Choosing wrong will make it feel next to impossible. Choosing the right form can make your job a lot easier. In addition to checking the active ingredient, keep in mind that rust removers come in a variety of different forms, including liquids, sprays, gels, and powders. Best Power Sanders for Your Shop Form and Application.Best Shop Vacs for Cleaning Up Your Garage.Workshop Essentials: Popular Mechanics Tool Awards 2023 That said, converters only work on lightly rusted metal, so you may need to scrape or sand thicker layers of rust before applying it, depending on the formula. In most cases, you can either spray or brush the converter onto the rusted surface and allow it to dry without needing to rinse or clean it afterwards, which makes the process less time-consuming and labor-intensive. Converters are typically reserved for treating broad areas that you plan to paint over, such as a trailer, metal fencing, or a vehicle. Rust converters transform rust into a primed, paintable surface, rather than wiping it away, which protects weathered metal from getting rusty again. They aren't as powerful as chemical rust removers but are far safer and more convenient. Since chelating removers are non-toxic and acid-free, you can safely use them indoors on a wide range of materials without fear of damaging them or surrounding surfaces. There are also gel-based chelating removers, which are helpful for spot-treating rusty areas on toilets, patios, and other surfaces you can’t soak in a tub. Rust) and strips it away, making it easy to remove.Ĭhelating rust removers typically require you to soak your rusted gear in a liquid solution for anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours, which gives the agent plenty of time to bind to the rust. That said, we still recommend using eye protection and gloves for any chemical-based option, since they can be harmful if they get in your eyes or under your skin.Ĭhelating rust removers offer a highly effective, nontoxic, acid-free, and biodegradable solution that binds to iron oxide (A.K.A. Since they won’t burn your skin or produce harmful fumes, petroleum-based rust removers are also much safer to use than acid-based options. As an added benefit, they leave behind a film that helps to prevent rust from returning. Lastly, petroleum-based solvents such as WD-40 penetrate through the rust and loosen it from the surface of the metal, allowing you to wipe it off. It’s also an effective ingredient for removing rust stains from fabrics and porcelain sinks, tubs, and toilets. Rust removers with sodium hydrosulfite typically come in powder form, making them ideal for removing rust from more delicate surfaces, such as concrete, marble, and other types of stone and masonry. Sodium hydrosulfite, a more gentle option, requires a longer soaking time, but won’t scar or damage the materials you’re trying to salvage. Given that, acid chemical rust removers are best limited to removing rust from bare iron and steel. Depending on the active ingredient, they can be very hazardous: Acid-based rust removers work very fast, often dissolving rust in mere minutes, but are so caustic that they may eat through anything but metal, leave permanent etches on stainless steel, and dissolve paint you may wish to preserve. What to Consider When Shopping for a Rust Remover Types of Rust RemoversĬhemical rust removers use acid, solvents, or sodium hydrosulfite to dissolve rust off hard surfaces. In addition to my own testing and expertise, I relied on insights and expertise from fellow home improvement expert James Fitzgerald, who wrote a previous version of this story. I’ve used rust removal products on everything from tools to concrete pavers, and discovered which ones work and which don’t in the process. Having spent most of my adult life living in the humidity of the South, I’m intimately familiar with what happens when water and air come into contact with steel. News and World Report, and Field & Stream, among others. Show more The Expert: I’m a freelance home improvement writer who’s written for Bob Vila, Angi, Futurism, U.S.
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