oxalic acid for rust removal

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mitch8

Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
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i saw on some bmx forums that oxalic acid (sold as wood bleach at hard wear stores) works wonders for rust removal. just removes rust, everything gets shinny doesn't hurt the steel bla bla bla. i was wondering if anyone out there has experience with it on other things. just not sure if it works as well with the alloys of steel used in knives. the only user that seems to mention it, and he seams quite knowledgeable, is Obsessed with Edges and he suggests bar keepers friend but i was just wondering if anyone else any experience with oa baths or oxalic acid in general.

thanks everyone,
mitch
 
"everything gets shiney " ? While the oxalic acid removes the rust the stell has been pitted [unless very light rust] and those pits will still be there. That's true of any rust remover.
 
Its used in leather work. I keep a diluted spray bottle around. It takes some nasty stains or spots out prior to oiling or dyeing. Sometimes your leather will have little green spots show up while wet forming. Spray with this stuff and rinse. Wear your respirator and vinyl gloves. With good leather it doesn't happen a lot but it will happen. My last batch of sheaths (54) I had to use it on two. I often wonder if the tannery didn't rinse something completely out?? The spots are always the same kind of copper caused green. No experience as a rust remover. Nasty stuff I wouldn't use it if I didn't have to and don't.
 
whats so nasty about it? is it actually poisonous or is it just a bad skin irritant in high concentration?
 
my question is, you got this information from a bmx site?? what rust's on a bmx?? back when I was riding most every part was alloy, alluminium, titanium etc..
 
I know Oxalic acid when heated in a solution can clean all the red clay stains off of mined quartz crystal.
 
I have used it in a Jeep radiator that had a large amount of fouling inside. It really cleaned it up and brightened the entire inside. If I remember correctly, Oxyllic acid was the original chemical in the General Motors "radiator flush" that you used to get from the factory shops. Its no longer used in that way due to the EPA coming down on how harsh the chem is for the environment. I know if you start reading up on "radiator flush" topic, you will find more data on using this acid on metals. Like I have said, i have used it and it worked good. It likes heat to clean and it has a foul smell, but it removed the rust and gunk from the inside of the radiator and didn't damage anything. This is the only way I have used it.
 
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