it, and it wil begin rusting again. Grease the surface and wipe off the excess. It will last longer, no matter what removal method you use.,,,,BD

I get that feeling often on this forum.

I've used white vinegar on tools with reasonable success. After the vinegar bath apply a thin mixture of baking soda and water, rinse and then rub a oily rag over them. The vinegar lasts a while, you just skim off the black guck floating on top and reload the container, making up whatever has evaporated.

I've been hearing about using molasses for rust removal too; the kind from the feed store with sulphur in it. might be overkill to set up for a small batch, though.

Is anyone here 100% sure that acid doesn't remove chrome, or possibly seep under the edges of rust holes in the chrome and cause further damage? Any way you remove rust from chrome, there is risk. It's the sad fact of any hobby that involves plated parts. Getting them re-plated is an option, although a high dollar one.,,,,BD

Yes, in regards to oxalic acid.

Oxalic acid does not remove chrome and does not encourage rust.

I'm 100% sure.

I'm also 100% sure that oxalic acid removes rust more gently than steel wool ever can. No ifs, ands or buts about it.