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Removing oxidation/corrosion from old heating grates

I am a first-time homeowner renovating an old home, which has the old large metal grates that used to facilitate ceil heating (as opposed to the smaller ones used in central heat). I want to remove the oxidation/corrosion from them in order to make them look pretty, but I'm not sure of the content of the metal. Is there an inexpensive treatment that generally works well for removing oxidation/corrosion from any type of metal? I remember the penny experiments we used to do in elementary school, and I would assume something like this could be done with any type of metal. I don't need it to look professional or brand new. I just want the grates to look good with my newly re-finished hardwood floor.

Kaleb C [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
2004

Did you ever get a response to your oxidation problem?

Dave T [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Fountain Hills, Arizona
2004

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Hi, Kaleb. A picture would help, but the grates will be iron of some form -- probably cast iron or possibly steel. Paint is the easiest approach, of course. You could sand away the corrosion and clear coat the steel/iron, but clear coating offers limited corrosion resistance.

You could have the grates electroplated in copper or brass color and lacquered, but it would not be inexpensive to send them to a plating shop, and electroplating is pretty far beyond the reach of most hobbyists/handymen.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 4, 2008