[Sonny]

Hey guys, wanted to see if you guys have any advice on how to remove rust from a custom steel plinth.  Anyways, you can see from the picture that this plinth, made from steel, was polished and waxed...then went into storage while I was in between houses and last night, I unpacked it and noticed some minor rust and very fine rust on it.  I tried, removing it last night by using some "Mother's" polish, but that didn't work.  I tried buffing it out with some 00000 steel wool, that didn't work either...

Note, the picture is of the plinth when it looked good.... 

Any ideas on how to easily remove this stuff?

Thanks
Tuan

[rollo]

CLR at Home depot. Do not use any abrasive material.



charles

[Sonny]

Hm, thanks, you think that will actually work?  I know it's made to remove rust stains, but this is actual rust on metal...will that made a difference?
T

[brooklyn]

The only way I know to remove rust would be elbow grease and something abrasive enough
to remove the rust then finish it off with something call micro mesh, which comes in different
grades. It starts off with something like 1400 and goes up to 6000 which would be the finished
product.

The next time you pack that baby up use a handful of those moisture absorbers in a pouch or
rice in a cloth bag, that should do it.

That's a nice rig you have there, sorry you have that kind of problem, rust is a bitch.

Jerry


 

[Sonny]

Thanks Jerry...

Right now the rust really is barely visible unless you really look for it, but I want to remove it so it doesn't get worse. 

I have heard that stuff like CLR is supposed to dissolve rust, so, it may not be the answer. 

Thanks for the compliment...I really like the set up!
 

[Ericus Rex]

From the pic it looks like the plinth has a 'brushed' look to it.  I.E. it has concentric 'scratches' all the way around like brushed aluminum.  If this is the case you can use an abrasive on it.  Just make sure you only move the abrasive in the same direction as the original brushing.  Strips of emery cloth might be a good option.  You could also use a coarser steel wool but it would be easier to keep the original brushed look with a long strip of emery cloth wrapped around.  If you'd rather just leave the rust there but make sure it doesn't get worse you could put a very light film of oil over the plinth.  Not my choice but an option.

[brooklyn]

I never used the CLR stuff myself but I hope it works. If that was my rig and saw
rust on it, I probably would have shot myself.... LOL

[cab]

Muriatic acid will clean it off. You might consider bluing/browning it or you will always be fighting corrosion.

[Sonny]

I never used the CLR stuff myself but I hope it works. If that was my rig and saw
rust on it, I probably would have shot myself.... LOL

Hopefully not..."shooting" myself that is...
I will try some stuff... I hear WD40 would work to remove it...then I can wax it

[Wayner]

I might suggest using 3M Scotchbrite with a little bit of light machine oil (sewing machine oil) and as mentioned before, some elbow grease. I'd be slightly concerned about using some chemical rust remover, unless you have a way to remove all of it after you've tried it, as it may continue to keep doin' it's thing, which may not be a good thing.

Coca-cola also seems to do wonders with removing rust.....

Wayner

[Sonny]

thanks for all the suggestions, I will try some of the methods this weekend and see what works.
T

[neobop]

After you get the rust off, you might want to consider using a clear coat, like a car paint finish.  You can wax over the clear coat once it's set. 
neo

[Sonny]

After you get the rust off, you might want to consider using a clear coat, like a car paint finish.  You can wax over the clear coat once it's set. 
neo

sounds like a good idea, where can I get such an item?

[orthobiz]

If it's so light, I wonder if the mild abrasives used to polish dustcovers might work. Also, consider one of those conical sponges that fit into a drill chuck, eliminates the elbow grease and will give you nice straight polish lines.

Paul

[tomytoons]

Here ya go>

http://www.eastwood.com/specialty-coatings/clear-coat/diamond-clear-gloss-set.html

http://www.everbritecoatings.com/index.html

[neobop]

Auto supply or parts store.  I think you can buy clear coat in a spray can.  Use auto painting technique.  If you haven't done something like that before, I suggest taking it over to auto body shop and have them do it in a dust free painting booth.  They'll know how to clean it and prevent paint from getting where you don't want it, like the bearing.  They can also tell you how long to wait before waxing.
neo

[SteveFord]

I'd go with Simichrome jeweler's polish on a cloth and go gently.  You only need to use a little Simichrome, by the way.
Rub in the direction of the brush marks on the metal.
Once the rust is off buff it with WD40 on an old sock or tee shirt; metal is porous so it'll absorb the WD40 and keep it from rusting in the future.

[Sonny]

I'd go with Simichrome jeweler's polish on a cloth and go gently.  You only need to use a little Simichrome, by the way.
Rub in the direction of the brush marks on the metal.
Once the rust is off buff it with WD40 on an old sock or tee shirt; metal is porous so it'll absorb the WD40 and keep it from rusting in the future.

Thanks, I heard that about WD40.. .my only thing with WD40 is the smell...and I have an 18 month old in the  house.
 

[SteveFord]

Any light oil will help prevent rust. 
Mother's makes a good metal polish, too. 
Just go gently as you might end up with something shinier than you'd intended.

[Sonny]

Any light oil will help prevent rust. 
Mother's makes a good metal polish, too. 
Just go gently as you might end up with something shinier than you'd intended.

Thanks...I was using Mothers prior to storing it.  I was surprised to see the fine rust...
I tried the Mothers again last night, but it didn't remove the rust.  So, #1 is to remove rust, then reapply a polish or wax, like Mothers or something.
T