WD40 and cleaning rust on the metal surface

spader

spader

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I have an old rusty wood burning stove. I was intending to clean up the rust, and looked for some rust treating paints and chemicals. But they were too overpiced and performance and result sounded uncertain.

So I sprayed the old WD40 found in the garden shed, and gave a good generous soak on the rusty stove. The stove was left for a day or two with WD40 applied all around it. In 48 hours it looked a lot cleaner, but not sure if rust was totally cleared or not. Is ordinary WD40 solution supposed to treat rust on the metal surface? or does the old rusty stove still need some specialised rust treating solution for full rust removal?

I just want the stove keep last longer with the solid surface which is corrision free for long time and general uses of the log burning jobs.
 
Last edited:
White vinegar works.Higher acidity the better.

You can buy gel rust remover which is also good.

Then wire wool
Meths to clean.
Masking tape and paper to cover glass or fittings.
Spray cans of wood burning stove paint.
Easy job to do.

WD-40 is oil.
Will smell especially when you light up.
Also you can't paint over it either.
 
spader said:
So I sprayed the old WD40 found in the garden shed, and gave a good generous soak on the rusty stove.
Click to expand...

It does help prevent steel or cast iron rusting for a while, but cannot remove any pre-existing rust.

If you are able to strip it down, and submerge it, then electrolysis is quite effective. The item to be cleaned of rust, is connected to the negative of a 12v car battery, or dc power supply, the positive needs to be connected to another piece of metal, as large as possible, immersed in the same container, but not in direct contact with your stove parts. The container is filled with water, submerging all parts, with some washing soda dissolved in it.

Leave it overnight, and your metal will come out clean as a whistle. Only the rust is removed, but it will need rinsing, drying, and protecting then, very quickly.
 
WD40 is cheap, but sounds it is not great for cleaning rust on metal surface. Thanks for your info and advice.
 
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