The joy Of Citric Acid

[diytoolbox]

I may be mistaken but I believe you’re supposed to use washing soda not baking soda. I think you then end up with less acidity, or even a weak alkali but it is a chelating agent which causes rust particles to seperate but shouldn’t etch anything.

Or that might have been a typo and you meant to say washing soda anyway.
I’ve never tried the ‘magic mix’ - only citric acid on its own and I found things went grey.

I was not sure which soda to use for the best result. I just ended up getting baking soda. Maybe it was cheaper, and also safer for the environment and health.

I will try to get washing soda next time, and see how it comes out different.

 

[diytoolbox]

Here I was de-rusting the heavily rusted camping axe. It is probably about 15 years old from new, but stored in the garden shed most of the time. It used to be shinny silvery surface metal, but it became dark brown surface covered with thick rust. Soaked in the citric acid, baking soda and hand wash soap for 15 hours.

It came out grey surface again instead of the original shiny surface when new. But the rust seems mostly gone, and I am happy with the result.

 

[Fergie 307]

That is seriously grey. Never seen anything like that. I am thinking maybe something to do with the baking soda?

 

[kinverkid]

I was not sure which soda to use for the best result. I just ended up getting baking soda. Maybe it was cheaper, and also safer for the environment and health.

I will try to get washing soda next time, and see how it comes out different.

The baking soda is for the citric acid solution and washing soda is for the electrolysis method.

 

[diytoolbox]

That is seriously grey. Never seen anything like that. I am thinking maybe something to do with the baking soda?

A wirewool or sand paper rub will take off the grey. But it seems looking ok with the grey. 100 times better than the thick rust.

Maybe it will protect from rusting?