Rust Removal from Tools

[svzephyr44]

I have a large, and I mean large quantity of tools and assorted small parts that all have a light coating of rust. Is there some simple way (like putting them in a bath of some solvent) to clean them up?

[hamiam]

I have not tried this myself but I was told that if you soak tools in coca-cola over night the acid in the soda will actually remove the rust. Sounds crazy but its worth a try.

[RichH]

Boiling in water for a moderately long time will remove surface rust and form ferrous oxide - the ''good'' rust.
Add a bit of phosphoric acid to the boiling water and you will quicken the reaction.

Coating with a ''rust reformer'' containing phosphoric acid is the best method of rust removal: Ospho, Naval Jelly, etc. BoatUS, WestMarine, etc. supply spray on ''rust reformers''.

Any method that converts ferric oxide to ferrous oxide will work. The ferrous oxide is the ''blue'' sheen on guns, etc. used to protect against ferric oxide formation.
Coke, Pepsi, etc. contain phosphoric acid but not enough to make much difference, .... unless you *boil* the part in them.