The rust removal question gets beaten around here periodically but I have a variation on the theme. I'm wondering if any of you guys have some experience that may be useful.
I'm restoring a Coleman lantern. Great exterior, but the inside of the font (tank) is lightly rusted. The guys in the Coleman group typically put a bunch of nuts or BB's in, shake till you can't stand it any more, and then blow it out with compressed air. Gets rid of the rust but the metal's just waiting to rust again.
I'm looking for an easier way to remove the rust and then a more permanent fix to prevent its return.
If I used auto body metal prep (phosphoric acid) would that kill the rust so that it wouldn't come back, or does it just etch the metal so that paint adheres better?
The tank is pressure tight, but I was wondering if one of the gasoline tank sealers might be a good coating to line the font / tank with so that the air can't get to the metal and make it rust again.
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