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Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Clean rust off metal

I found two old rusted metal beds and need to know how to clean the rust off of them. I have no clue what type of metal they are. After sanding a small spot they look like they could be copper. How do I tell.

Carole Stokes
- St. Augustine, Florida

Simplest test: use a magnet. The beds are steel if a magnet is attracted to them.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

To clean the rust off, visit your local hardware store. They probably sell specific solvents that are designed to dissolve calcium, lime, and rust.

Tim Neveau
Rochester Hills, Michigan

If it is copper then you can half a lemon put salt on it and shine the copper up by rubbing it on it.

Joshua Baker
- El Paso, Texas

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