Removing rust?

[DaJe]

What's a good way to remove rust from steel? Should I grind it off using the Dremel and an aluminum oxide grinding bit? Should I polish it with the Demel? Or maybe there's something I can buy which would dissolve the rust.

[jdbnsn]

I have used plain old sandpaper in most cases. It kinda depends on shape, severity of rust, etc... but it can usually be cleaned up very nicely with varying grits of sandpaper. Now if you're spoiled like I was when I lived near my folks, you use a sandblaster, that makes life a hell of alot easier. How about a pic of the rust to be removed?

[Bucko]

For those with a lot of rust to remove, even heavy rust, dunk whatever it is in Molasses and water. Leave it a few weeks and there will be no rust left.
Works a treat!

[nil8]

Low grit aluminum oxide will get off light rust easily.
After you remove the rust, you should seal the steel asap or you will get more rust.
Light rust seals itself off from oxygen and prevents further rusting. Go figure.

If it's heavy stuff, I would suggest a bench grinder with a wire buffing wheel. It will take out some thicker rust surprisingly quickly, just don't get your hands in it. That stuff will really take a bite out of your skin.

[progbuddy]

Just grab a powersander.

[Aero]

or get a brass brush attachment for your power drill. Just be carefull holding the object to the brush. It sucks using pliers to pull out strands of brass from your thumb, trust me...I know.

[Airbozo]

http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarestore.com/50-278-rust-removers-strippers/naval-jelly-rust-remover-145169.aspx

[Mach]

Eastwood offers several products for rust removal and conversion. See the attached link:

Eastwood Rust Search (http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=rust&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=Search)

Just a note, whether you use chemical or mechanical means to remove the rust, you need to coat immediately after removal to avoid it rusting again and screwing up your paint job. Also make sure you clean the surface well before painting especially if you use chemical remover.