Stormin Mormon wrote:

BTW, I did try soaking a totally rusted pair of fence
pliers in concentrated hydrochloric acid. It did eat
the rust off, and now I've got a working pair of pliers.
I never thought that would work.

Next time, try phosphoric acid. You can find it in the masonry section of a
big box store since it's used to etch concrete. The advantages are that it
will attack rust and not the underlying metal so you can leave the item in
the acid without worrying and it leaves a phosphate coating that inhibits
rust. With hydrochloric, you have a super clean, etched surface that will
rust in front of your eyes if you don't get some sort of protective barrier
on.

If you read the ingredients in Coke, you'll find phosphoric acid which is
probably why it's alleged to be a rust remover. I wouldn't drink the stuff
straight but it's far less aggressive than hydorchloric.