How to clean rust off stainless steel ?
- Thread starter boblufkin
- Start date
barkeepers friend is a good start then when you think you have it clean use spotless stainless as directed on the container you will be amazed
I used a phosphoric acid (diluted) solution that is made for welding. Just about any metal cleaner/degreaser that is made for welding prep are usually phosphoric acid based, so any welding supply store will have a similar product. I get mine from Industrial Metal Supply but they don't have those stores where you are on the east coast.
CLR will remove rust, bust it is no longer phosphoric acid based (maybe that's just California?). Anyway I like to use these types of cleaners first before moving to polish. For example, if you are a motorcycle guy and ever tried polishing chrome or stainless headers that have 'blued' or otherwise discolored by heat, use any phosphoric acid based solution on a sponge, nice and wet... after a few sponge downs the discoloration is gone and then use Blue magic polish. Save hours of elbow grease. For small parts, you can soak it in the stuff overnight and it works wonders.
CLR will remove rust, bust it is no longer phosphoric acid based (maybe that's just California?). Anyway I like to use these types of cleaners first before moving to polish. For example, if you are a motorcycle guy and ever tried polishing chrome or stainless headers that have 'blued' or otherwise discolored by heat, use any phosphoric acid based solution on a sponge, nice and wet... after a few sponge downs the discoloration is gone and then use Blue magic polish. Save hours of elbow grease. For small parts, you can soak it in the stuff overnight and it works wonders.
I just cleaned the rust off my stem fitting. I think that's what it's called anyway. You know, the part on the bow that the head stay is attached to? I just clamped it to a work bench and ran a wire wheel on my mini grinder over it. Looks like new. If you go that route, please be sure to wear safety glasses. Just for good measure and for what it's worth I then polished it with some Flitz or Maas metal polish in the hopes that that will help keep it looking good longer. I dunno, maybe waxing it would work better in that regard. Anybody care to weigh in on that?
The "Ploy-Glow" waxing kit comes with "Poli-Ox". It's used to clean oxidation and rust from fiberglass and stainless steel fittings on the boat,(the bottle says it contains oxalic acid). Sprinkle some on a plastic scrubber and work it over. Does a nice job.
But the attached photo is my preferred method:
Don
But the attached photo is my preferred method:
Don
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