Hi Martin,

I use parafin or kerosene with nylon kitchen scourers for flat surfaces and washing up brushes/toothbrushes for slots etc. Cheap as chips and plentiful supply (especially if you are married to my wife! Haha)

I have cleaned up several rusty machines like that.

Elbow grease with soft materials does not wear away vital metal!

Andy

ScotchBrite or Fibral non-woven abrasive pads & elbow grease !

There are also phosphoric acid based "metal brightner" products that remove tarnish from machined surfaces.

Nigel B.

Martin,

When you have removed the rust as suggested above, I recommend that you wipe the surfaces with a rust inhibiting oil. I use Shell Ensis, and have had no rust on my machine surfaces in over 25 years.

David

This post was by Ian Bartlett 1 and was accidentally deleted.

Martin,

In case it's a bit more than "a bit of surface rust", try using a steel paint scraper. I have one with the sharp corners rounded off, it's a cheap plastic handle that holds a Stanley knife blade. Slap some old engine oil on the surface to clean (it keeps the dust at bay), start with the scraper too shallow and slowly increase the angle, fair amount of pressure on the blade. You'll find a sweet spot, where the rust suddenly just planes off, without the scraper digging in. Then, a quick rub with Scotchbrite / fine emery etc will finish the job.

Here are some pics of an old Wadkin planer undergoing that treatment:

**LINK**

**LINK**

Ian

Cyril I see from your link Frank uses Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate?) I use Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) with the same effect, I wonder which works faster?

When started using electrolitic rust removal, I used Caustic Soda, But soon changed to washing soda for safty reasons. The caustic I suppose is OK for removing paint, although washing soda does that enough for me. Ian S C