Surface Rust Removal - Molasses !

[ramjam2005]

New to SOC & Forum so not sure if this topic has cropped up before.

I stumbled upon this whilst surfing through various Youtube videos on car body repairs etc.
Its a simple way of removing surface rust from components/small body parts / panels etc by submerging them in a tub of 1 part liquid Black Molasses and 5 parts water and leaving for 24hours or longer for stubborn rust. It saves all the hard labour with a flappy or wire wheel and limits damage/loss to the metal. I thought maybe Flying Farmer may know of this as liquid molasses can be used as a farm animal feed additive, I believe.

I purchased a number of new panels which then laid idle in a garage to which I had no access for many years (if anyone read my first post) and some didn't have sufficient primer coating to protect them. So I thought I'd give it a try. The limitation really is what size tub you have to hand or can build. Some of the youtube videos have containers the size of a spa bath/jacuzzi so can dunk whole wings or doors!

I've added some before and after pics of a radiator support panel which took a couple of days to achieve the finish. It helps to agitate or rub briskly with a stiff paint brush, which removes any residue paint (which it also attacks!), rinse off with water and then do another course or soaking. Once complete, wash and dry thoroughly. Any remaining heavy pitting may need rust treatment to ensure it doesn't return. Apply a protective coat / etch primer immediately as oxidation starts as soon as you turn your back on it.

I bought 2 x 5litres of the molasses for £6 each from a local animal feed / horse livery shop and been dunking various panels and bits ever since.

[jakesmig]

Impressive.

[AlanD]

looks good, i tend to use coke for small parts, cheap and cheerfull

Alan

[flying farmer]

We used molasses for our beef cattle when I was a child, though its rust removal properties are new to me!
Neil

[Bob Heritage]

Interesting, I might use some on my lawn as it certainly made your grass nice & green

[martin]

I've seen those videos and wondered if it's a trick, nice to see that it actually does work. Impressive. Welcome aboard by the way. Martin.

[XFSTag]

Hi All
I saw those videos myself and the results you have there look really good!

I have been using Bilthamber Detox C on various bits of my mini, which is also excellent for this but far more expensive I would think. My most recent success was the rear brake drums which were as always very rusty, a week soaking and they were like new, which made painting them up a doddle. This sort of approch is really useful for the parts where you cant get at the sections very well with a wire brush/drill attachment and far less messy and labour intentsive. Bit like home brewing with a difference
I might be shopping down the local Farm stores for the next restoration project by the sound of it.
That'll make a change
All the best Glyn

[Motorsport Micky]

I thought the ratio was stated as 1 in 10 for the molasses, and the Australian farmer/retro car chopper whose Youtube video I watched was dunking part car shells (old Austin, Packard etc) that had been left to rust for the last 80 years (admittedly I think the Austrailian outback is a lot drier than the UK !).

He was using a large round agriculteral plastic "bath" about 6 foot dia by 30/40" deep and kept turning the panels to ensure even coverage. He was leaving the panels in for about 2 weeks, (maybe because he used a weaker mix ?) but when removed he washed off the residue by hand and power washer, (the molasses mix is benign and doesn't attack the hands although I bet it's sticky!). As can be shown from your pictures the molasses removes even the paint and pickles the rust leaving a very nice finish ready for paint preparation, I should try a Bondarust primer or Corroless which prevents air oxidisation before applying paint.

Suffice to say the process impressed me enough to buy a large 6' square by 4' deep fibreglass water tank from e bay (£80 ) about 1800 litre capacity in which I'm going to be preparing various rusty panels in this coming summer. It's already been useful, I had to transfer the Koi from my pond into it for half a day when I had a pond problem a couple of months ago.

Micky

[jleyton]

We used molasses for our beef cattle when I was a child, though its rust removal properties are new to me!
Neil

There you are Neil, that proves it works. I bet your cattle weren't rusty

Cheers

Julian

[ramjam2005]

Thanks for the replies and welcomes.

Alan..yes I knew about the Coke trick too ..thats the action of the citric acid.

Glyn is right, this gets into all the corners and folds/profiles that a wire wheel wouldn't - and saves on the electricity bill !

Mickey , yes I use Corroless too - a good product. Frosts stock it in their catlogue I believe for the benefit of others.

The only down side I see is the nasty smell it gives off and storing the tub somewhere. I used one of those large 80 litre plastic storage boxes (the lid helps contain the smell !) for smaller parts. I still have the mixture sitting in my garage after months but it has developed patches of mold growth on the surface which needs periodic removal.
For the longer panels I made a timber framework from some re-cycled 4"x2" door frames with a thick plastic sheeting ( the sort used by builders for floor membrane) tacked in to form a bath. Pond liner would be as good I suppose but I re-cylced what I had to hand.

Molasses is a by-product of sugar refinery process so hopefully I am using a "green" approach instead of using chemicals and re-cycling my old timber / plastic sheeting too ! (not that I'm a tree-hugging new-age hippy!). Not sure how to dispose of it after use but hey.. cross that bridge later. Shouldn't be anything toxic in it once I filter any paint residue etc.

Regards to all ..Ray

[martin]

I thought the ratio was stated as 1 in 10 for the molasses, and the Australian farmer/retro car chopper whose Youtube video I watched was dunking part car shells (old Austin, Packard etc) that had been left to rust for the last 80 years (admittedly I think the Austrailian outback is a lot drier than the UK !).

He was using a large round agriculteral plastic "bath" about 6 foot dia by 30/40" deep and kept turning the panels to ensure even coverage. He was leaving the panels in for about 2 weeks, (maybe because he used a weaker mix ?) but when removed he washed off the residue by hand and power washer, (the molasses mix is benign and doesn't attack the hands although I bet it's sticky!). As can be shown from your pictures the molasses removes even the paint and pickles the rust leaving a very nice finish ready for paint preparation, I should try a Bondarust primer or Corroless which prevents air oxidisation before applying paint.

Suffice to say the process impressed me enough to buy a large 6' square by 4' deep fibreglass water tank from e bay (£80 ) about 1800 litre capacity in which I'm going to be preparing various rusty panels in this coming summer. It's already been useful, I had to transfer the Koi from my pond into it for half a day when I had a pond problem a couple of months ago.

Micky

I hope you'll let us have some pics ? Martin.

[Firept]

Ray. You could use it to cook with or make some beer and should have a good iron vitamin content.

Paul.

[Motorsport Micky]

I hope you'll let us have some pics ? Martin.

Martin,

I'll post some photos when I've prepared some panels in the molasses, I'll be waiting for spring/summer don't fancy messing about in cold water until it's a lot higher than freezing temperature !

Micky