[GreenKeys] Sweet teletypes

[Nick England]

Has anyone tried this rust removal technique on TTY gear?

Nick

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: nn8b.oh at gmail.com
Date: Thu, Jul 5, 2018 at 6:53 AM
Subject: [radiotelegraphy] Removing Rust

I recently saw some conversation about removing rust from key parts
I once wrote an article for World Radio's Wires and Pliers section about
using molasses as a rust remover.

I tried a commercial rust remover (Evap-o-rust) which worked quite well,
but was/is expensive if you have lots of stuff to de-rust.

I searched around for a cheaper way to remove rust and found that old
car buffs use molasses and water in large containers to remove rust
from car parts.

The formula I used is one bottle of black strap molasses in a gallon
container and fill the rest with water. I heated the molasses carefully
in a microwave to get it to pour better. Heat it slowly, about 10 seconds
at a time till it gets pour-able. Mix the solution and start de-rusting.

I tried straight key arms and other steel parts first and compared the
results to the commercial stuff and the results looked the same to me;
and much cheaper.

The de-rust process is called chellation or chelation. The molasses
reacts with the iron oxide and absorbs it leaving the base metal.
I used a wire to suspend the part into the solution and checked it
every day to see how it was doing. It is a slow process but it gets
into every nook and cranny of the part and removes the rust.

Just wash the part with water to see the progress. I have put entire
brass keys into the solution and it does not bother the brass.

The solution is biodegradable, so you can just pour it down the drain
if you wish.  I have used the same gallon of solution now for 8 or 10
years. I should probably make a new gallon hi hi.

One caveat; the solution is a natural ingredient and it will form a green
scum after a while. I just scooped it off and it soon stopped producing it.

Try it; it's cheap, doesn't smell and it lasts a long time. Try it on some
unimportant parts or tools or other steel items till you are confident
of it's capabilities. I use it for tools all the time.

73
Don, NN8B
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