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Preventing flash rusting of steel components

I need to prevent flash rusting of steel clock components following a steel shot/water/soap tumble cleaning process. Products are available in the US I'm told that can be diluted in water and used as a final rinse before drying in warm air. Does anyone know of a product that will do this in the UK please. Its also important that any residue left on the steel will not affect any lubricating oil applied later.

Alan Lewis
Watch and Clockmaker - Cardiff, West Glamorgan, UK
2005

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Hello Alan,

If I understand you correctly then perhaps Sodium Nitrite dissolved in water at 6-8 oz/gallon (in truth I forget what concentration I used). Immerse your parts , warm air dry. Let me know how you get on.

ALAN THOMAS
- CHANDLER, Arizona, USA

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Sounds like pretty low volume and probably not long duration... Soda ash can be used to prevent flash rusting for several days if the conditions of storage are dry and room temperature. Just buy soda ash like you use for a swimming pool and mix about 1 pound per 5 gallons of water, be sure all the other materials are well rinsed, then dunk the parts in this to leave an alkaline surface.

If you need better protection than that you'll need to get more specific, possibly a rust preventative material, or maybe a rust preventing oil that can just stay on the parts after you're finished with them...

Hope that helps...

Jeff Watson
- Pearland, Texas