Evapo-Rust vs. Rustoleum Rust Dissolver

[Old Henry]

Just did this experiment de-rusting part of two very rusted tin snips. One with Evapo-Rust, the other with the relatively new Rustoleum Rust Dissolver. I was wondering what the difference might be since the Rustoleum is cheaper. I wondered if it did just as well as the more expensive Evapo-Rust. Left is the one in Evapo-Rust. Right is the one in Rustoleum.



They both removed the rust equally well. But, the Rustoleum seemed to keep "sizzling" after the job was done, almost like it had some kind of acid in it, and left the metal coated with some black coating like it was carbon coated, whereas, as is shown in the photo, the Evapo-Rust cleaned off the rust but left the metal clean and metal looking if not actually shiny.


At Walmart, a quart of Evapo-Rust is $9.36 whereas the Rustoleum is $7.82 for the same amount. I'll stick with the Evapo-Rust myself. I think it's worth the extra money.

[super flat]

Only the rusty picture Henry. Gary

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by super flat

Only the rusty picture Henry. Gary

[flatheadmurre]

Check the safety data sheet for Rustoleum its an acid.

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Originally Posted by super flat

Only the rusty picture Henry. Gary

You were expecting two pictures?

The one picture shows the two tools side by side, with the top part of the tool dipped in the de-ruster and the bottom part of the tool still showing how rusty they used to be.

Read the copy again and it will make sense.

[1952henry]

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Guessing it contains phosphoric acid

[flatheadmurre]

Here you go.
http://www.rustoleum.com/MSDS/ENGLISH/286749.pdf

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

Here you go.
http://www.rustoleum.com/MSDS/ENGLISH/286749.pdf

Looks like watered down Ospho. Ospho is 70% acid and the rustoleum is 25%

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

Check the safety data sheet for Rustoleum its an acid.

Originally Posted by 1952henry

Guessing it contains phosphoric acid

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

Here you go.
http://www.rustoleum.com/MSDS/ENGLISH/286749.pdf

Originally Posted by mrtexas

Looks like watered down Ospho. Ospho is 70% acid and the rustoleum is 25%

Well, that explains it - why it had a smell when the Evapo-Rust didn't, why it sizzled and put off some kind of gas, and why it just plain didn't work as well as the Evapo-Rust. hanks for the explanations.

[itslow]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

...it looks like Evapo-Rust is still the only chelation process rust remover available.

There are others available on the internet that aren't sold in chain stores. Some of the brands are available in concentrated form and then dilute down for use, which winds up being cheaper than a gallon of Evapo-Rust.

[Kahuna]

Thank you Henry for all the research you do & post.
I certainly appreciate it.
Jim

[tubman]

I'm in Florida for the winter, and the only thing close is a Home Depot. They carry something called "Metal Restore". It seems to be about equal in performance and price to "Evapo-rust". I use it on my bicycle parts that rust at a drop of the hat when you're close to the ocean, and it works well. I think a combination of feed molasses and water also works by "chellation".

[Tom Walker]

Does that mean I can use phosphoric acid as rust remover? I have a big drum of it left over from etching a concrete floor pre painting.

[flatheadmurre]

Yep Tubman is right about molasses same aproach as evaporust.
What your after is stripping the oxygene out of the ironoxide(yes its very simplified)
Instead of etching everything away and adding an inhitor to keep the acid from eating the bare metal.

[flatheadmurre]

Originally Posted by Tom Walker

Does that mean I can use phosphoric acid as rust remover? I have a big drum of it left over from etching a concrete floor pre painting.

Its the base of the acidbased solutions so just make sure its not to high concentration.
Adding an inhibitor and it would work even better.

[tubman]

After all the experience I have had with the various rust-removal methods, I would put using acid at the bottom of the list. Last week, I forgot that I put a 2GC base in "Metal-Restore" for 4 days and there was no problem; I couldn't get away with that an acid-based system.

[1952henry]

Old Henry, if you are still in the experimental mood, try citric acid powder. A warmed up 10% solution is supposed to be the ticket. Might be something I'll try myself down the road for items that shouldn't be blasted. If you can't find any locally, I see it is readily available on fleabay- 10 lbs for 23.99 shipped. Works by chelation, or so it is said.

[flatheadmurre]

Citric acid is etching the metal so dont forget stuff in there or they will dissapear...just slower since its a mild acid.

[nb141fd]

Originally Posted by itslow

There are others available on the internet that aren't sold in chain stores. Some of the brands are available in concentrated form and then dilute down for use, which winds up being cheaper than a gallon of Evapo-Rust.

Any links? Evapo-Rust is too expensive for the amount I need.

TIA

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by nb141fd

Any links? Evapo-Rust is too expensive for the amount I need.

TIA

This is good stuff > http://www.rust911.com/