Better late than never, here are the results of my molasses rust removal experiment.

Test subject: 2* upper swivel lock nuts.
Mollasses used in a 1:10 (by weight) ratio with tap water.
Time in solution: 48 hours

I simply mixed up the solution into some mugs and used some mig wire across the top of the mug to dangle the nut in the liquid. Obviously it's important to ensure the nut doesn't touch the side (otherwise it might not get mollassesed!!!)

After 48 hours I rinsed them in water, stuck them in a moderate oven for 20 minutes to dry out then whipped them over to the garage and sprayed them (whilst still warm for super quick drying time!!!)....

BEFORE:

Description

MOLASSES: (a whole pounds worth- and I've still got 90% left!!!)

Description

AFTER:

Description


Realistically it would have been better if I'd left them in for longer but I needed to but them back on the car!!

Alternatively, a bit of scrubbing with some wire wool would have taken the remaining black iron compounds (? phosphate) off but I couldn't be arsed.... I reckon 72 hours and it would have been a proper job....

Summary: not good if you're in a hurry but if you want cheap de-rusting of steel parts it's a piece of piss. Apparantly it does bad mojo to brass, copper, aliminium and non-ferrous stuff....

Hows it work? Is it acidic etc.?

Do you lick your nuts clean?

accourding to New Scientist it's because Mollasses contains chelating agents which remove the iron oxide but not the iron itself....

48hrs A wire brush would have that done in in less than 48 seconds, given better results and been much cheaper (assuming you have a wire brush).

I'm sure it's much more useful for more awkward shapes but having racked my brain, I can't think of any...................

Phil

I didn't say I'd discovered the cure for world hunger!!!

I think it would be best for complicated shapes where you can't get a wire brush in... though it pleases me in a lazy kind of way that you just dunk it in the stuff for 48 hours and it does all the work for you....

and you can use the rest of the molasses as an additive for ground bait when fishing for big bream they love it ....... isn't coca cola better at cleaning metal

It's quite good yes. It contains the chelating agents from molasses but also phosphoric acid....