On Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:12:11 -0600, Martin Eastburn
wrote:

Black oxide on the chain does well. It replaces the red-orange rust.

The poor man's way is to put the chain under water and let the chain
start to absorb the oxygen out of the water - but instead of orange
it turns out to be black. It won't go orange.

I did this with some 1/2" thick numbers for my wife - desk paper weight.
They came out black as coal. I then dryed them out and clear coated
them. They were desk ware.


The other item is Phosphoric acid (green in color) - this is used
as a soaking bath - (don't get it on you) - but once the clean
iron/steel gets in it - it starts to turn gray. Don't leave it in
for more than some hours - watch it. It can find weak points and eat
through. This plates phosphorus on the outside and prevents rust.

I'd do one of the various ways pointed out and then store them
in large ammo boxes (rubber seals) to prevent further rusting
and kinda holds the chain from bumping around and knocking off
a surface treatment.

Martin

On 1/2/2013 10:43 AM, wrote:
Got a BUNCH of rusty tire chains, that are shedding every
time I move them.

Got citric acid for derusting, now just need something to
keep them from rusting again.

Dip application, and preferably won't cover me whith slime
every time I have to move 'em into or out of vehicle.


thanks

gary

Do NOT use acid on chains - hydrogen embrittlement makes the links
like glass. I cleaned some bicycle chain by soaking overnight in
metal=prep - which is a fairly dilute phosphoric acid solution. Chain
snapped like glass first time I put some pressure on the pedals.