REMOVE SURFACE RUST ?

Hi, I have a guitar that Iam cleaning and installing new strings.It has a floating bridge and a tailpeice with surface rust.Theres more rust on the outside than the underside. I use Flitz liquid polish for all my metal polishing.But on the underside of the tailpeice I tried to use the Flitz polish to remove the rust,it didn't touch it.I was curious to know if any body knows how to remove the rust with out scrathing it .I appreciate any input .Thanks Rich.

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Permalink Reply by Rich Mulcahy on August 13, 2011 at 3:51pm

Mike, that sounds quick and painless.You followed the same set up and procedure as Frank Ford on frets.com.(Electrolytic Rust Removal).I have a car battery charger in my basement.Thanks Rich

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Permalink Reply by Joel Poage on August 20, 2011 at 10:36pm

Yeah, this is a great way to clean metal, though you have to be careful with plated parts, aluminum, etc. This guy offers a great comprehensive tutorial:http://users.eastlink.ca/~pspencer/nsaeta/electrolysis.html

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Perkins on August 25, 2011 at 9:43am

I used some CLR on a japanese Tele bridge the other day. It was a chrome color, but now has a copper tint to it. Anyone out there have this happen before? And, if so, can you explain why this happens?

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Permalink Reply by Rob Mercure on August 26, 2011 at 12:32pm

Jeff,

Was curious about your issue about "calcium lime rust" removal product (CLR) but didn't come up with much on the net - and unfortunately my chemist friend wasn't home when I called him. Mostly the active ingredients seem to be sodium silicate ("waterglass"), sodium citrate (forms citric acid), and surfectants, and methanol. I'll follow up with my chemist friend but right off you should read the MSDS on this stuff - it's pretty nasty and is listed as both an "immediate" and "chronic" health hazard and should be used in a well ventilated area while wearing rubber gloves.

Back to your issue - one thing I do know is that chromium doesn't bond that well to some metals, iron and steel in this case, and so the metal part is first plated with copper or nickel. So at a guess I suspect that the CLR has either thinned the chromium or removed it and the steel is showing through a thin copper layer. I should be able to find out by this evening but I wanted to make the hazards of this product known - probably little risk when used carefully but hazardous enough to pay attention while it's being used.

Rob

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Perkins on August 28, 2011 at 8:22am

Thanks for the info Rob, I didn't realize the hazards of that stuff. I thought it was relatively harmless. Yeah, I agree with what you're saying. That was what I was thinking, not in so much technical terms granted. But, yeah, see what you can find out from your friend, I'm curious what exactly is going on. I've used electrolysis to remove any further rust instead of the CLR. And it worked pretty good. I tried to do the same to a silver ring of my wife's and the electrolysis process turned it a funky dark color. Thankfully we were able to use a jewelry polish cloth and get it back to shiny silver again. But, I'll definitely be careful about what I stick in the electro bath next time. I want to try electro plating out, but am finding the powdered metals to be quite expensive and/or hard to find. If anyone out there knows of a good place to get powdered metal for electro-plating, please let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Kerry Krishna on October 9, 2011 at 7:52pm

Lee, I gotta say that is a pretty startling 'before and after 'pic ! After watching so many "Antique Road Show's' though, have you not ruined the collectors value?

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Permalink Reply by Lee Gendvilas on October 9, 2011 at 10:12pm

Hi Kerry, yeah, probably so. But I reflect about the posts earlier about collectors value of instruments versus personal value and to me, as a re-enactor of a late 1800's cavalry private, having them back to mostly military condition to complete my uniform is more valuable than having them sit behind a glass case.

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Permalink Reply by Kerry Krishna on October 9, 2011 at 11:33pm

Were they worth much before? Were did you get them? And you are a re-enactor! I have seen several documentaries over the years about this sort of thing. I'll bet that section of your life makes you pretty darn happy...

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Permalink Reply by Lee Gendvilas on October 10, 2011 at 6:45am

I bought them off of Ebay for less than 100 bucks. I'm a re-enactor as far as the uniform and somewhat of the character. Check out www.sunsetpioneers.com and that will give you an idea of where the re-enactor thing goes. And it is fun getting the uniform on and performing.