Evaporust for removing rust?

[Justin Urbantas]

Have you guys used Evaporust to remove rust  from antiques? I don't want to hurt anything.  Thanks.

[Scota4570]

Antique what??  I would not use it or any chemical remover on an antique gun of value. 

For tools, rusty parts, guns parts with no historic value, absolutely.  Evaporust is the best thing I have found.  It does not bother the base metal at all, do etching or alterations to the original finish texture.  When I can I use it in a heated ultrasonic cleaner.

For blued gun parts that have rust and a finish remains, boil them in water.  The rust will become much softer and will be easily removed with steel wool of a carding brush.  It may take a couple of passes.  You are converting the rust to rust blue.  I recently did a rusty crusty 100 year old pistol that way.  I boiled all of the parts on the stove top for a while then cleaned as normal.  I looked really nice after. 

[Justin Urbantas]

Excellent advice. I hadn't thought of boiling it. You'll see the gun I'm looking at cleaning up in the antique guns section on here. It's an antique piece, but not super valuable.  I'm going to clean it up and turn it into a shooter.

[Hungry Horse]

I just pulled a bunch of gun lock, and furniture out of an Evapo-rust bath. The parts were stored in close proximity to some dry tannic acid. Oh boy does that ever make rust where you don’t want it. I through the locks and parts in a tannic acid bath and promptly forgot them. They soaked for about four days. They ended up with a black oxide like coating, but the metal was not etched at all, and the black came off easily.

Hungry Horse

[T.C.Albert]

I just cleaned up 9 older traps that were covered in thick flakey rust.
The evaporust turned them black but I need to boil them still so I’m not sure if the color is permanent. It cleaned them up wonderfully. Can’t complain except for the high price.
T.Albert

[Scota4570]

Boiling in tap water, depending on your water, may not convert the rust and remaining finish to blue.  It will soften the rust.  It does no severe damage as a chemical or abrasive process will.  IF you don't like the result get more aggressive later. On an old gun I have learned to tread lightly.  The boiling trick leaves a plausible finish.  Rather than trying to re-create a plausible finish later I find it works better not to destroy it in the first place. 

Mark Novack explains it well in his youtube videos. 

[Justin Urbantas]

how long do you boil the parts? Just regular water?

[Scota4570]

I generally go about 20 minuets or more.  Yes regular tap water, unless you want blue then use distilled. 

[Pukka Bundook]

Caustic soda,(lye)   will clean antique parts with no damage to finish or coulour.

[Justin Urbantas]

What ratio of lye to water do you use? I have lots, because the wife makes soap.

[Jim Kibler]

Caustic soda,(lye)   will clean antique parts with no damage to finish or coulour.

It will remove patina (dirt, grease etc.).  We generally try to preserve this over here.

[Jim Kibler]

If you’re wondering about the pistol you acquired, I would just leave it alone.

[Crow Creek]

I have soaked several firearms in Evaporust and it cleans them very well, removing all rust and blueing. I have not noticed any damage. I wash the parts with hot water and a very fine scotch bright and /or stiff nylon brush with very little pressure. The stuff works great.
TC

[Pukka Bundook]

Justin,
If you read down this thread, you will see my notes on caustic.
The only thing caustic removes, is organic matter, that attaches rust to metal, like old oil.
I use it all the time on clogged up rusted antique gun parts.

All the best,
Richard.

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