Best way to clean rusty hardware and screws?

DiscoStu · March 2022

Got a new (used) guitar this week that needs some tlc. Rusty screws, pickup polepieces and a bit on the bridge.
What's best/easiest to clean to bring these back to life? WD40?

hywelg · March 2022

Phosphoric acid. Readily available.

Sporky · March 2022

Malt vinegar works too (and you may well have some around the house), but given the choice hywelg's suggestion is betterer.

DiscoStu · March 2022

As it happens I tried soaking them all in white vinegar cos I found a bottle in the cupboard. A bit of scrubbing with an old toothbrush and everything is looking far better now.
For future reference is phosphoric acid available in shops or is it an internet job?

longjaw · March 2022

I soak screws in plenty of WD40 for a day or so first, certainly gets rid of all the muck!

matt_sefton · March 2022

Backwards relicing! A whole new concept ;-)

BillDL · March 2022

DiscoStu said:

.....
For future reference is phosphoric acid available in shops or is it an internet job?

Good old Coca Cola and some other fizzy drinks contain phosphoric acid but, although it will make 2p coins all shiny and new looking (just as the vinegar in tomato sauce would do), it isn't a high enough concentration to remove rust unless you leave the parts submerged for a long time and keep agitating the container.

Most industrial descaling solutions are dual purpose in that they contain enough phosphoric acid to remove rust. One thing you might already have kicking around the house if you drive a car is alloy wheel cleaner. If you do have any, look at the label. A lot of them contain phosphoric acid and are usually strong enough to break down rust. A lot of grout, concrete and slab cleaners contain phosphoric acid - go to B&Q and start reading the labels. If you have a tool hire company nearby that leases out scaffolding pop in and ask them what they use to de-rust the bolts on their couplings.

hywelg · March 2022

I don't think you'll find phosphoric acid in any shops, online there's plenty of options. 80% should do the job.

DiscoStu · March 2022

BillDL said:

DiscoStu said:

.....
For future reference is phosphoric acid available in shops or is it an internet job?

Good old Coca Cola and some other fizzy drinks contain phosphoric acid but, although it will make 2p coins all shiny and new looking (just as the vinegar in tomato sauce would do), it isn't a high enough concentration to remove rust unless you leave the parts submerged for a long time and keep agitating the container.

Most industrial descaling solutions are dual purpose in that they contain enough phosphoric acid to remove rust. One thing you might already have kicking around the house if you drive a car is alloy wheel cleaner. If you do have any, look at the label. A lot of them contain phosphoric acid and are usually strong enough to break down rust. A lot of grout, concrete and slab cleaners contain phosphoric acid - go to B&Q and start reading the labels. If you have a tool hire company nearby that leases out scaffolding pop in and ask them what they use to de-rust the bolts on their couplings.

I have alloy cleaner and patio cleaner in the shed. Never thought about those.

inewham · March 2022

Citric acid also removes rust

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Best way to clean rusty hardware and screws?

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