The Power of Apple Cider Vinegar for Rust Removal

These have been my experiences.

Acid dipping is a destructive rust removal process. It will eat away base metal including machined surfaces that need to be size. It also needs to be neutralized.

Electrolysis is non destructive using washing soda as a conductor mixed in water with a dc power source and a sacrificial annode. There are numerous examples of this on YouTube.


I have been experimenting with it the last year on and off. It’s a slow process. To speed it up use warm or even hot water. A continuous dc power source is better than one that pulses like a battery charger. If you use a carbon annode you will not get the scum floating on top of the water, rust just falls to the bottom of the container.

After I pull them out I rinse in water and coat with bill hirsch’s rust preventative or lps rust preventative.
.
I tried the electrolysis method using a fence T post has my rod and the engine block as my piece to pull the rust from. I used a 12 volt deep cycle battery with a battery charger hooked to it set for 15 amps. It worked great.

The vinegar method I like because you do not use electricity. Although I am using a fountain pump to circulate the liquid in the tank.