Which Rust-removing Product Works Best?

If you enjoy restoring old cars, tools or antiques, there's a good chance you've used a rust-removing product at some point, and you might be wondering which formula works best... Let's take a look at the chemistry, before we talk about product options and their performance differences.

- By Grant Spolander

ACID-BASED

Typically speaking, most rust-removing products use an acid-based solution. Milder products tend to focus on citric acids, while the more potent stuff is generally phosphoric acid-based.

That said, you might be wondering why you've seen social-media videos where Coca-Cola or vinegar is used to remove rust. Well, the latter is a form of citric acid, while Coke has phosphoric acid listed as one of its ingredients.

Of course, the quantity of phosphoric acid in soft drinks is very low. In concentrated form, however, the rust-removing properties of phosphoric acid are fast-acting and highly effective.

Unfortunately, the downside to all this rust-busting performance is that the acid solution doesn't discriminate between what is rust (iron oxide) and what is bare metal. And that's precisely why many of these products should never be used on sensitive components, or on stainless-steel or chromed surfaces.

In the case of this test, we're comparing two completely different rust-removing formulas, Q12 and EVAPORUST. Here are some of the pros and cons of each:

Q12 RUST REMOVER

Q12 is an acid-based product with a 55-year track record that delivers incredible results from its secret-sauce formula.

1 Although deeper rust may require some wire-brush prep work, Q12 will generally cut through most forms of surface rust.

2 Simply apply the acid-based solution with a paintbrush, and allow 15 to 20 minutes of contact time.