How to Stop Rust from Coming Back

Rust is the scourge of mariners and antiques dealers alike, but since it’s a natural process, there isn’t much we can do to stop it, right? Wrong! There are some things that can be done to slow down the process of rust taking over a piece of metal. Here are some tips on stopping rust and keeping rust from coming back.

Keep it clean

The most important thing to know when trying to keep rust from coming back is to keep the surface clean. If you’re starting with a rusty surface, that means thoroughly cleaning off that existing rust so it doesn’t get worse. Depending on the amount of rust present, you may be able to use 000 or 0000 steel wool to polish away the surface rust with nothing more than a little elbow grease.

Heavier rust damage will require more heavy-duty steel wool (like 0, 1 or 2 grade) followed by a finishing with 0000 grade. For extremely heavy rust, a wire wheel on a bench or angle grinder may be required to remove the oxidized portions. A flap wheel might also be helpful for this.

Not quite stainless

There’s a misnomer that stainless steel is 100 percent rustproof. This isn’t entirely true. Even stainless steel can be susceptible to rust in some conditions. (Perhaps it should be called “stain less steel” instead?) In the case of stainless steel, abrasive processes like grinding or sandblasting can remove some of the finish that makes this material stain less in the first place. Best to try a rust stain remover first to see how much can be removed without physical damage to the material.

Cleaning up rust stains

Rust doesn’t have to ruin a perfectly good tool, or any other piece or metal. When you need to rejuvenate rusty parts, tools or antiques, there is a way to break down rust stains safely in a way where they can be simply rinsed away with water, with no trace of oxidization left behind.

Rust not only damages metal, but it can also leave a nasty stain on anything it touches. This is especially true of clothing and upholstery. A little dab of rust on a white shirt will ruin the shirt, and a drip from a rusty pipe overhead can leave a nasty mark on a couch. Things get even more messy when you’re considering spending time on a boat. Rust gets everywhere on a boat, not only on the crew and passengers, but also on the vinyl, hull and interior sections.

Fortunately, there is a safe, effective and easy-to-use product that can get rust stains out of many materials as well as off of metals. It’s called Magica, and it’s safe to use on everything from boat anchors to fine linens to car hubcaps to precious antiques. Whether you need a little bit for a few pieces or a large quantity for a big project, try Magica rust stain remover today. Get in touch to learn more about our products and how to use them to the best effect!