Motoring1 min ago
Rust Convertors
I took off the rust on a garden trowel earlier this week with wire wool and worked the stuff well into the surface. gave it 2 coats.
The trowel looked like part of it had not been treated after using it just once for light work (patches of the stuff missing). Today I've been able to peel off the stuff just like paint on a badly prapared surface.
I know I took off all the rust and the trowel was dry and had no grease or oil on it.
Anyone got any idea what went wrong? What does this stuff contain? How are they supposed to turn rust to metal? Why does the stuff turn my fingers black?
Answers
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They're intended to be surface preparation, prior to painting. As you're applying them to metal, which isn't porous, they can only work on the surface. When you used the trowel again, you removed the surface, and it started going rusty again.
They contain some sort of phosphoric acid (or something like that) I think. It reacts with the iron oxide (rust) and turns it into some other iron compound. It doesn't turn the rust back into pure iron. It also reacts with your skin, turning it black. It doesn't wash off.
It has to be working only on the surface as you've said Catso.
Two of my fingers are still stained black with the stuff and you're right -it dosn't wash off.
Thanks
Picked up the rust converter free at work and I had the Hammerite knocking about in the shed Toureman. Can't get much cheaper than that.
It's a family heirloom and I'm too sentimental to get get rid of it. It's been in the family for years.
My father changed the handle a few years back and I recently changed the blade!
Not necessary a blast furnace, it could easily be done with aluminium powder, or a more reactive metal, heated with a bunsen or blowlamp, the problems are:-
Buying the chemicals needed.
Anything above aluminium is a bit too reactive to be used safely
Even with aluminium the iron would melt and any wood or plastic would char, melt oir catch fire.
Still you'd be back to pure iron.
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