Hi, So after cutting open some bags of corrosive calcium hypochlorate and a little bit of water, I got some rust stain spots on the blade of my kershaw leek, with the 1660 finish. I tried removing it with some lemon juice, but some of it wont come off with that, I wanted to use some muriatic acid to take it off, but was wondering the best type of application. Should i just dampen a paper towel with the acid and rub it on, or do a few quick submersions of the blade followed with rising with water? Also, will this damage the finish on my blade? Thanks!
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Hydrochloric Acid rust removal
- Thread starter ethanh100
- Start date
SVTFreak
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2011
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- 5,488
Funny thing about hydrochloric acid is, it eats stainless just about as fast as carbon. Only nickel based allows (read: hastalloy, etc) aren't touched by it. So, it will affect your knifes finish.
That said, it will clean up the rust. I would dilute it down to something less than 20%, less would etch slower. But again, the finish will be affected also to some extent.
If you use the knife, I'd use steel wool, which will also affect the finish without leading to more rust if not neutralized properly.
Btw, I make the stuff for a living. It's out by product. Made 100% anhydrous and we absorb it to about 35-36%. Nasty crap. Seen several large releases due to using stainless plugs and fittings. I've used it to etch stainless expanded metal for a nice satin look, but, again, requires proper neutralization.
That said, it will clean up the rust. I would dilute it down to something less than 20%, less would etch slower. But again, the finish will be affected also to some extent.
If you use the knife, I'd use steel wool, which will also affect the finish without leading to more rust if not neutralized properly.
Btw, I make the stuff for a living. It's out by product. Made 100% anhydrous and we absorb it to about 35-36%. Nasty crap. Seen several large releases due to using stainless plugs and fittings. I've used it to etch stainless expanded metal for a nice satin look, but, again, requires proper neutralization.
Lemon juice is an oxidizing acid and causes rust. Hydrochloric Acid is a reducing acid and will go after rust. But it will also go after the Chrome that is alloyed in the blade. I would try a paste metal polish like Simichrome. It has strong reducing agents in it.