CLR cleaner product for removing rust from iron object?

[acm3]

Has anyone tried soaking rusty iron objects in CLR cleaner? If so, what were your results/lessons learned?

 

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[redcobra8u]

That stuff is pretty harsh. I wouldn't recommend it. WD40 would probably be a better bet. Personally I do electrolosis on my finds.

 

[acm3]

Thanks. I found a bottle of it in my garage (not sure when i bought it) and thought i would use it on all the old square nails I have. I use electrolysis on my bigger items like axe head, horse shoes, etc. I think the old nails are cool, but don't want to hassle using electrolysis on them. If I do, I may lay them all in a metal pan and attach the negative line to the pan and see if it "cooks" all of them at once.

 

[PaJim]

I can't attest to how these methods effect iron... but I collect antique bicycles and these are different methods I use to remove rust from steel.

1) Vinegar soak works (slowly)
2) Molasses is supposed to work (slowly of course)
3) Oxalic acid can pull some wonders. Buy it in crystal form and dilute in hot water, or use Bar Keepers friend/wood bleach. Both products contain a diluted amount of OA
4) wd40 and steel wool (not sure that would be the best way to clean up nails though)
5) Evapo-rust.

But again... I've never used any of these methods on iron. Not sure how they will react to that metal.

 

[cudamark]

To me, vinegar is the most cost effective way to do it. Evaporust works great too, but, at a much higher cost.