SJVWC Forums
VW Lounge => General Forum => Topic started by: dawelder on August 24, 2014, 02:48:28 pm
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Ok. Someone try this. Take a piece of chrome that has rust on it. Get piece of aluminum foil and wet it. In circular motion start to polish and see what happens
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While on vacation last summer, I bought a rusty knife. I remembered on 'American Restoration' that Rick had recommended this method. Wow! It worked beyond my wildest dreams. thumpup)-
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Does it work because the aluminum is harder than the rust, but not the metal, or is there some sort of chemical thing going on?
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AFAIK, it's just mechanical. Some say using Diet Coke or Pepsi instead of water works better. You still need to seal the metal after de-rusting it so that it doesn't re-rust.
I've tried it, and it does work, but if the metal is badly pitted it will still be pitted after treatment. Just not rusty.
YMMV
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I'll have to try.
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How do you seal the metal after you derust it?
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Just like you would any chrome. Polish or wax it
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Just like you would any chrome. Polish or wax it
I wouldn't know. I never had nice chrome.
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Spray with "Rust Fix" after. If you have nice chrome spray with Rust fix after cleaning and it will stay nice looking. It works great.
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Have heard of this, but thought it was just a myth, and did not want to scratch up the chrome with the foil, but you prompted me to research, and was impressed... - from the article...
Oxides are the key
Cleaning Rust is basically oxidized metal or another words metal that has taken on extra oxygen atoms. As heat is generated by the friction of rubbing the aluminum foil on the chrome, a portion of the aluminum will oxidize to produce aluminum oxide. Aluminum has a higher reduction potential (i.e a tendency take on electrons and in the process reduce or break itself down) than the chrome, and will therefore leech oxygen atoms away from any rust on the chrome surface which changes the chemical properties of the rust and breaks it down.
Aluminum oxide is harder than steel, and the microscopic grains of aluminum oxide produced during the cleaning process creates a fine metal polishing compound which, mixed with the water you added, creates a paste that smoothes and polishes the chrome surface.
Another thing to add to my list for J.D.
and maybe that means... just maybe, .... no need to tar anymore... :confused04:;
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How do you seal the metal after you derust it?
Wrap it in aluminum foil... #@rofl3
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Wrap it in aluminum foil... #@rofl3
Everyone knows you put Tar on it.
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Wrap it in aluminum foil... #@rofl3
Everyone knows you put Tar on it.
Well, yeah, the tar holds the tin foil in place. Otherwise it would blow off when driving....