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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Stripping rust with alkaline solution

2004

I made a solution of common laundry detergent(tide) and mixed it with hot water and used a battery charger ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ; negative to the item to clean and the positive to a stainless anode-bar. The resulting action was after a couple of hours a rusty foamy scum on top and the removal of quite a bit of rust from the steel part. It left behind a real black coating on the part which I could eventually scrub off. Was any of this residue harmful in any way? It sure stained my hands like carbon would.

Thanks,

Pete Prosser
hobbyist - Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

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Without knowing what the item was, it's not possible to say whether the procedure was harmful to the item. It can become hydrogen-embrittled if it's a high strength steel. If the item was steel, I doubt that any corrosion product could be dangerous to people. It's probably just "smut".

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003