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Clean maille thanks to evapo-rust

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:26 pm
by James B.
http://www.evapo-rust.com/

Did a search on cleaning rust off of metal and found the product above. Read a few reviews that said this stuff rocked and it is environmentally friendly so I thought I would give it a try.

I have not fought in the SCA since Pennsic in 2007; my maille avintail got really wet last time I wore it and was getting rusty on the field and I basically have had it in storage since then and for over a year it was in a storage place or a garage. Needless to say when I took my helmet out of the bag the maille was pure orange in color. A real test for any product that claims to remove rust.

So I went to tractor supply yesterday and got a gallon of evapo-rust; cost about $20. Put may aventail in a bucket and pored half the container in to cover it. Instructions said 30 minutes would take off light rust but for hardcore stuff let it sit over night. I checked after a couple of hours and I was amazed to see 95% of the rust was gone. :D

I let the bad areas soak overnight and now the maille is clean. I toweled it off and let it air-dry the rest of the way and no flash rusting occurred. It is dry and sitting in the basement now; looks as good as new. I have to give this product a big thumbs up.

Next I am going to blacken the maille before putting it back on the helm.

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:32 pm
by Vladimir
The real test will be to see if you can paint the stuff onto a breastplate and seal it up in a bag and still have it work.

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:06 pm
by Blaine de Navarre
I've been using Evapo-Rust on my hauberk for a while. Somewhere on the Archive I posted before and after pics, but I'm too lazy to search right now.

Vladimir, Evapo-Rust only works by full immersion. There are other products that are gel form, but I haven't tried any of them.

Also, DON'T EVER leave anything in Evapo-Rust longer than overnight, it will eventually cause pitting. I have a Del Tin sword I am still working on sanding out, because I forgot to pull it out when I left for work one morning...