15 Ways To Remove Rust From Your Magnet Fishing Finds
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If you've ever been Magnet fishing, you know that the things you find are usually covered in rust, and you may not know how to clean the rust away. Your magnet fishing finds can be valuable, but you won't know until they're rust free. This article is going to list fourteen natural and chemical ways to remove the rust from your magnet fishing finds. By the end, you may just be inspired to try Magnet fishing for yourself to see what types of treasures you may find.
1. Apple or White Vinegar If you want a natural way to remove any rust from your finds, try apple or white vinegar. This natural cleanser is full of acids, and both citric acid and acetic acid are great for removing rust. You take your rust covered finds and submerge them in the vinegar. It is a good idea to let them soak at least 24 hours. Once your finds have soaked, remove them from your vinegar and wipe them clean with a cloth. Whatever you've soaked should be shiny and rust free. If it's not, soak them for another 24 hours and try again. Pros
2. Lemon or Lime Juice and Salt Another trick to removing rust from your metal finds is using a lemon or a lime juice and salt. Start this process by rubbing salt all over whatever you found while fishing. You can use either table or kosher salt, either will work. Once the item is completely coated with salt, cut your lemon or lime in half and squeeze out as much juice as you can directly onto the salt. Let your item sit for three or four hours, then take the rind of your lemon or lime and scrub your metal item. The rind is abrasive enough that it should remove the majority of the rust, but it won't damage your item. If you can't find lemons or limes, you can purchase lemon juice and lime juice at your local grocery store. You can swap out the rind for a soft cloth as well. Pros
3. Baking Soda Baking soda is another alternative to remove rust. You mix a thick paste with the baking soda and water. As soon as it's thick enough to spread without running, spread it over your rusty items. Allow it to sit for two to three hours and scrub it with a toothbrush. The baking soda will act as an abrasive that will lift the rust from the item, and you can scrub it away. However, it's gentle enough not to damage your items when you scrub at it. If it doesn't completely come off, do the process again. Pros
If you're not ready to move on to chemicals just yet to remove the rust from your items, a potato and dish soap may do the trick. A potato contains acid, and this will help to remove the rust from your item. You start by cutting your potato in half and coating the open end of the potato with dish soap. Stand over the sink or a bucket and scrub the potato and dish soap over the rusted items. You should see the rust beginning to lift after a few minutes. This is a very messy process, so if you can do it outdoors, it would probably be best. Pros
5. Oxalic Acid You'll want to be very careful if you choose to use Oxalic Acid to clean the rust off. Start by getting gloves, goggles, and protective clothing, then wash your rusted items really well with a washing agent like dish soap. Mix five teaspoons of the Oxalic Acid per one cup of warm water. Soak your rusty items for 20 to 30 minutes then rinse them thoroughly. Next, take a brass brush or a cloth and scrub your item. Finally, wash the item completely and let it dry. Pros
6. Citric Acid Citric Acid is very useful for dissolving any rust that may be stubbornly stuck to your metal finds. You can mix one cup of the citric acid into warm water until it dissolves and soaks your rusty metal materials. The citric acid will foam and bubble as it works at the rust. Leave it to sit for one to two hours and use a cloth or a toothbrush to scrub away any existing spots. If you notice some of them aren't lifting off your item, soak it for an additional hour or so and scrub it again. Pros
7. Loctite 1381191 Naval Jelly Rust Dissolver Loctite 1381191 Naval Jelly Rust Dissolver has been used for years to remove rust. It is designed to dissolve any rust all of the way down to the metal, and this makes cleaning your items easy. You can add the product straight onto the surface of your items, or you can apply it and scrub it in with a toothbrush. While you're using it, be very careful that you only get it on the metal parts of your objects, and it has to be watched very closely. If you plan to leave it on, you should check it every two or three minutes to see the progress. Pros
8. Sandpaper If you're not too concerned with scratching your items, you can try using coarse and fine grit sandpaper and elbow grease to remove the rust. Start by sanding your item with the coarse sandpaper to remove any large pieces of rust or to smooth out any bumps or pits in your items. The more fine grit sandpaper will work to remove the rust that is closer to your item. You simply work at it until you can't see any more rust on your item. It is a good idea to rinse and dry your items a few times so you can rinse off any residue. Pros
9. Coca Cola The acid level in Coca-Cola makes it a useful cleaning agent, and it'll also dissolve rust if you leave your items sit for long enough. This is a slower method, because Coca-Cola only has a low level of phosphoric acid. You start by pouring your Coca-Cola into a plastic or glass container that is large enough to fit your rusty items. This will work best if you completely submerge your items in the Coca-Cola, so it should be a deeper container. Once your items are submerged, let them sit at least 24 hours. Once the 24 hours are up, rub at any remaining rust spots with a piece of aluminum foil until they come off. Pros
10. Evapo-Rust This product is a liquid rust remover that you find in a lot of mechanic shops. Evapo-Rust is non-toxic, biodegradable, and it doesn't contain any acids. You should clean your items really well prior to using this product because any oily residue may affect the finished product. Get a plastic container and put your rusted items into it. Pour Evapo-Rust over your items until they're completely submerged and let them sit for up to 24 hours. Once they've soaked, rub them with a cloth and rinse your items off. if you still see rust, return them to the solution and soak for an additional hour. Pros
11. Workshop Hero Metal Rescue The Workshop Hero Metal Rescue a very easy to use rust remover. You simply rinse and dry your items, then submerge them in a plastic container of Workshop Hero. You should begin seeing results in as little as one hour, but it can take up to 24 depending on how badly your items are rusted. Once your item has been submerged for up to 24 hours, remove it and rinse any residue off. If you see any remaining rust, you can put it back into the solution for another 24 hours. Pros
12. Unrust Rust Remover The Unrust Rust Remover is a dry powder that you mix with warm water to soak your items. One packet of this product can make two to four gallons, so you'll be able to soak all of your items at one time. It is a good idea to completely submerge your rusty finds and let them soak for a few hours before you check on them. For the best results, wait a full 24 hours before you remove your items. Once 24 hours is up, remove your finds and rinse them with warm water. Take a soft cloth and rub at any remaining spots of rust you see. Pros
13. Boeshield Rust Free The Boeshield Rust Free solution is a spray on rust remover. You'll need abrasive pads to scrub your item once you've coated it with the rust remover. Start by rinsing and drying your items. Once they're dry, spray on the rust remover solution and let it sit for 20 minutes to an hour. Take your abrasive pad and scrub at the rust spots. If you don't see them lifting up easily, respray the item and let it sit for another 20 minutes. It may take up to 30 minutes of scrubbing for the rust to come completely off your items. Pros
14. WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover Soak The WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover Soak is designed to remove layers and layers of rust from your Magnet fishing finds. It removes the rust without damaging, chipping, or wearing away your items. It works best by submerging your items in a plastic container and letting them soak for 30 minutes or up to eight hours. Once they've soaked, remove them and polish any remaining rust away with a soft cloth. If there are spots that won't come off, soak them for an additional 30 minutes and recheck. Pros
This post has gone over the top 15 rust removers that are safe to use on your Magnet fishing items. We've listed both natural and chemical rust removers, as well as instructions on how to use them properly. We also listed a short pro and con list for each so you can make an informed decision the next time you're looking for a rust removal solution. You should be able to take this list and buy your next item with confidence because you know that one or the other will work to make your items look shiny, clean, and rust free. |
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