[TheForge] RE: Permalac

[Steven Smith]

Hey Mike, we're waiting for you to tell us all that chemical stuff! I 
think red to black is supposed to be good for finishing over without 
leaving a future cancerous growth possibility (is the red 
larger/puffier?). For blacksmithing purposes, I'm not sure what you get 
out of an expensive rust converter vs. just using phosphoric acid.

Steve

Mike Spencer wrote:
>> Permalac may be applied over "1-step" rust converter.
>>     
>
> Okaayyyy, so what exactly do these "rust converter" products do?
>
> Given how many $$ and hours the metal and paint industries put into
> coping  with rust, they sound like snake oil to me.  I have an aerosol
> can of one brand that I've dicked around with a bit without learning
> much. Yes, the red stuff turns black.   And?
>
> So what's the chemistry?  Fe+++ -> Fe++?  What happens at the surface
> the base metal underneath?  To the water of hydration in the red rust?
> What what?
>
>
> - Mike
>
>