How to Remove Rust With Naval Gel

Naval jelly effectively removes rust from both battleships and patio furniture alike.

Naval gel, more commonly known as naval jelly, earned its name from the Navy's use of the gel to remove large areas of rust from its ships. The gel is actually phosphoric acid, which chemically reacts with iron oxide--also known as rust--and turns it into ferric phosphate. This reaction leaves a black crust that can be scraped away to reveal clean, rust-free metal. While it sounds simple to use, you must exercise proper care whenever you apply naval jelly, as it can cause severe burns if it comes into contact with your skin.

Things You'll Need

• Naval jelly
• Plastic applicator (usually comes packaged with naval jelly)
• Heavy-duty rubber gloves
• Plastic drop cloth (optional)
• Wire brush

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Instructions

1. Move your work station outside or to a well-ventilated area. For example, if you're working on a rusted car part, do not attempt to apply naval jelly in the garage with the doors closed. It's best to take it outside because of the gel's strong odor. Use a plastic drop cloth if you do not want any discoloration of your lawn or driveway. The jelly can burn grass and stain concrete.

2. Use a wire brush to remove large areas of heavy, flaky rust. Brush the metal until you get a relatively smooth surface, devoid of paint chips or caked-on rust. This will allow the naval gel to work more effectively at removing the underlying rust and revealing the good, solid metal beneath.

3. Put on your rubber gloves and use the plastic applicator or spatula to coat the rusted area with naval gel.

4. Allow the jelly to sit on the metal for approximately 10 minutes. This will give the naval jelly sufficient time to convert the rust. Do not leave the gel on for more than 15 minutes, as it can begin to damage the metal.

5. Wash away the naval jelly with running water. If you wish, after all of the gel has been washed away, you can use a cloth or sponge to further clean the metal. Allow the metal to air dry. Remove any blackened flakes with your wire brush.

6. Reapply naval jelly if any signs of rust remain. Once again, allow the gel to act for about 10 minutes and then wash in the same manner.

References

• Factoidz: How to Quickly Remove Rust from Large Items Such as Patio Furniture and Garden Tools
• Wood Bin: Removing Rust From a Jointer
• Refinish Furniture: How to Remove Rust