Removing Rust From Metal
A trash to treasure find and how I discovered the easy way to remove old rust from metal to save a discarded wood and punched tin shelf.
Check out these other curbside trash to treasure projects I've done:
On a recent morning walk with Millie, I spotted a wood shelf in a neighbor's curbside trash pile. The oak shelf was in great shape, with a row of pegs, but the punched tin insert was badly rusted. I could make out a vague impression of letters but had no idea was it said. I thought it was worth saving, so I carted the rusty shelf home to see if I could somehow remove the rust from the metal insert.
Removing the rust from the punched tin ended up being quite easy, although it took a little time to figure out the best way to do it. I'll walk you through what I did so if you have something rusted at home, try one of these methods first before you toss it!
Removing rust from a punched tin metal sign
I told you the sign was in rough shape. It had so much rust that I couldn't
make out what the punched tin design was. I was hopeful it was something nice
lol!
Rusty sign before
The shelf itself is beautiful and well made, all the oak needed was a good
cleaning. For the rusted tin, I did a little online research to see what the
best way to remove rust on metal is.
Ways to remove rust from metal
There are several methods to remove rust, depending on what the piece is.
- there's a commercial rust remover spray that promises to dissolve rust
- you can try a baking soda paste for a light coating of rust
- you can also try a vinegar soak for stubborn rust
Before I dished out any money, I decided to try using the products I already
had at home. I was hopeful that I would be able to remove the rust from the
metal with the shelf intact.
Cleaning rust with baking soda
I mixed some baking soda with water to make a paste, brushed that on and let
it sit for awhile before wiping it off. The baking soda method did nothing for
the heavy coating of rust on the punched tin insert, so I knew I'd have to try
something a little stronger. I was thinking about ordering the rust dissolver,
but here's the thing...
this shelf is clearly old and I didn't want to clean it up so much that it
looked brand new and all the patina was removed.
So before I went the commercial cleaner route, I decided to try cleaning the
rust with vinegar.
Cleaning rust with vinegar
To really get the most from the vinegar, I knew I would need to remove the
metal piece so I could soak it. Luckily, that ended up being quite simple as
the punched tin piece was attached to the sign with hot glue. I was able to
use a
box cutter
to slice the hot glue and remove the sign.
The piece of tin is about 20" long, much too long to fit in our sink. I have
to credit Mr DIY with coming up with a simple solution to soak the tin in
vinegar...a plastic storage tub lid!
Soaking rusted metal in vinegar
I set up this soaking station near my kitchen sink, so pouring the vinegar out
wouldn't mean making a mess. I know it's hard to see, but there is white
vinegar completely covering the rusted sign. We used
regular distilled white vinegar, although
cleaning vinegar
would likely work even faster.
Household cleaning vinegar is very concentrated, intended specifically for
cleaning around the house, NOT for ingesting. It is said to be 10% stronger
than regular vinegar.
I left the rusted metal soaking for a couple days, half expecting to see the
rust dissolving. After a two-day soak, the rust was still there and it looked
the same as when I poured the vinegar over it. I was talking it over with Mr
DIY and telling him that nothing I had tried to remove the rust was working
and I'd probably have to order the rust dissolver after all, when he asked if
I'd tried scrubbing it.
He grabbed a
non-abrasive scouring pad, I donned some disposable gloves, and I started a-scrubbing. Lo and behold,
that caked-on rust scrubbed right off with very little effort.
I scrubbed the entire sign, rinsed it off and dried it, but a couple hours
later I noticed that the sign looked rusted again. Definitely not as bad as it
had been, but I decided to soak it a little longer and scrub it again.
I was happy with the results, and stopped while there was still some rust
visible, especially in the areas that are punched. This is an old shelf, and I
wanted it to reflect its age, not look brand new. It was a pleasant surprise
to see the punched tin design come into view as I removed the rust.
*Note: if you're looking to remove rust from metal completely, you will
want to repeat the vinegar soak until it's entirely gone.
Seal the metal
To prevent the rust from coming back, I sealed the punched tin sign with a coat of clear wax that I rubbed into it really well. This is the same product that I use to protect my chalk painted furniture and decor. Adding a protective wax coat also seals in the rusted bits that I wanted to retain. I inserted the punched metal sign back into the shelf and it was ready to hang up.
Styling my new trash to treasure shelf
I've got my refurbished trash-to-treasure shelf hanging in my office above my antique chenille chair. I already had Mr DIY hang the chippy arched window, and I like that the wood shelf gives a spot to rest some decorative accessories beneath the window. It also adds the warmth of wood to a pale colored corner.
Removing the rust from the metal sign was a simple, 3-step process:
- Soak
- Scrub
- Seal
Don't forget ❤ Pin to Save
Very useful information.
ReplyDeleteI thank you.
Have a wonderful week
That was amazing and good to know, thanks and have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThat's me above, didn't pay attention,ugh!!!
ReplyDelete