Subject: Re: de-rusting wrought iron?

From: [email-masked] (Mark Kinsler )
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 02:08:23 GMT

>Joseph Scott Stuart  <[email-masked] > wrote:
>>I've inherited from my grandmother an old wrought iron piece.  It is
>>about five feet in diameter, with lots of intricate detail, and it is
>>all covered with a thin coat of rust.  I was going to get some tiny
>>metal brush drill bits and grind it all off, until I realized just how
>>many hours of tedious work this would be.  So, I'm thinking of having
>>it sandblasted.  Is this a good idea?  
>>
>>Also, after all the rust is gone, how can I ensure that it never gets
>>rusty again?  I was planning to cover it with an appropriate primer
>>and paint.  Is there any particular brand or chemical that is best?
>>Some other way to treat it?

That's one heck of a lot of sandblasting.  Take it apart and then take the
parts down to the do-it-yourself car wash and clean it thoroughly with
soap and high-pressure water.  Then give it a couple of coats of a rust
converter paint.  These take rust and convert it to a strange blue-black
coating which won't rust any further.  One brand is Duro's Extend, and
Rust-oleum makes one, too.  They come as sprays or for use with a brush
and work quite well.  You can then give it a coat of whatever sort of
finish seems suitable, perhaps an epoxy enamel. 

                                    Mark Kinsler

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From: [email-masked] (T Wish)
Date: 4 Nov 95 01:01:35 -0800

Consider a 5% solution of Oxalic Acid or 5% Ammonium Citrate Dibasic 
applied with a stiff nylon bristle brush.