In article ,
Paul O. wrote:
Did a google for rust removal and saw a few references for removal of
lightly rusted hand tools using table salt and vinegar. Any of you use this
method? If this works would like to try it before scrounging up the parts
for electrolytic rust removal. How much vinegar and salt do you mix with
water? Thanks.

salt and any mild acid -- vinegar, lemon juice, etc. -- is extremely effective
at cleaning up oxidized copper. takes off the oxidization, without touching
the 'clean' metallic copper. I'm not sure of the entire chemical reaction,
but one of the byproducts is copper chloride, *bright* blue.

I'm guessing the situation with iron is similar, i.e.
iron oxide + salt == iron chloride + ??

I've used salt + lemon juice on copper cookware, for many years. lemon juice
straight out of the bottle, enough to wet the surface, and just sprinkle some
salt on. doesn't take a lot. The reaction is fairly quick -- seconds, to a
few tens of seconds. a single grain of salt seems to work over an area about
half the diameter of a penny. for heavy oxidation, a paper towel thoroughly
wetted with lemon juice, laid on the item, and then sprinkle some salt on.
The _nice_ thing about cleaning copper this way is that it is a 'self-limiting'
reaction. When the oxide is gone, things _stop_.


I've never played with the technique on iron,, but I'm guessing that iron
reacts considerably more slowly.