Help with Mild Steel

[ski_power]

Hi,

 

I've got a small block of mild steel. The whole darn thing is rusted and black all over. I dont want to file it, but want the rust removed. Can it be done using simple things found in and around the house?

 

Please help.

[ag4gt]

Try vinegar, just plane simple white vinegar. I use it to clean up rusty tools and such. Just make sure you cover it COMPLETELY. It usually take about 24 hours.

[H2SO4]

Its called sand paper.

[djmacarro]

what does one do with a block of steel?

[djmacarro]

And hydrogen sulfate i think using sand paper is the same as filing as it is removing surface area by abrasian

[akcapr]

the best way to remove the rust is to soak it in a solution of oxalic acid. Then after some time it will just wipe off and be all clean. Oxalic acid binds to rust and then you can wash it off- i belive its the only good clean easy method to remove rust. I once washed my rusty scissors like that.

[Silencer]

Does the type of rust matter (red or black)? I imagine it would when you are talking about removing it with chemicals.

[akcapr]

i dont think so-personally i removed red, but all it is is different hydrations, so i doubt it will matter.

[coquina]

Hi' date='

 

I've got a small block of mild steel. The whole darn thing is rusted and black all over. I dont want to file it, but want the rust removed. Can it be done using simple things found in and around the house?

 

Please help.[/quote']

 

It it black everywhere it is not rusted? If so, it was probably treated with "black oxide" a chemical process that inhibits rust, but it doesn't last forever. If it is not horribly crusted in rust you can get an industrial scotch brite pad, spray the block with WD-40, and rub it off. You can also use a wire brush. You can get a wire brush attachment for a power drill at Home Depot as well as the scotch brite pad.

 

After you're done, spray with WD-40 and wrap with a cloth rag. It will keep the rust away.

[H2SO4]

i just cant imagine using chemicals to remove rust (well, i can but to me its impracticle) because i do alot of metal work (swords, lab equipment, brazing, airguns, and mechanical parts, oh and metal art) and i always use abrasives. I would take 150 grit sand paper and give it a good rubbin till its free off rust, then hit it with some 200 grit, then some 300 grit, then give it a good rubbing with steal wool, then rub it good a few times with a good polishing compound thats for steal (iron). If done right you should get a buitiful shine, and itll be nice and smooth. I wish i had a block steal. I would put it in the drill press and drill as many holes a possible to get a "hive effect" and then spray the whole thing with laquer then put it on my dresser for a year.

 

As you can see i like metals and working with metals.

[H2SO4]

After you're done, spray with WD-40 and wrap with a cloth rag. It will keep the rust away.

 

 

Id spray it with laquer so it can it can be handled indefinetly.

[ski_power]

Well actually i'll try the oxalic acid one, as it seems the least effort consuming...and you don't get WD-40 as easily over here. And the sandpaper one, well thanks, i'd rather file but i dont want to file.

[akcapr]

the chemical way is definately inpractical. Id just take a pad sander or something like that and go at it.

[akcapr]

hey h2so4, have u ever made like molten metal that you can like pour into molds and stuff?

[H2SO4]

ya, i do that alot. I have a mapp gas hose torch so i can melt anything up to copper. My favorite casting metals are Al and Zn becasue they melt at low temps and a resonably strong for there Mp. Iva mad all kinds of things. I make the molds out of plaster of paris. I tried some bottle rockets with the nozzle made of plaster of paris and it worked excellent.

[Silencer]

^Heh, reminds me of that movie October Sky. They had such trouble getting the nozzle machined.

 

I imagine melting and molding the steel they needed wouldn't have been so easy, though.

[H2SO4]

i saw that movie a long time ago and cant realy remember it. Didnt they make there rocket engines from steal or something (seems dangerous). I KNOW THEY USED SOMETHING REALY HOT BURNING BECAuse they had to get "railroad" steel.

[Lance]

I think steel will burn before it melts.

[Silencer]

No, they tore up the railways and sold them to get money to buy the expensive steel they needed.

 

In the movie it was either called "SAR 1020 Bar stock" or "SEA 1020 Bar stock." I forget.

[akcapr]

i made molten Zn on my gas stove before. I had it in a spoon then i spilled it all over the place where the gas comes out, the nozzzle. It took me forever to get it out.

[H2SO4]

ya, solidifiing metals seem to get stuck in places permanetly

[Logics88]

well steel is just iron with no oxygen so it is much tougher, it would never burn, but yeh, it molts a bit easier than iron so it would be stickier.

 

NOTE: are you talking about FC, or tool steel?

[Logics88]

Also if you were doing the metal/glass gernade expierement where you use metal balls, and water, and freeze em, then throw em' so they shatter, you are much better off just buying the iron ones, steel dosn't seem to have that dramatic shatter that iron has...

[Logics88]

also, i have been noticing some small ammounts of rust on my ski's edges, would thease tactics work on my blades to?

[akcapr]

elaborate on the metal glass greande. Do u throw the bottle of ice and it explodes or sometin?