evapo rust wtf hard to find?

[slowtwitch73]

Evapo rust used to be sold everywhere. Just tried my local Ace, Blowes, and Home Despot with no luck. Grainger doesn't even have it, Mcmaster is a mystery as usual.

It's available other places online, but it's odd it's not at local stores anyomore. Big push by Rustoleum or other competitor? Direct to consumer?

First world problems to start of '26 lol.

 

[RTM]

My local Ace no longer carries it, but some auto parts stores, and HF both list it online as in stock. All much further away.

 

[Nessism]

Mix up some of this stuff instead. Cheaper, and arguably better.

1 liter of water
100 grams of citric acid (available on Amazon)
One of the following: 40 grams sodium carbonate (washing soda), or 63 grams sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), or 30 grams sodium hydroxide (lye)

Scale volume of solution as needed.

 

[FrankLee]

Evapo rust used to be sold everywhere. Just tried my local Ace, Blowes, and Home Despot with no luck. Grainger doesn't even have it, Mcmaster is a mystery as usual.

It's available other places online, but it's odd it's not at local stores anyomore. Big push by Rustoleum or other competitor? Direct to consumer?

First world problems to start of '06 lol.

'06 ??????

Try citric acid... works great and so much cheaper.

 

[Rockable]

Amazon has it and will deliver it in 2 days.

 

[GeoBruin]

Evapo rust used to be sold everywhere. Just tried my local Ace, Blowes, and Home Despot with no luck. Grainger doesn't even have it, Mcmaster is a mystery as usual.

It's available other places online, but it's odd it's not at local stores anyomore. Big push by Rustoleum or other competitor? Direct to consumer?

First world problems to start of '06 lol.

I see it at Harbor Freight all the time if that helps.

 

[BillK]

Where are you located ? I just checked their web page and there is a bunch of places near me that have it including Tractor Supply and Harbor Freight ?

Where to Buy Evapo-Rust Rust Remover Near You or Online

Find where to buy Evapo-Rust® Rust Remover near you or online. Use the search to find retailers for Evapo-Rust Gel, Rust-Block, or Thermocure.

www.evapo-rust.com

 

[PCustoms]

Evapo rust used to be sold everywhere. Just tried my local Ace, Blowes, and Home Despot with no luck. Grainger doesn't even have it, Mcmaster is a mystery as usual.

5 second search and it shows in stock at 2 of the 3 stores I checked

Google Search

Another few seconds to find it at McMaster

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

Grainger has it too:

Whoops, we couldn't find that.

(note link is auto-correcting to that, they have it)

 

[jblnut]

Mix up some of this stuff instead. Cheaper, and arguably better.

1 liter of water
100 grams of citric acid (available on Amazon)
One of the following: 40 grams sodium carbonate (washing soda), or 63 grams sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), or 30 grams sodium hydroxide (lye)

Scale volume of solution as needed.

You had me until I needed to measure in liters and grams.

 

[slowtwitch73]

'06 ??????

Don't know what you are talking about.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Mix up some of this stuff instead. Cheaper, and arguably better.

1 liter of water
100 grams of citric acid (available on Amazon)
One of the following: 40 grams sodium carbonate (washing soda), or 63 grams sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), or 30 grams sodium hydroxide (lye)

Scale volume of solution as needed.

I just discovered that video this week.
Look at the number of views, thumbs up and positive replies. I found enough of the citric acid at the hardware store and baking soda at the grocery store to make a 3 quart test batch. It worked good and I ordered enough ingredients from Amazon to make 5 gallons - which was about the cost of 1 gal of evaporust. It should be here Monday.
An cleaning up an old lathe and will need a bunch of it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Big push by Rustoleum or other competitor?

Rustoleum has no equivalent (non-toxic, acid-free, alkali-free) solution. The only truly equivalent solution is Metal Rescue. If you ever do get skunked on Evaporust at all your usual places (my most consistent source, by far, is Tractor Supply), I have found NO difference in potency or endurance between Evaporust and Metal Rescue.

 

[FrankLee]

I just discovered that video this week.
Look at the number of views, thumbs up and positive replies. I found enough of the citric acid at the hardware store and baking soda at the grocery store to make a 3 quart test batch. It worked good and I ordered enough ingredients from Amazon to make 5 gallons - which was about the cost of 1 gal of evaporust. It should be here Monday.
An cleaning up an old lathe and will need a bunch of it.

I use straight CA. Regardless, depending on what your de-rusting, the hottest tap water works better and faster.

 

[mrvm]

Local Harbor Freight has Evapo-rust 1 qt and 1 gallon sizes. Picked up a quart last week using the 30% off

 

[Vinny]

Mix up some of this stuff instead. Cheaper, and arguably better.

1 liter of water
100 grams of citric acid (available on Amazon)
One of the following: 40 grams sodium carbonate (washing soda), or 63 grams sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), or 30 grams sodium hydroxide (lye)

Scale volume of solution as needed.

Isn't the addition of the alkaline just neutralizing the acid? Why not just put in less citric acid to start with?

 

[M.Brane]

Isn't the addition of the alkaline just neutralizing the acid? Why not just put in less citric acid to start with?

It's to create the churning in the mixture to help scrub the rust away for you while you do other things. Just make sure you add it slowly so you don't get a foamy mess.

 

[finn]

I switched to Citric acid about four or five years ago. Got the powder in a five pound bag from Amazon.

Started by mixing it straight with water, but grabbed a box of washing soda from Walgreens last spring when I saw it on the shelf, so that’s what I use now.

Still have half a jug of Evaporust I should use up. I’m hooked on the citric acid mid. It’s almost free compared to what Evaporust costs.

 

[Shiftless]

I like Evaporust because you can set it and forget it. After it converts the rust, it goes to sleep and won’t eat into the metal. With acid, you have to monitor the process and remove the part when the rust is gone.

 

[Beerhippie]

Isn't the addition of the alkaline just neutralizing the acid? Why not just put in less citric acid to start with?

It's to create the churning in the mixture to help scrub the rust away for you while you do other things. Just make sure you add it slowly so you don't get a foamy mess.

The reaction of sodium-based alkalis with the citric acid yields sodium citrate--an excellent rust remover. I use lye and mix it so that the solution is just a little alkaline to better cut through residual grease.

BUT! DO NOT use it to clean copper or copper alloys! It will turn your rust remover into a combo rust remover/cold copper plating solution!

I now need to throw mine out and mix up a new batch.

 

[Beerhippie]

I like Evaporust because you can set it and forget it. After it converts the rust, it goes to sleep and won’t eat into the metal. With acid, you have to monitor the process and remove the part when the rust is gone.

Sodium citrate (the magic solution above) acts in the same way. I've forgotten a pocket knife I put in my bucket and found it a couple of weeks later, undamaged and rust-free. It was still a POS, just not a rusty POS.

 

[sparky 1971]

I've noticed it in two different stores in the last two days without even looking for it. There's no telling how many other places it is and I walked past it without seeing.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-gallon-evapo-rust-rust-remover-96431.html

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/automotive/automotive-maintenance/automotive-grease-lubricants/evapo-rust-reg-super-safe-heavy-duty-rust-remover-1-gallon/er012/p-1642874263792588-c-9104.htm

 

[finn]

I like Evaporust because you can set it and forget it. After it converts the rust, it goes to sleep and won’t eat into the metal. With acid, you have to monitor the process and remove the part when the rust is gone.

Not true with the citric acid / washing soda concoction. The Ph is neutral.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

You had me until I needed to measure in liters and grams.

Far easier than furlongs per square bushels!!

 

[Beerhippie]

Far easier than furlongs per square bushels!!

I prefer the old ways: Barley grains per cubic cubit.

 

[bonneyman]

I prefer the old ways: Barley grains per cubic cubit.

Depends on how healthy your barley is!

 

[Beerhippie]

Depends on how healthy your barley is!

The barley grain was the basis for the smallest unit of English measurement. It's mostly used today in apothecary and firearms, expressed as grains of weight.

 

[Shiftless]

Naaahh….

Just express all of that in parts per million. Or maybe moles per liter.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Naaahh….

Just express all of that in parts per million. Or maybe moles per liter.

And sell it for 2 Pounds, 4 sheckles and 7 phennigs per Dixie cup.

 

[Vinny]

The reaction of sodium-based alkalis with the citric acid yields sodium citrate--an excellent rust remover. I use lye and mix it so that the solution is just a little alkaline to better cut through residual grease.

BUT! DO NOT use it to clean copper or copper alloys! It will turn your rust remover into a combo rust remover/cold copper plating solution!

I now need to throw mine out and mix up a new batch.

Interesting! Thanks for the explanation.

 

[toolmiser]

If your near a Menards, they carry it.

 

[RTM]

Naaahh….

Just express all of that in parts per million. Or maybe moles per liter.

ppb or ng/mL in my corner of the world. The moles are on the other side of the house.

 

[nadogail]

If you get a MSDS, (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the product; you may glean enough information to make an equivalent product.

 

[AJHD]

Local Harbor Freight has Evapo-rust 1 qt and 1 gallon sizes. Picked up a quart last week using the 30% off

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=evapo-rust

I've also seen it at local auto parts stores. We had it at AutoZone when I worked there a few years ago.

 

[KnurledNut]

I’ve been using Thermocure.
It’s concentrated Evaporust.
1 quart bottle will make 3 gallons of solution.
Its intended to be a cooling system rust remover, but I just use it for general soaking.
It takes up less room to store and it works out to be a little cheaper too.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Was in the local HF yesterday and they have Evaporust.

Had never heard of Thermocure. I'll check it out.

 

[Copymutt]

Bought a quart at Tractor Supply just B4 Xmas.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

Was in the local HF yesterday and they have Evaporust.

Had never heard of Thermocure. I'll check it out.

Made by the same people that makes Evaporust. It works really well in cleaning up old cooling systems. I used it on my old 95 GMC K2500 a couple of years ago to help flush out the rust in the system. Should have seen the **** that came out, it was impressive.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I tried Thermocure back in 2019 due to the cost differential. At that time, I paid about the same price (~$20) for 1 quart of Thermocure as 1 gallon of Evaporust, but the quart of Thermocure would ostensibly result in 3 gallons of Evaporust with water, and therefore, I should be getting 3 x more product at 1/3rd of the cost per fluid ounce. But the diluted Thermocure did not work nearly as well for me as the same amount of straight Evaporust formula. In fact, it reminded me of experiments I conducted to stretch Evaporust with water, which only separates the chelating molecules, slowing down the process. When I heated the Thermocure, it worked a little better. When I periodically disturbed it, too. But then again, so does Evaporust. I bought another quart and tried it with only a gallon of water. It worked just as well and just as quickly as Evaporust, but at that volume, there was no cost benefit.

I have stuck with Evaporust (or Metal Rescue) ever since.

Not to argue with @KnurledNut. That was several years ago, results will vary based on what is being de-rusted, and he may be more patient than I am.

YMMV

 

[slowtwitch73]

HF and Oreillys were the hot tip. They are both off my radar for some reason. Got a nice Oreillys coupon so it worked out.

Not hard to find online in the least.. and Grainger does indeed have it.

The box stores and Ace seem to have moved to the Rustoleum equivalent which I have no experience with.

 

[PCustoms]

WTF indeed