[masraum]

Interesting. I'm on several "old tool" groups (not like this group that's full of old tools, groups about old tools), and the subject of rust removal comes up often. Lots of suggestions of vinegar (frowned upon), evaporust (less frowned upon), and reverse electrolysis.

The vinegar or any other acid treatment is frowned upon because it also damages "good metal". Evaporust also has been reported to make changes to some metals. Some folks have cleaned items and then had the items break in an uncharacteristic way, the theory being that the break was due to a change in the metal caused by the evaporust.

I don't think I've ever heard any downsides to the reverse electrolysis. I'd like to try it, but haven't.