How To Use Evapo-Rust
Follow these step-by-step directions to learn how to use Evapo-Rust.
If you have a rusty part that’s in need of rust removal, Evapo-Rust is a safe and effective product to use. Employing a chemical process called chelation to selectively remove rust, the active ingredient in Evapo-Rust bonds to rust while leaving surrounding materials unharmed, without dangerous acids or other difficult to handle chemicals. And Evapo-Rust is easy to use as well.
What you’ll need
Evapo-Rust needs to maintain contact with your rusted item for the chemical reaction to work. Fully submerging the rusty item in Evapo-Rust is the best way to achieve this. So you will need a container large enough to put the item in and fully cover it in Evapo-Rust. The container should have a lid so the Evapo-Rust doesn’t evaporate. Of course you will need an adequate amount of Evapo-Rust as well.
You may want to consider gloves and safety glasses as well. Evapo-Rust is a water based product that is considered safe and non-toxic, but working with it involves pouring it back and forth between containers so some basic splash protection is not a bad idea.
Submerge it
Put the rusty part in the container and pour in enough Evapo-Rust to cover it completely. It is important that the metal is completely submerged in the Evapo-Rust. Once your item is completely immersed, cover the container so that you do not lose the Evapo-Rust to evaporation.
It is interesting to note that the photo shown was taken near the end of the soaking period. The small amounts of foam that form when pouring the Evapo-Rust obscured the metal pieces and made earlier photography difficult. This far along in the process, the dark sediment created through chelation is visible at the bottom of the container.
If you are unable to completely immerse your part you may be able to remove the rust in sections, leaving the object partially immersed until the rust on that area is removed, then rotating it to immerse the next section. This method is often employed for removing rust from the inside of tanks. We have experimented with applying Evapo-Rust in other ways, such as painting it on, but it simply does not work as effectively.
Let it sit
EvapoRust needs a little time to remove rust, and there is no one easy answer as to how long the process will take. A lightly rusted item may only need to soak for 15 minutes. Heavier rust may require eight hours or longer. Check your item periodically, wiping or even rinsing away the EvapoRust to see how the rust removal is progressing. EvapoRust will not harm the metal, so there is nothing to worry about in letting it soak longer.
The temperature of your Evapo-Rust can affect how long it takes to de-rust your item. We recommend that you use it at or above room temperature. It will work at lower temperatures, just much more slowly. If your container of Evapo-Rust was left in a cold environment just remember that even if you bring it into a warm environment, it will take a while for it to warm up. The temperature of the Evapo-Rust is the important factor, not the ambient temperature.
Remove it
When all the rust is removed, your item is ready to come out of the EvapoRust bath. At this point, you may notice that it is covered in loose material left over from the removal process. The next step will be to clean that up with a rinse. You may also notice that the EvapoRust itself is darker and full of sediment. Save the EvapoRust, it may be reusable. We’ll cover that a little later in the article.
Rinse
There are two options when it comes to rinsing your item to clean it of the residue left over from the bath. You can wash it off with water, or rinse it with clean EvapoRust.
Water Rinse
A water rinse is as simple as it sounds. Use a hose to spray the item clear, do it under a tap on the sink if it fits or dunk it in a bucket of water. You may find that you need to use a sponge or a brush to clear some debris. Once the item is cleaned off, dry it off as much as possible to avoid rust reforming.
Evapo-Rust Rinse
Another possibility is to rinse the item off in clean EvapoRust. This can be done by setting some aside in a separate container beforehand. Dunk the item in a container filled with clean EvapoRust if possible or put the item in an empty container and pour the EvapoRust over it. Then let it air dry.
Rinsing with EvapoRust instead of water has the advantage of providing some rust protection. While not intended to be a long term rust preventative, EvapoRust will provide a few weeks of rust protection if the item is left indoors. This can buy you some time before applying a longer term rust protection.
Admire it
Now it is time to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of your item free from rust. But remember that the beauty of rust free iron or steel is short-lived. Left untreated it, will certainly rust again. If you used EvapoRust as a rinse, you’ve bought a little time, but it is still important to protect your newly rust free item.
Rust protect it
Depending on what use your part will be put to, there are different rust prevention products that may be called for. Paints, waxes and oils are some common examples of rust preventatives. In this case, a clear spray on material like Boeshield T-9 provides lubrication and rust protection in one step and is easily applied. Other situations may call for a liquid protectant like Fluid Film. In situations where painting the part is appropriate, Rust Bullet offers excellent protection. For other options, see our selection of Rust Preventatives.
Reuse or dispose of the remainder
Evapo-Rust is not a single use product, it can be stored and reused. Eventually, it will lose its effectiveness and need to be disposed of. By that point, the Evapo-Rust will have turned from its initial light yellow color to near black.
After removing your part, let the Evapo-Rust sit for a while. This will allow the sediment to settle on the bottom of the soaking container. Then carefully pour the Evapo-Rust back into its original container, being careful to leave as much of the sediment behind as possible. Seal the container and store. Evapo-Rust has no shelf life and will last indefinitely.
The sediment or used up Evapo-Rust can be safely disposed of in sewers or drains.