Hi, I've recently bought a small Austrian vertical mill, and when I took the covers off, it became apparent that it was left out in the rain. Only a few areas of the castings are rusted and it looks fresh (bright orange).
What is the best thing to use to take the rust off the gray-iron castings, and to keep it from coming back? I've been told that rust is like a cancer, and that it will often return after you've had it once.
--Maxx
I would wirebrush this surface, then oil it, then wipe clean with paper towels, then oil again.
Use oil that is sold as corrosion preventative.
I'm fond of scotchbrite pads and some oil. That is assuming a finished surface. Wirebrush if the casting itself.
Wes
-- "Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller
While in my experience WD-40 makes a crappy lubricant, it *does* do a good job displacing water. I'd say wire brush that sucker, then hose it down with WD-40.
-Nick
I have had some success with Krud Kutter (Must for Rust). It is a vicious stuff as far as smell, though...
LPS 1 and bronze wool on machined surfaces followed by LPS 2, or LPS 3 if it's not going to be used for awhile. You have to get rid of the rust first before using the higher LPS numbers. Cast iron is porous and rust will frequently "hide out" and come back no matter what you do. You just have to be vigilant. "Rust never sleeps"! You can also get rust from leaky shipping containers, salt water is particularly bad, once exposed, iron just keeps rusting up no matter what you do, chloride is hard to get rid of. If it's on a once-painted area, you can use phosphating converter solutions that will be a long-term cure for it as long as they're properly applied and repainted.
Stan
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If there is still water there -- yes WD-40 is good for displacing it. And it helps to break up rust with the help of wire brush or some other abrasive method.
But WD-40 is useless for *keeping* water off. Once the hose-down with WD-40 is done, dry it off with paper towels or the like, and then rub down with an oil which will stay put -- something like Vactra No. 2 waylube (which you will probably want on the mill's ways in use anyway).
Good Luck, DoN.
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