Using molasses to remove rust - It works!

[Crate]

Thought I would share this as a few may find it helpful, I had heard from a couple of different sources that molasses mixed with water would remove rust so thought I would give it a go:

All it is is ~1:10 ratio molasses and hot water (the hot water helps the molasses dissolve) in a bucket and put the parts in for a few days. The parts need to be clean from grease and oil so the molasses can penetrate.

And some pictures for proof..


http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/swbmqcraig/GQ%20Refurbish%20part%20IV/20140525_165313_zps5fbdd35f.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/user/swbmqcraig/media/GQ%20Refurbish%20part%20IV/20140525_165313_zps5fbdd35f.jpg.html)

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/swbmqcraig/GQ%20Refurbish%20part%20IV/20140525_165346_zps5d3b99b5.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/user/swbmqcraig/media/GQ%20Refurbish%20part%20IV/20140525_165346_zps5d3b99b5.jpg.html)

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/swbmqcraig/GQ%20Refurbish%20part%20IV/20140531_164551_zpse27fa78c.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/user/swbmqcraig/media/GQ%20Refurbish%20part%20IV/20140531_164551_zpse27fa78c.jpg.html)

[mudski]

Isn't that the stuff you feed horses?

[nissannewby]

Isn't that the stuff you feed horses?

And cows. It's also the main ingredient in bundabergs finest drop :).

[Avo]

Isn't that the stuff you feed horses?

I thought it was to make RUM...

[Parksy]

And cows. It's also the main ingredient in bundabergs finest drop :).

Don't want to sink your boat but the calipers are alloy. The pistons are steel hence the rust. Either way it has worked and cleaned them up quite well.

Patrol calipers are cast iron.

I too used molasses to clean up my calipers, works great, only problem is it takes abit of time to work.

[BigRAWesty]

Pretty much the same concept as using coke to clean parts.

[Parksy]

Yep, coke contains phosphoric acid which dissolves rust. Molasses is a chelating agent and when combined with rust forms a chemical reaction creating phosphoric acid.

[mudnut]

Tractors enthusiasts have used molasses for many years. One bloke I know of has a heating unit in a large vessel to clean large parts.

[Family4x4]

A second hand dealer I know has a bin full, he is always cleaning something in it.

[mudski]

And cows. It's also the main ingredient in bundabergs finest drop :).

Is that why it taste shite?

[Col.T]

Dunno about the taste but you rarely find rust in horse poo so it obviously works.

[dinkydy]

There are other pickles around that degrease and even remove paint, internet is a great source for auto part pickles, but I find most impractical unless you are doing a large number of parts.

[threedogs]

Our Pioneers were great at stuff like that,
used sump oil to rust proof stuff as well, I do it here.
Heat some steel or what ever you want black up to cherry red
then wipe it with a rag dipped in sump oil, do this out doors as there'll be smoke everywhere
and the part when cooled down will be black and rust proof.

HHHHMMMmmmmm Bundy

[Mrbeef]

Our Pioneers were great at stuff like that,
used sump oil to rust proof stuff as well, I do it here.
Heat some steel or what ever you want black up to cherry red
then wipe it with a rag dipped in sump oil, do this out doors as there'll be smoke everywhere
and the part when cooled down will be black and rust proof.

HHHHMMMmmmmm Bundy

Well technically you're case hardening the steel/part. Introducing carbon to the surface, also making it brittle sometimes. That's how most hammers are hardened or were.

But yes effective method :)