EVAPO-RUST Conservation

[lauver]

Well, I've joined the EVAPO-RUST fan club. I've been using it a lot lately to clean up old tools. And I have to say it really works well. At roughly $20 per gallon though, it is expensive . The problems I've noted are:

1) EOR evaporates quickly if not covered up. I've solved this problem by using plastic containers with tight fitting lids whenever I soak tools in the EOR solution.

2) EOR quickly becomes contaminated with dirt, rust, and other oxides. And eventually, these contaminents slow the effectiveness of the EOR solution. And call me obsessive-compulsive, but I hate to pour the used and contaminated EOR back into the original container with the remaining unused EOR.

One thing I started doing is carefully pre-cleaning (degreasing & lightly wire brushing) the tools before soaking them in the EOR. This seems to reduce the contamination load and extends the effectiveness of the EOR solution somewhat.

So how do you guys deal with the contamination issue? Is there some sort of inexpensive filter media that would effectively remove the contaminants from the used EOR solution? Your thoughts please...

 

[mrb]

what about pouring it through a coffee filter to get rid of the particles?

 

[lauver]

what about pouring it through a coffee filter to get rid of the particles?

mrb,

Now there's an inexpensive idea. I'll give it a try and see how it works. I've got some tools soaking in some really dark looking EOR as we speak.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

lauver,

I use coffee filters but will say that they clog up very quickly. I had a half a gallon that was very dirty and it took about a dozen filters to get that much taken care of. Just put them in a funnel and pour. Come back in a bit, change filters and pour some more....

At least the filters are cheap...

 

[mrb]

if they clog up quickly, thats good because it means theyre removing alot of **** from the ER

 

[lauver]

mrb and GeorgiaHybrid,

So, I'm not the only one who has noticed the EOR contamination issue.

I take it that you guys, like me, really use the EOR on a regular basis.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Well, I've joined the EVAPO-RUST fan club. I've been using it a lot lately to clean up old tools. And I have to say it really works well. At roughly $20 per gallon though, it is expensive . The problems I've noted are:


So how do you guys deal with the contamination issue? Is there some sort of inexpensive filter media that would effectively remove the contaminants from the used EOR solution? Your thoughts please...

Same here, I just bought some of it for the first time a couple weeks ago. It worked extremely well on some old drawer slides for a toolbox I've been restoring. And you're right, it contaminates quickly. I wouldn't even think of pouring used ER back into the same container with the new stuff. For the solution I've used so far, I poured it into an old milk container and am going to try the coffee filtering method.

I wish that stuff was $10 a gallon, $20 is pretty high.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Buy it at HF with a 20% off coupon. that way it is a little cheaper at $16 a gallon.

I bought another gallon this weekend that way.

 

[kwright]

Try straining it though a PAINT filter first, fine mesh if you can find it, though I can usually only find "medium" mesh. If you're careful, they can be reverse rinsed to be cleaned and reused several times. I do this first a few times first (filtering with a paint filter) THEN I use the coffee filter, which is much finer and does clog easier.

 

[Underdog]

Any wild guess how much per tool EOR cost, Lets say a 10" crescent wrench for example?
Planning on buying some, have whole drawers of rusty tools.

 

[lauver]

underdog,

If you are careful with the EOR, the cost is probably miniscule...maybe less than 5 cents. The trick is not wasting the EOR solution as you are using it. The waste possiblilities are: 1)evaporation, 2)contamination, and 3)spillage.

 

[Plombob]

I didn't notice an evaporation problem. I've taken some scrap PVC pipe and capped one end. I made three in different sizes, from 16" to 36" long and from 3" to 6" in diameter. Easier to soak the long stuff in and uses less ER. I use a drywall tray for the small stuff.

Filters didn't work well for me, but even though the ER is really dark it works great.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I use a drywall tray for the small stuff.

I used a cookie sheet for drawer slides. About the most efficient thing I could think of!

 

[Danglerb]

I'm still on my first gallon, but if effectiveness and time savings mean anything, Evaporust is CHEAP.

I run stuff through the pressure parts washer first, and I think I will add a light wire brushing stage to extend the life.

My only disappointment is that I haven't found a plastic bag that doesn't eventually leak, as that is about the most efficient way to cover odd sized items. I'm thinking I might go with 3 gallons in a 5 gallon commercial sealing bucket I get for a few bucks at the donut shop.

 

[sofob0909]

I'm in the process of restoring an old sk toolbox. Any ideas to apply it to the box?

 

[mrb]

I'm in the process of restoring an old sk toolbox. Any ideas to apply it to the box?

soak a paper towel in ER, put it over the rusted area, and saran wrap it tightly to the box, or put a piece of plastic over it and tape it to the box. The idea is to keep it sealed so the ER doesnt evaporate.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

sofo,

You can also use Navel Jelly in that situation. Just paint it on, let it work and then rinse and dry. It is thicker than Evaporust (hence the name...) and will stick to vertical surfaces better.

 

[Frank Elson]

Use an old T-shirt, tie it to the neck of the container you're pouring into, let it form a cone.
Then pour away... but slowly.

 

[beelsr]

To strain, I use 2 hand-held colanders with a coffee filter sandwiched in between. This trick has worked for years now.

To hold the EOR & tools, i use the plastic containers that coffee comes in. I just toss stuff into the container and give it a shake every once in a while. EOR and coffee makes for a really weird smell, btw. I've had some stuff (100 or so driver bits) sitting in a container for a few weeks now - no time to take them out and clean them.

One other thing I have a pair of tongs to fish stuff out without having to reach in with the hands....

 

[Cliff McNeill]

I didn't notice an evaporation problem. I've taken some scrap PVC pipe and capped one end. I made three in different sizes, from 16" to 36" long and from 3" to 6" in diameter. Easier to soak the long stuff in and uses less ER. I use a drywall tray for the small stuff.

Filters didn't work well for me, but even though the ER is really dark it works great.

I like the PVC idea!!! It has always been a pain to find the right size container for the long stuff that would take some much EOR. Thanks