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I’m doing some small things on my 73 project while I’m waiting to take the body and frame to the painter.
I have a box of small under the dash and interior brackets that were never painted at the factory and have built up some surface rust over the years.
They will never see the outside elements and I don’t think I need to spend the extra money for powder coating them so I plan to rattle can prime and paint them.
The brackets are delicate and include the ac controller bracket and dash support bracket shift console bracket and e brake assembly bracket.
I’m hesitant to use a wire wheel to clean and remove the rust and I was wondering what other method would work?
Is there a good dip available that will remove the rust?
What other method or product have you used to remove rust from small delicate parts?
The radiator support brackets in the picture above will be going in for powder coating
Last edited by OldCarBum; Nov 2, 2022 at 01:45 PM.
small sand blast cabinet . It will allow you to blast those back to really nice clean metal with a great profile on them so the paint will stick much better.
The cabinet is sealed and you have a small shop vac (or similar ) plugged into it for dust removal .
I have a bucket of Evaporust. Comes in very handy for stuff like that. Eco friendly so not hard to get rid of it after it is exhausted. Haven't needed to yet. Just tie it to a string or wire and let it soak until you like the look. Overnight is good for heavy rust.
For parts like those I blast, etch, flame dry, POR15 and topcoat. You can use the Evaporust if you don't have access to blasting. Probably need a gallon or more to soak them overnight.
If you don’t care about distrupting surface, numbers etc..by all ,means wire brush blast and paint/ powder..
if mine, i evaporust and satin clear on originality bare parts..
it’s like Christmas when they come out..
note use above 70f to work better..
Locally there are a couple body shops that have sand/media blasting cabinets. They don't charge much for small parts. Then since they will never see any weather Rust-Oleum spray bomb primer and paint.
Blast cabinet is great but for small items I use a wire wheel attached to a bench grinder. There is so little rust on those parts….should work very well
small sand blast cabinet . It will allow you to blast those back to really nice clean metal with a great profile on them so the paint will stick much better.
The cabinet is sealed and you have a small shop vac (or similar ) plugged into it for dust removal .
Thanks.
I looked at small blast cabinets at Harbor Freight.
They start at $189.00 for the small bench cabinet, then there is the gun and everything else, so the price adds up quickly.
Plus, I have absolutely no spare space in my garage for anything.
Wow, great video.
I guess Evaporust or Kurd Cutter look like they both work well and since you guys are recommending the Evaporust, it might be the way to go.
I have used Rustoleum Naval Jelly from HD on a number of parts. The Stu’s cheap and seems to work ok, just let the parents put soak for a day or two. Then I wash the part off and clean with mineral spirts before painting. I did my passenger side under dash support bar that was never painted. I also have used the jelly for bolts, and other small metal parts. I use the disposable cheap paint brushes to apply and spread the jelly on the part.
Blast cabinet is great but for small items I use a wire wheel attached to a bench grinder. There is so little rust on those parts….should work very well
Thanks, I don’t have a problem using a wire wheel for bigger stout parts, but these are light weight sheet metal and I would be afraid the wire wheel might grab an edge and bend the part, that’s why I’m looking for alternative methods.
I'd rethink that one. The reservoir is going to drain down fast, you probably need 10 or CFM at 90 psi to get a good stream, the media is going to wear out and you're in the open so you need a workspace. An investment in a good system would be up there. I used a skat blast cabinet, HEPA vac, and Eastwood scroll to blast parts and some like a diff with epoxy paint or just scale take some time. The lens requires replaceable covers, you need 240 volt, single or three phase depending on the compressor, and all the added costs with it. that whole setup cost me about $3000 and I did all the wiring and plumbing. The reason I went with the Eastwood scroll is it is the quietest compressor I could find. A piston or screw will drive you or the neighbors crazy. Forget those oil less onesm they won't have 4 or 5 cfm. If you can't find anyone to blast them send them to me and I'll do it for you.
I have a bucket of Evaporust. Comes in very handy for stuff like that. Eco friendly so not hard to get rid of it after it is exhausted. Haven't needed to yet. Just tie it to a string or wire and let it soak until you like the look. Overnight is good for heavy rust.
That's the stuff, I've got 2 gallons of this and use it on anything rusty but the part has to be wet 100% of the time.
What’s Your Best Method For Cleaning Rust?
