Rust removal...........the miracle of molasses!
 

This is what I had to work with. A rusty/rotted mess! The PO found it 10' off the ground nesting in a tree that had grown up under it!

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After a couple of weeks in a molasses bath the transformation is incredible!

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You'll notice rust on the lower 6" or so. That's because the first time I tried it, my pond liner had a leak and most of the molasses drained out. So, I left it in and it dissolved the rust on the first 6". Got a new liner and flipped the panels over. The rusty part was originally clean but stuck out and was exposed to air. It's only surface rust that'll come off with a light sandblasting (as will the flash rust that begins forming almost immediately).

First run with the doors (notice no harm to original paint, rubber or pot metal).............

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Built a 4'x4' box out of scrap 2x4's and OSB.............

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...y/PC040001.jpg

Installed a reclaimed pond liner from an old pond in our backyard...............

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Proof positive that an entire '27 Model T roadster will fit in a 4'x4' box..........

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20 gallons of molasses bought at a local feed store for $60 including tax, then mixed with water at a 7:1 ratio - 7 parts water to 1 part molasses............

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Entire car submerged in the brew (until most of it leaked out)!.............

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Replaced the liner, added some more molasses and after two weeks............wah lah! Yeah.......it works!!

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well i'll be dang. looks purdy good too. i never heard of usin moleazzes for demovin rust.it mite be a bit sticky but it wont hurt anything or you.how long will that mix last or take off rust?

SWEET :P .....How long did it take?????

I love these "homegrown" methods...kind of makes my dad's "****-a-mamie" stories of things they did in the "old" day seem more credible..Yes, I know not ALL of the old ways were safe or smart, I'm just sayin'........

Hi evintho,
theres a trick to remove rust on smaller spots, good for detailing--
Alu foil and regular cola --
wad up a about foot long strip of da alu foil - then pour da coke on it and rub da spots with a circular motion, when down to no rust rinse with water, let it dry good, a hair dryer works good, then primer asap --
it doesnt get seams real good but an alu or brass brush gets that pretty good.

Great Dip! was is sugar cane molasses, or sugar beet molasses?

Balder

The process is known as chelation.
How many fly strips did you go through? LOL

A google search only found medical applications for the chelation process. The OP obviously knew this process would work before investing $$$ in materials. My curiousity has been aroused and want to know more. Does anyone have a link that describes in detail this process and how it works?

Jim

you can set a car out in west texas for a few weeks and it will be blasted when you come back... :D

Shine, only a guy that lived in Big Spring can appreciate that. Goes for windshields also.

Trees

never buy stainless from west texas without seeing it . sand storms ply hell with shiny stuff.

I got a good chuckle out of that. Thats a normal project car here in the rust belt. Yeah the floors gone, but you still have structure to play with. Awesome tip BTW. How do you dispose of the used 'bath-water'?

Try these search terms - chelation rust removal

here is the link: http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...n+rust+removal

how it works: http://www.westerhuis-restauratie.nl...ing-agents.pdf

I need a box big enough for my '52 Pontiac....

Why did you use molasses over phosphoric acid? Seems as though the acid would cost the same (if not less), work much faster, leave a rust barrier, and you wouldn't have to worry about flies.

If you used it to make rum it'd really put lead in your pencil! :D