Fastest Way to Rust Steel?

at my work we use Meratic Acid
to clean brick and stuff like that.

I believed it would clean the cement off of tools at work, so just as an experiment I left a cement working tool in a pile of wet cement, then I took my tool home and was going to show the guys at work the next day how clean it was,,,,

well, at 5:00 in the morning as I got loaded into my truck for the ride to work I took out the tool from the 5-gal bucket of Meratic Aciid it had sat in all night.

yes, the tool came out of the acid looking brand new!....not even a hint of cement stuck to it.

I tossed the tool into the back of my truck and headed to work.

About 15 min later I stopped to gas-up the truck, while I was pumping the gas, i noticed the tool. This time it looked very different. It had only been a few min yet now the tool looked 90 years old.

the tool was covered in rust,,,,not light rust too, but a very deep looking aged rust...

I picked up the tool and the welded on handle poped off, the tool was shot...

I believe the fact that I had not washed off the Meratic Acid, nor did I oil the tool up after it's acid bath, was the reason that it rusted out, going from "brand new" to "beat to dust" in a 15 min drive to the gas station...

You want rust?....Meratic Acid
 
Meratic Acid is used by stone masons and cement workers all the time
it's what you use to clean cement froors before you paint or coat them..
 
Has anyone mentioned muratic acid? :D They also use it to etch steel besides cleaning concrete. I had a 69 GTO that sat for years and the tank was so rusty it would plug brand new fuel filters in a day of driving. Then of course it would shut down and you would be stranded. Anyway, I took the tank off and filled it with some muratic (about a gallon), sealed it and shook it and it looked brand spanking new inside. Then I just kept it full all the time and it didn't rust while I had it. I did "the deed" at the local car wash and I hosed it out really good with the soapy water.
Muratic is bad stuff. It will eat up anything if it is not neutralized afterwards. I haven't tried it but I hear it will completely destroy stainless. Turns it green or something.
 
Hmmm... I'm beginning to get an idea... hmmm...

**smoke curls from under Jeff's cap**


Hey! Maybe I could use some muriatic acid?! What do you guys think?

:D :footinmou :D :footinmou :D :footinmou :D
 
jhiggins said:
Hmmm... I'm beginning to get an idea... hmmm...

**smoke curls from under Jeff's cap**


Hey! Maybe I could use some muriatic acid?! What do you guys think?

:footinmou :D
Click to expand...

Jeff try some muriatic acid :D
it's Hydrochloric acid at 20% concentration you know :D
use both "eye's" when using it. :cool: with safety glasses of course :D
 
Hey Dan, using some MURIATIC ACID might just do the trick! I guess I better use some SAFETY GLASSES too! I have a full face shield.... think that'd work?
 
sure Jeff
that should keep both EYE'S safe . I mean you'd need them both later I'm sure,, one will do at times but it's just not the same with just one eye when two eye's are needed :confused: ..:D
 
About 15 min later I stopped to gas-up the truck, while I was pumping the gas, i noticed the tool. This time it looked very different. It had only been a few min yet now the tool looked 90 years old.

To avoid that problem, when you take it out of the acid, neutralize with 1 tbl baking soda to 1 cup of water. Rinse it off and oil with a good rust inhibitor like Ballistol!
 
Just got back from the hardware store, totin' a jug o' dat acid. Gonna git me sum RUST! :p
 
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