What Is In Rust Remover

Rust is a silent killer, slowly attacking iron and steel and eventually causing corrosion to impairment far more than just what you run into on the surface. Heavy-duty trucks, intermission bridges and fifty-fifty mighty warships can all be brought low by a lilliputian oxygen and wet. In unfavorable weather condition and without adequate protection, ferrous metals tin literally dissolve in thin air, turning into a heap of reddish metal object crumbles. And if you take a rusty tool, it'due south simply a matter of time until it's no longer useful.

Just rust doesn't have to be a death penalty for a metal surface -- it tin can exist arrested in its tracks with the right tools. Rust stains can exist treated to remove rust and even forbid rust from forming in the future. How, you ask? Well, a range of products are available today that can eliminate stubborn oxidation rust spots on tools, car parts, antiques and, well, basically anything made of iron, all without the need to painstakingly grind rust stains away or sandblast down to solid metal. Removing rust with chemical rust removers is every bit simple as tossing any grungy-looking items into a bath of rust dissolver and letting the rust removal solution go to work, attacking oxidation without harming the base material and often without affecting rubber, plastic or even a painted surface.

Actually, you tin't go incorrect with any of these rust removal products.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

There are many versions of this sort of rust removal production, which are like a whole lot of elbow grease stain removal crammed into a little bottle. Some contain muriatic acid or phosphoric acrid that eats away at rust stain similar termites gnawing on a rotten stump, while others use a fancy-sounding process called chelation to chemically break atomic number 26 oxide down. Some come up in full-bodied stain remover formulas while others are prediluted in the manufacturing plant.

Nosotros rounded up v readily bachelor rust removal products to find out if they work as well every bit their manufacturers claim when it comes to removing surface rust. We soaked several rusty steel components in each one, following the manufacturers' directions and diluting if required. The items that got the rust treatment include a section of canvas metallic and 2 unlike sizes of threaded rod with rust buildup. For consistency, each rusted object was cutting from the aforementioned overall piece. With that in listen, hither are our picks for the all-time rust remover you can become to fight rust particles on the things that matter most.

Best rust remover overall

Rust 911 Ultra Concentrate

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Of all the rust dissolvers we tested, Rust 911 is the only one that's offered in a concentrated formula. The best rust remover mixes with water at a charge per unit of viii ounces per gallon, or a 16-to-ane ratio, meaning there'south enough in our 32-ounce sample to create 4 gallons of finished rust dissolver. And no, using a more potent ratio does not make the rust removal product work faster. This means Rust 911 is a tremendous value compared to some of its commercial rust remover competitors since its per-ounce price is very low, something that makes information technology more economical to soak larger components in, maybe automotive parts like bumpers or radiator supports.

Rust 911 is a super safe rust removal product to use, beingness non-toxic, not-combustible and even biodegradable. If you lot go any on your easily, it shouldn't cause irritation, but if it does, just wash up with a little lather and h2o. When diluted, it starts out every bit clear as water, but over time it turns inky blackness every bit it eats abroad rust. Don't let that darkened color fool you, though: It can be used over and over again until its rust removal efficacy is diminished, then you can dispose of information technology. Depending on your location, yous can pour it correct down the drain if you desire.

In testing, Rust 911 proved to be highly effective, eradicating almost all the rust corrosion on the sheet-metal sample in about 2 hours, making it faster than some rivals. Unfortunately, it had a footling more than trouble with the threaded rod test pieces, though to exist fair, they may take been slightly contaminated with oil or paint in sections that express its ability to deliquesce the rust. Equally for soak times, the manufacturer says yous can leave parts in this product anywhere from fifteen minutes to overnight, though soaking peculiarly nasty items for days at a stretch likely won't crusade any impairment.

Best rust remover for dirty parts

Evapo-Rust

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Like Rust 911, Evapo-Rust is all about prophylactic. It's noncorrosive, emits no fumes or foul odors, won't harm paint and information technology can be poured down the drain when it's all used upwards. This rust removal product won't harm copper, brass, aluminum, safety, plastic or vinyl, either. About the only warning this stain remover product comes with is to rinse your hands with water if you get whatsoever of it on them. It's that benign.

Only there are ii important areas where this production differs from its above-mentioned rival. One, the Evapo-Rust formulation is ready to get right out of the jug, so no dilution is required. And two, it contains detergents, which should make it improve at cutting through small amounts of oil, grease and other contaminants and so information technology tin can wage state of war against rust. According to the company, you can soak parts for anywhere from 1 to 12 hours. Larger items can exist derusted past saturating paper towels in this product and draping them over whatsoever rusted area needs to exist cleaned.

Evapo-Rust is slightly xanthous in color and somewhat foamy when the rust removal product is poured out, while its rivals are crystal clear. Like the competing rust remover products evaluated here, this ane had no trouble eliminating rust from the sheet-metal sample, eradicating most of it in simply ii hours and leaving backside a smoothen surface. It also did an excellent job cleaning up the threaded-rod sections, getting deep in the grooves and removing rust, though it did seem a tiny bit slower to work than the others. Strangely, Evapo-Rust did leave the parts slightly black, darker than the components soaked in competing products, so exist aware of that.

All-time all-purpose rust remover

Metal Rescue

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Some other splendid rust-eliminating product is Metal Rescue. The ready-to-go bathroom stain remover version works straight from the bottle (a full-bodied formula is also offered), it'due south easy to employ and highly effective, simply that's not all. Once more, and this is going to sound redundant, it'due south water-based and safe to apply. It shouldn't harm prophylactic, plastics, drinking glass or most paints. It contains no VOCs, solvents, acids or other harmful ingredients. Plus it's non-corrosive, non-combustible and not-toxic. The manufacturer recommends avoiding contact with your optics (Duh!) and suggests wearing gloves when using it, though they're not necessary.

Metallic Rescue was similarly effective to the other rust-remover products tested here, easily dissolving rust on the sheet-metal sample and deep-cleaning those sections of threaded rod. Not but that, Metallic Rescue is fairly priced and quick to eliminate rust.

At that place are, however, two words of circumspection called out by Metallic Rescue. Some older paints and inks contain iron oxide-based pigments, and this rust remover product could easily harm them. Also, like other products here, this one volition remove sacrificial oxide coatings like zinc phosphate and bluing, so be aware of that. If you're concerned nigh whether it'southward safe to soak something in a rust dissolver, exam some on a pocket-size surface area showtime. It's better to exist safe than sorry.

Best value-priced, pre-mixed rust remover

WD-40 Rust Remover Soak

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Of the premixed, ready-to-use rust dissolvers tested here, WD-40 Rust Remover Soak is a strong best stain remover value, checking out for around $24 per gallon. Like the stain remover products listed to a higher place, information technology's super safe, won't harm other materials and can exist reused over and over until information technology stops working.

For best results, the manufacturer recommends getting rid of as much oil and grease as possible from the items y'all're looking to soak. It's a skillful idea to remove loose debris and dirt residue, too, with coarse sandpaper or wire castor. Completely submerging things is the style to become here, and one time parts are finished, rinsing them off with water and drying them is smart. A quick spray of oil, such as WD-xl, will prevent surface rust from forming again, which, chances are, is not something y'all desire.

Despite its low cost, WD-40 Rust Remover soak did a slap-up job on both the sheet metal and threaded-rod samples. It removed stubborn rust from deep in the threads and left the sheet steel smooth and clean, consummate with an almost-galvanized look. Impressive stuff, particularly for the toll.

Best acid-based rust remover

POR-15 Rust Remover

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Finally we come to the POR-fifteen Rust Remover. This iron oxide-dissolving solution is different from all the other products highlighted here. For ameliorate or worse, it contains phosphoric acid, as well as some other nasty-sounding chemicals. Still, it'southward condom on PVC, Viton and most paints, plus it'southward reusable and biodegradable. However, and this could exist a large caveat, it has far more than warnings than any of the other rust dissolvers listed here. Both a skin- and eye-irritant, the acid solution should also be used in a well-ventilated area. Keep it away from heat, sparks, open up flames or hot surfaces. And it goes without maxim, but on the off take chances you lot go thirsty while working in the garage, don't ingest this production. Seriously, it'south not Dr. Pepper.

With all that out of the way, POR-15 Rust Remover is perchance the most effective production evaluated here to clean heavy rust. It starts working in every bit little as 20 minutes to make clean up heavily rusted metal, though, of grade, yous can soak things for much longer than that, even overnight. Without scrubbing the rusted area or other work, one gallon of POR-15 Rust Remover tin can eliminate rust from up to 300 pounds of heavily oxidized steel. Information technology will non impairment unrusted steel and is prophylactic to use with other metals.

In testing, this product proved to be highly effective stain remover. Afterwards soaking for ii hours, the rusty samples were little changed, merely after 4 hours they practically looked like new. POR-xv soaked deep into the threads and broke upwards rust, leaving a make clean surface behind. Just like other rust removers, information technology darkens as information technology dissolves, turning black the more than you utilize it. If yous don't mind taking a few precautions while using this product, it works well.

Comparison of best rust dissolvers

	Rust 911	POR xv Rust Remover	Evapo-Rust	Metal Rescue	WD-forty Rust Remover Soak
Formula	Concentrate	Gear up to utilise	Ready to use	Ready to employ	Gear up to use
Dilution	8 ounces per gallon of water (16-to-one ratio)	--	--	--	--
Recommended soaking times	15 minutes to overnight	20 minutes to overnight	1 to 12 hours	2 hours to two days	30 minutes to 24 hours
Price	$38.75 per quart	$10.25 per quart	$9.99 per quart	$32.81 per gallon	$22.51 per gallon
Unit toll	vii.six cents per oz	32.0 cents per oz	31.2 cents per oz	25.6 cents per oz	17.6 cents per oz
Other features	Non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-flammable, biodegradable, safety to use. Can exist reused over and over. Brightens copper and similar alloys. Neutral Ph.	Safe on PVC, Viton and near paints. Reusable and biodegradable.	Tin be poured downward the drain when used up. Contains detergents to help cut through oil and grease, prophylactic for paint.	Contains no VOCs, solvents, acids or other harmful ingredients; non-corrosive, not-combustible, non-toxic; tin be poured down the bleed; water-based solution; should non harm rubber, plastics, glass or most paints.	Biodegradable ingredients; safe for rubber, plastic and paint; non-toxic, acrid-free, contains no VOCs, 100%-biodegradable formula. Can help brighten copper, brass and similar alloys.
Warnings	Launder with soap and h2o if skin contact occurs.	An eye- and skin-irritant: Use in a well-ventilated expanse, practice non ingest, keep abroad from heat, sparks, open flames or hot surfaces.	Rinse easily with water after apply.	Avert contact with optics. Gloves recommended only not necessary.	Can be poured down the drain. May cause skin irritation after prolonged contact. Wash with soap and water if skin contact occurs.

6 things to know most rust removers

These all-time stain remover rust-dissolving products are intended to be used at room temperature. If your garage or workspace is freezing cold in the wintertime or if the attic of your townhouse gets boiling hot in the middle of August, you might want to consider finding a more temperate place or fourth dimension to use them for maximum effectiveness. Cold temperatures, in particular, can tedious downward these chemical reactions.
Another thing that enhances the efficacy of these products is cleanliness. No, you don't have to spit-smoothen the parts you're trying to de-rust, but if you make clean off any heavy clay and remove grease and oil, they will almost all work much amend.
Four of the 5 products tested in this article are safe to use, containing no solvents, acids, VOCs or other nasty ingredients. If you get whatsoever of these on your skin, just wash up with soap and water and you should be fine. Nearly all these rust-dissolvers are also environmentally friendly and volition not harm other materials similar plastic, rubber, paint or non-ferrous metals.
Some rust-dissolvers come in full-bodied class and must exist diluted with water. Others come premixed and are ready to use right out of the container. Depending on how many components you lot're looking to clean up and how severely they're rusted will determine which product will work best for your application.
Exist patient! Unlike a T1 net connection, none of these products deliver instantaneous results. Fourth dimension is your friend. Depending on how severely rusted the parts are that you're trying to clean up, soak times tin can last from 15 minutes to 2 days depending on if y'all are removing light rust or heavy rust.
When spent, most of these rust dissolvers plow blackness and stop working. At this betoken, they're generally condom plenty to be poured right down a drain, making cleanup and disposal a snap. Only please read the directions or any accompanying legalese to run across if this is permitted in your area.

You'd be a fool not to buy some

Whether yous're working on a crusty carburetor base, revitalizing an old axe caput you inherited from grandpappy or fifty-fifty sprucing upwards some antiques yous just picked up from a garage sale, rust-removing solutions tin can exist super handy. In certain applications, they essentially eliminate the need for sandpaper, steel wool and wire brushes, plus the associated time and effort required to clean things up.

While each of the products tested hither has its peculiarities, all of them are highly effective and, perhaps all-time of all, exceedingly affordable. There'southward no excuse not to have a jug of this stuff in your garage or workshop.

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