Rusty Stainless Cabinet, How to ?

[JckDanls 07]

Clean the rust off without scratching ??

So work dismantled (and threw out) a water softner salt bagging operation... We unloaded it (50,000 metric tons) off a ships (about 3 a year) and I've collected quite a few items.. Wish I had use for a big robot that stacked the bags (40's,50's,60's,80 lb bags) of salt on pallets... Bagging machine would put out 22 bags a minute... Also had a wrapping machine that would wrap the pallets with stretch wrap... Well, the control panel for the wrapper is a stainless cabinet at 7'6" tall, 3' wide, and 2' deep...
Salt as we all know EATS metal... I won't go into all the new heavy equipment purchased to start this salt bagging operation... Every piece of the equipment was finally hauled off to scrap after only 5 years of operation... Only 1300 hours on a Kamatsu Bull Dozer

Back to the Stainless cabinet... I rescued it from going in the dumpster... I gutted all the PLC controlled electronics from the inside... Now comes time to TRY to clean it up... I am trying to find a way to get the rust off without scratching the finish leaving swirl marks and such from grinding wheels, wire wheels and such... Rust is in the beginning stages of pitting... Here's things I've tried so far on the back first... Bar Keeper's Freind with scrub brush, with a wire brush, with a soft wire cup wheel in the die grinder (made a mess slinging bar keepers around)... A quarter sheet electric sander with wet/dry paper and water...




This is after wire wheeling and then wetted and Bar Keepers put on and use of a wire brush... And then go over it with the electric sander with 400 grit wet/dry (wetted) sand paper... All this was trying to go with the grain... washed and wiped clean... Took half a day (at work,LOL) to do that little bit... If you zoom in you can see the scratches...


Leaning on the "family" for some help... Any ideas ??

 

[Lonzinomaker]

I have been taught that you have to get every molecule of rust/iron off or it will keep coming back. And that you can't do anything that will leave a molecule of iron on the stainless steel from something like a wire wheel with iron bristles.

 

[bigfurmn]

I'm thinking sand blasting. Used to do it a lot on a smaller scale on the GM trucks of the late 90s. Haven't done it since but it's low impact kinda but removed all the rust.

 

[crazymoon]

JD07, Try some WD-40 on a small area ,let it sit for awhile and see if it removes rust ?

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

Try some Naval Jelly.
That stuff used to work wonders on chrome bumpers.

 

[chopsaw]

I'm with post 2 . Wire brush can leave soft deposits behind that can cause a bigger rust problem .

Try some WD-40

My thought too , but was thinking something stronger like PB Blaster .
Back when I was restoring ATC's I would sprinkle baking soda on the engines and spritz with white vinegar . Let it foam , then hose it off .

 

[fxsales1959]

+1 on barkeepers. have revitalized a few fish knives left out on the old boat, but much smaller scale.

 

[Winterrider]

Navel jelly does work pretty good if it isn't pitted to deeply.
Sand blast would be the best. Have some nice little units at Harbor Freight that work really good for fairly cheap. Have used a buddies a couple times.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I've tried WD40... Also tried white vinegar...

 

[millerbuilds]

navel jelly and a buffing wheel rather than the wire wheel. You can also use a diluted mix of muratic acid and water, but test it in a small hidden spot first. Without knowing the exact metallurgical make up, make sure you test first.

 

[crazymoon]

JD07, My grandmother cleaned everything with baking soda, even brushed her teeth with it. maybe that will do it ????? :)

 

[chopsaw]

Baking soda spritzed with vinegar .

 

[Fueling Around]

Only 2 ways I know to remove corrosion are mechanically or chemically.

What's your plans for the cabinet? That helps determine which avenue to pursue.

 

[JckDanls 07]

What's your plans for the cabinet?

Smokehouse... Gonna insulate it and line the inside with something... Just dunno what that something is yet..

They sure are proud of the insulation.... Was trying to do this on the cheap...

 

[choochooman442]

I have used light oil, WD40, 3 in 1 etc with steel wool for 50 years to clean up old bike parts, might try that.

 

[normanaj]

Ultralight sandpaper(600grit or finer) and wet-sand with an oil based product like Penetrol or something similar.

 

[gmc2003]

JD07, My grandmother cleaned everything with baking soda, even brushed her teeth with it. maybe that will do it ????? :)

LOL Dave, my granny was the same way. That and Epson salt took care of all your worries.

Chris

 

[gmc2003]

Clean the rust off without scratching ??

Sand blasting with with walnut shells may work.

Chris