De-Rusting With Treacle

Panky

Panky

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I've heard about removing rust with molasses so I thought treacle is molasses isn't it? I just happened to find a couple of out of date tins at the back of the kitchen cupboard during a clear out so I thought.........
Rusty bits. A door bottom repair off-cut, the old bolts off Ted's rear panel and a cast iron water valve cover I dug up out of the garden.



I put a tin of treacle into just over half a bucket of warm water and placed the test pieces in



After a day the steel sheet was showing promise



After a week it's still working



After three weeks it only bloody works :)



The other bits showed signs of improvement too, this is just after a quick hose down. Even the rust in the pitting had gone



The cast iron still has some crust left on it but it's definitely improved



I'll leave it in for another couple of weeks and see what happens, the liquid seems to be getting pretty lively now but it's started to smell a bit like sweaty socks :rolleyes:
So if your in no rush get yourself to the back of the larder and nick that tin of treacle that was supposed to go into a Christmas cake ten years ago, and the only other thing you need is a container big enough to put your rusty bits in :)
 
That's a fantastic bit of science John, going by the pictures it really works. Could you apply straight to an certain area? I've had a look in my cupboard and I can only find a tin of golden syrup:rolleyes:.........:)​
 
You could apply it locally if you wanted it sticky AND rusty - and smelling of old socks. Wouldn't shift the rust though:rolleyes:
 
I've declared the experiment a success and poured the fluid away - couldn't stand the smell any longer:eek:
Results after a month but it took a while for it to really get going, I would suggest a lidded container out of the way for serious use so the stench wont offend anyone;)
The deep pitted rust on the bolts had been completely dissolved and the other test pieces also came up well including a couple of things I'd forgotten I put in the bucket.

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After a quick clean up

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You can see on the horn cover where some paint had shielded the rust underneath and flash corrosion had started so it's essential that components are treated immediately after.
So in summary, a very gentle process that works on exposed rust that is cheap, efficient, relentless and smelly:)
 
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