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Evapo-Rust

freudianfloyd

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Although it's not a typical tool, I have to say that Evapo-Rust has been a great addition to my garage as of late. I have found several old tools in the barn of the house we just bought, some vintage Snap On and Williams ratchets that were seized up. Old hammers and dollys that looked like they should go in the scrap bin, etc. and after soaking for a night in a bucket of Evapo-Rust, they look like new. The ratchets turn easy, and the hammers look like they just need a wire brushing and they will be put in my toolbox.

I have an old frozen carburetor soaking in it now that was too rusty to take apart. I highly recommed this stuff.

I know there are other home brew concoctions that may work well, but this stuff is the real deal and I will be finding more uses for it as time goes on.

I know am late to trying this stuff out, but I have been very impressed so far.
 
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redvalkyrie

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Nov 12, 2006
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Seems to me like the more you use it, the less it works.

True but I've been using it daily on hundreds of parts with no loss of power. I do use the five gallon drum though. Everything has a limited life span...except for 80s Toyotas.
 

FigureItOut

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Sep 14, 2015
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Bentonville AR
Keeping a lid on it helps extend its useful life. It's effectiveness does drop off slowly but should still work quite well until it changes color, when it drops off pretty steeply. I pour mine through a big paper filter in a colander every so often. I don't think that necessarily extends it, but it does make it easier for me to see when it turns dark

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CoogarXR

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Ohio
I love the stuff. I cleaned up a bunch of tools that I inherited from a deceased friend. The stuff looks great now.

Then, I was at a yard sale and I spotted a craftsman blow-molded case full of sockets that you could tell had been sitting in the rain for years. So rusty, even the plastic case was rusty, lol. The guy sold it to me for $2. I figured what-the-heck. I dumped the whole case contents into the evap-o-rust. They came out sparkling clean! I sold them on craigslist for $50, lol. That jug paid for itself ;)

When I am done, I pour my evap-o-rust through a strainer and then back into the jug in an attempt to keep it clean.
 

redvalkyrie

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Nov 12, 2006
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423
Mine's pretty dark but is still going strong. It does leave a slightly sticky residue which I then clean with mineral spirits or Simple Green.
 
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freudianfloyd

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The only bad thing I've found so far is the smell. It seems to hang around on my hands even after scrubbing them.
 

JimNC

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Jul 9, 2017
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NC
Love the stuff. Have a vise handle that was straight but beaten to near death and then allowed to obtain an excessive patina. A little brake cleaner to degrease it and into the bucket. Now it looks like a steel vise handle beaten near to death.
 

FigureItOut

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One thing many people don't know is that you should always rinse with water anything you've treated with Evapo-Rust. Their website gives a detailed explanation, but there will be a residue that will actually accelerate re-rusting.

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jumbojak

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Jun 21, 2016
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Surry, VA
Can it be watered down? I almost bought some the other day but the bottle was too small for my uses and pretty expensive at Tru Value.
 

sberry

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Sheet, that wrench just needs to do some work to look prettier if it matters, all mine look like that though. I aint gonna mess with them if they look that good. Ha
 

JimNC

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Sheet, that wrench just needs to do some work to look prettier if it matters, all mine look like that though. I aint gonna mess with them if they look that good. Ha

This one was left out in the rain for a few weeks in NC, scrubbed it with penetrating oil to get it working again and then dipped the back. I'll see if I have something really bad to soak tonight, or you could ship me something that's a lost cause, perhaps an old 6" vise? 😀
 

toolmiser

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Sep 1, 2009
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La Crosse, WI
Anybody know where a good deal on Evap a rust can be found? My gallon is about used up and I like to keep some around in case I run across a good rusty deal.

Thanks!
 

CoogarXR

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I bought mine at harbor freight with the 20% off coupon. I don't remember the total though...
 

JimNC

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NC
I use powdered molasses, cut with water.

Weak acid, slow process, and it smells like a sewer. Have you tried citric acid at a little higher concentration? I wonder what lemi-shine would do, I think it's mostly citric acid and I use it to remove tarnish from brass.
 

mmason7764

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Aug 7, 2017
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199
Location
Wesson, Arkansas
Auto parts stores have Evapo-Rust. I found it amazing. A chemist I know suggested citric acid brand name "Fruit Fresh". It works pretty good too, but not as well as Evapo-Rust.

My procedure is:
1. Soak
2. Rinse with plenty of water.
3. Immediately dry with a hot air dryer and get the part hot.
4. Coat with your favorite rust inhibitor. Since I live in the humid south and my tools live in the truck I've tried over a dozen sprays, etc. The best antirust coating I have used, by far, is simple paste furniture wax.

Mark
 
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tym

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Mar 5, 2016
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I like straight vinegar. The one gallon jug is pretty cheap from the supermarket.

If you do this, just make sure to rinse the tool thoroughly after it's soaked.
 

Frenchy

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Jan 18, 2011
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51
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Twin Cities, MN
Anybody ever try or have an idea if evapo-rust would be effective to remove a couple small rust spots on a large tool box, or is it only effective if the item is completely immersed in it?
 

finn

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The UP, God's country
Weak acid, slow process, and it smells like a sewer. Have you tried citric acid at a little higher concentration? I wonder what lemi-shine would do, I think it's mostly citric acid and I use it to remove tarnish from brass.

But really cheap.

A fifty pound bag was something like $12 when I bought mine a few years ago at Farm and Fleet.
 
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True but I've been using it daily on hundreds of parts with no loss of power. I do use the five gallon drum though. Everything has a limited life span...except for 80s Toyotas.

94 Toyota trucks factor in too. I've had 3 still have got 2. Tough!
 

mikegt4

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sw ohio
Anybody ever try or have an idea if evapo-rust would be effective to remove a couple small rust spots on a large tool box, or is it only effective if the item is completely immersed in it?

My son was repainting my late brothers Dakota R/T that spent it's life in Florida. The cab roof had a lot of surface rust from sitting in the sun/rain after the paint failed. He covered the roof with shop rags soaked with Evapo-rust and covered everything with plastic to keep the E-R from evaporating overnight. It worked great. It just has to be kept wet.
 

mikegt4

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My local Rural King store stocks Evapo-Rust for $17/gal. The only problem is that when they sell out it takes them 2-3 months to re-stock. They seem to have the same problem for just about everything they sell.
 
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freudianfloyd

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I think I'd keep an eye on that carburetor before the Evaporust eats the body.

I only soaked it overnight. It seems fine, all cast iron anyway. I was able to easily take it apart the next day which I why it was soaking in the first place.
 

Bjuneau1

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Sep 20, 2016
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I picked up a small jug but haven't used it yet. Can you dilute it with water or use it at full strength?

Also, what is a good rust inhibitor to use after soaking? Something that will maybe soak into the metal for a lasting protection? I am going to be cleaning lots of nuts, bolts, and miscellaneous hardware and want to prevent them from rusting again, without painting.
 
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redvalkyrie

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Nov 12, 2006
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I picked up a small jug but haven't used it yet. Can you dilute it with water or use it at full strength?

Also, what is a good rust inhibitor to use after soaking? Something that will maybe soak into the metal for a lasting protection? I am going to be cleaning lots of nuts, bolts, and miscellaneous hardware and want to prevent them from rusting again, without painting.

You probably could but then you are introducing water into the equation which causes rust in the first place. I haven't done it but maybe someone else can give you an answer from experience.
 

wil

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Sep 18, 2010
Messages
43
Location
massachusetts
Anybody know where a good deal on Evap a rust can be found? My gallon is about used up and I like to keep some around in case I run across a good rusty deal.

Thanks!

I got my gallon of Evaporust at a surplus place called "Ollies". Look in the
hardware section!
 

dkroth

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Mar 11, 2010
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Rochester, New York
Seems to me like the more you use it, the less it works.

You are correct.

EvapoRust works by chelation. There is a finite amount of chemistry in the solution that will react with a fixed amount of iron oxide. Once the stuff is used up that's it.

It may help slightly to stir the mix as it gets older. Move the chemistry around so it contacts the rust.
 

dkroth

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Rochester, New York
I think I'd keep an eye on that carburetor before the Evaporust eats the body.

Zeke, unless the body is made our of rust it will be fine. EvapoRust is inert WRT aluminum alloys.

The only negative effects I've seen with the stuff: it will remove oxide coatings like black oxide very quickly.

It won't attack paint, but I've had paint come off easily when scrubbing and brushing afterward as though the bond between the paint and metal has been compromised.

It will leave a black residue on some metals (high carbon, low carbon, I can't remember). This can be scrubbed off or wire brushed.



,
 

isb cornbinder

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Nov 3, 2010
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Pacific South West, BC, Canada
I used Evaporust in my ultrasonic parts cleaner. I am restoring a British Myford Lathe. The action of Evaporust is accelerated by 100 times in the ultrasonic machine. Check it out on You Tube. This product is everything and more than the manufacturer says. I bought 25 litres of Evaporust.
 

Davefr

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Jan 7, 2010
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OR
If time is not of the essence, Molassis does the same thing but much slower rate.

A 2.5 gallon pail of it at a feed store is around $20 and at a 10:1 ratio of water will make 25 gallons. How much will 25 gallons of Evaporust cost??
 

JimNC

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Jul 9, 2017
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NC
Quick before and after 24 hr on the fence stretcher.
 

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