trying Evaporust for the first time

[tom coffey]

My favorite local hardware store (the only one I shop at) offered me a 5 gallon bucket of Evaporust that has been in stock for two years for $40 including tax. Seems like a deal, so I'll pick it up on Monday. I've got a bunch of tools that need de-rusting so I guess I'll see how it works finally.

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

That is a good deal. I've been using Evaporust for a few years now and am very pleased with the results. I have found that removing any extra grease/oil and heavier rust scale and dirt makes the process go faster and makes the Evaporust last a bit longer.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As a warning, you're very likely going to get a black powdery carbon residue on very rusty wrenches. It tends to alarm some first time users. No worries. It scrubs right off with a little WD40 or any penetrating oil and a fine grain scrubbing pad or 0000 steel wool.

 

[lardy1]

That's a great deal. I pay around twenty dollars per gallon. Great stuff, in my opinion.

 

[4xdog]

I'm a big fan of Evapo-Rust. IMO it works better than advertised.

(Lugz, my opinion -- as a polymer scientist with no data -- is that the black powdery stuff is reduced iron, not carbon. My guess is that Evapo-Rust works as a reducing agent, donating electrons back to the oxidized iron. Looks about the same as carbon black though, and as you say, washes off easily after treatment. In fact, I'll often rinse heavily rusted items several times to remove the black powder during treatment, figuring I don't need to exhaust any Evapo-Rust on stuff that might take electrons and is ultimately going to wash off.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Makes sense to me, 4xdog. Thanks for that.

Not to sidetrack the thread, or start yet another generic thread on cleaning (see the Index in the Sticky, where I have already captured links to several threads on de-rusting and cleaning...), but I have actually been favoring Metal Rescue lately. Same principle (no acid, etc). But I am starting to think it's a tad stronger and lasts a tad longer. I have not done a scientific comparison.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: i've heard Evaporust has a shelf life of use so to speak, but that might be when it's exposed to the air and in a tank de rusting something. I hope SHELF LIFE doesn't including sitting on a shelf in an unopened jug.

looking forward to seeing how your old new old stock stuff works.

also i've heard some members that use it all the time drain it into old (never used) coffee filters and then maybe add a little new from the jug into their old mix so i'm curious to hear the results from those guys that might see your thread too.

good luck!!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I like using it on tool box slides.

 

[tom coffey]

Anybody ever submerge tools with plastic or wood handles in Evaporust and if so what was the effect? It would require a lot less liquid to soak a hacksaw laying flat than standing or hanging up.

 

[3baygarage]

Well, funny you should ask, Tom. I’m new at using Evaporust myself, after wanting to try it for years.

A few things I learned:

1. It will strip off black oxide coating (not sure if left for a shorter time)
2. It will strip off the gold coating on Snap On allen wrenches (“ “)
3. It will strip off coating from a submerged wood hammer handle, or at least change the appearance (“ “)

I can’t remember if I had something in there that had plastic or rubber.

Please note I’m no expert, and went for the extreme on a few items by leaving them in way too long.

Lots of other members can probably advise you better.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've put some Stanley screwdrivers with plastic handles in Evaporust, it didn't affect them at all.

 

[RTM]

Anybody ever submerge tools with plastic or wood handles in Evaporust and if so what was the effect? It would require a lot less liquid to soak a hacksaw laying flat than standing or hanging up.

You don’t really need to submerge. A plastic bag with a little bit of Evaporust, wrapped fairly tight around the tool, contacting all the metal, will do just as good. You can turn the bag to move the liquid to spots needing more help.