Rust Neutralizer
 

The steel plate that the battery sits on in my lawnmower is trying to rust. My dad said you can pour baking soda and a little water on the rust to neutralize it, then spray it with Rustoleum Rusty metal primer and then paint. Anybody ever heard of this? Does it work? thanks.

Re: Rust Neutralizer
 

Yes baking soda is a acid neutralizer. If I remember my chemistry right you get sodium bicarbonate and a few other harmless by products then rinse and paints like you mentioned.

Re: Rust Neutralizer
 

There's a better way and that is to rinse the area with lots of water and then apply "Naval Jelly" which is phosphoric acid. It forms a hard compound with the actual rust that is paintable and stronger than what was there. We used to use it all the time on an old steel ship I lived on and I can attest to it's value in restoring rusted areas to paint-worthiness.-Brian

Re: Rust Neutralizer
 

But, if it's the battery acid causing the corrosion, and you add another acid (Naval Jelly) to the mix without neutralizing, is that actually going to help?

Re: Rust Neutralizer
 

Good question Shifty.I don't know if any of the acidity would remain after rinsing. Rust itself is not acidic as you know, but I suppose I'd neutralize it just in case,then use the phosphoric.
Here's a link:http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Met...-converter.htm

Re: Rust Neutralizer
 

Applying the theories of acids and caustics. The acid from a battery is very low on the Ph scale and the soda from baking soda is very high on the Ph scale--so they cancel each other out. I would first kill the acidic effects of the battery acid and then do the naval jelly thing. To seal the metal, I would look at a plastic based material or even get the piece covered with a rubber material like Rhino Lining or any other rubber based bedlliner.