On 28/06/2015 2:50 a.m., Gary Katsanis wrote:
> I have a heavily rusted piece of what was high-strength steel in the
> 1800's.  I want to restore the mechanism to functioning condition.
> Penalty for failure is severe and messy.
>
> Would electrolysis be an unacceptable method of dealing with the rust?
> I've heard of hydrogen embrittlement, but I don't know if it is a
> serious issue.

I don't know about what electrolysis might do the the metal, but I 
remove rust with a mixture of 9 parts water to 1 part molasses, soak the 
part in this mixture taking it out every few days to scrub off the dead 
rust sludge and the re-submerging, it removes only rust and there is no 
way it will be effecting the metal.

Once all the rust is gone which can take from a couple of days to a few 
weeks depending on the depth of the rust, you give the metal a buff with 
a wire wheel and a coat of 3-in1 oil to protect the new surface, unless 
you're going to paint it in which case just leave the matt surface alone 
and just paint it.

I have done this many times and I find the process perfect.

It has the advantage of only eating the rust and not attacking the metal 
which the other processes tend to do.

And if you buy stock feed molasses it will be even cheaper.

Michael
NZ