RUST! Advice please all you DIY guys!

LizEstelle

I have recently obtained a freecycled, steel metre rule for drawing nice, long straight lines with.

I need it for artwork on things like cartridge paper and watercolour paper.

The problem is that is slightly rusty in places and I fear this will rub off onto the paper.

What would you recommend for getting rid of the rust, please??

myhooose

Chrome cleaner might work, though Tool Station sell a 900mm Stainless Steel rule for about a fiver.

TonyMMM

T-cut works on rust too ...

Ebe_Scrooge

Very fine steel wool would do the trick.

The only thing is, you'll probably find that the rust will start to come back pretty soon. It was probably originally coated with something to stop it rusting ( probably galvanised ), but if that's come off then I'm afraid the rust will return.

With most ordinary tools you'd wipe them with an oily rag or spray with WD40 after use to protect them, but that's not going to be practical if you're using it for artwork !

LizEstelle

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Very fine steel wool would do the trick.

The only thing is, you'll probably find that the rust will start to come back pretty soon. It was probably originally coated with something to stop it rusting ( probably galvanised ), but if that's come off then I'm afraid the rust will return.

With most ordinary tools you'd wipe them with an oily rag or spray with WD40 after use to protect them, but that's not going to be practical if you're using it for artwork !

Oh dear. Looks like I might have a problem.

janjul

Hi, as previous poster I would suggest steel wool - fine grade. Then when nice and shiny seal with plastikote clear sealer. It's in an aerosol and you can get it from B&Q. It is not cheap, so unless you have other jobs you could use it for I would suggest getting a new ruler too.

hells_2

Coke.
Seriously. Get some coke in a bowl (the brown drinky type - not the white powder! :eek:) and get some tin foil

Scrunch up the tin foil, dip it in the coke, rub it gently over the rust and voila, it'll come off!

Believe me, tried and tested on my 41 year old Volkswagen bumpers :cool:

LizEstelle

hells wrote: »

Coke.
Seriously. Get some coke in a bowl (the brown drinky type - not the white powder! :eek:) and get some tin foil

Scrunch up the tin foil, dip it in the coke, rub it gently over the rust and voila, it'll come off!

Believe me, tried and tested on my 41 year old Volkswagen bumpers :cool:

Makes you wonder what it does to your insides...