Naval Jelly: Good, Bad, Ugly?

[Timberwolf_CY]

So, a buddy of mine in the fencing club came across this metal-cleaning/rust-removing compound called "naval jelly." He used it on his [club] weapon and said the rust came off like magic. Ever suspicious, I checked and later thoroughly read the label: it contains phosphoric acid among other things, and states that it must not be used on aluminum, chrome, and a few other metals.

My suspisions remain, but I've got a couple blades I'm wanting to test it out on (extremely rusty). I would like to use some kind of machine or hand-sand them, but they would make great test blades regardless.

Anyway, the actual question: I did a couple quick searches, and got a whole three results in Armoury and none in General. How many of you have used this if any, and how well did it work over the long term. None of our club blades are FIE (yet), but fencing weapons are made of spring/specialist steel, and I'm worried I'll do some kind of permanent damage to them by using the Jelly (chemical/molecular interactions and all that).

Any thoughts/ideas?

[Gav]

It's phosphoric acid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid


Which suggests you could even use coca cola to clean your blades... never tried that myself...

[great bowyer]

It's phosphoric acid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid


Which suggests you could even use coca cola to clean your blades... never tried that myself...

I have read that Coca Cola is widely used in the golf industry to remove rust from raw iron heads. I imagine it would also work with blades as well. I would just be worried about the sticky mess it could make.

I think the best way to deal with rust prevention and not let the blades get to the point where you need chemicals to remove it.

One other thought on the subject, there is a product called TopCote that is used in the woodworking industry to seal the cast iron tables of machinery to help prevent rust. It does not leave any residue and such like WD-40. I am now curious to know how that would work on blades. I might give it a try.

[tdwg83]

I've used the stuff and it works pretty well. Never used it on fencing gear though.

[Mergs]

Coke is good to use to remove corrosion on battery terminals. Kinda makes you wonder what it's doing to your innards, doesn't it?

I would recommend Naval Jelly for removing heavy corrosion, but not necessarily for occasional rust. Remember, removal of corrosion is only half the issue, the other is protecting the surface to prevent it from continuing to happen. Finally, pitting from corrosion also weakens the blade and can become a crack initiation point.

Bottom line, don't let rust or corrosion get out of control!

[Fencergrl]

Prevention is the best solution. Don't leave your blades in your car or any place unheated.

PS: I was so glad that this thread wasn't about something you found in your bellybutton.

[foibles]

I've used it, but not on blades.

If I already had some Naval Jelly, and I also had some extremely rusty blades, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on them.

I wouldn't use it as a general matter of course mostly because the stuff is kinda nasty. But- once for some really rusty blades? Yeah. I'd go for it.

Exercise care in use.

[SJCFU#2]

PS: I was so glad that this thread wasn't about something you found in your bellybutton.

As Tim Allen's character once said in an episode of Home Improvement - "If you've got jelly coming out of your navel then you've got bigger problems"

[Zilverzmurfen]

Coke is good to use to remove corrosion on battery terminals. Kinda makes you wonder what it's doing to your innards, doesn't it?

Ketchup works pretty well for that too. (Bleurgh...)

[EldRick]

After using naval Jelly, be sure you rinse it off really thoroughly, as it can keep attacking the steel for a while, if not removed completely.

Steel bluing from a gun-shop would be a good post-Jelly treatment, to help protect the surface.

Either way, oil or wax the blade afterward, as the new metal you exposed will start to rust immediately.

[parrythis]

I would recommend Naval Jelly for removing heavy corrosion, but not necessarily for occasional rust.

Agreed. I have used Naval Jelly successfully to take rust off an old blade. Once most of the rust is off, remove the rest with emery cloth. You can wet-sand with emery cloth.

[fatfencer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw


Works great...