At 07:45 AM 3/30/2009, Bob Mac wrote...
>Years ago we used vinegar to curb the rust. Don't ask me how it works
>but it does. Just keep spraying it on every chance you get. It has
>something to do with the acid in the vinegar slowing the rust process
>down. I'm not a chemist but it does help.

Oxalic acid (commonly sold as wood bleach) works as a rust remover, as
does phosphoric acid (the active ingredient in naval jelly).
Hydrochloric acid ("muriatic") also works well, but is a bit more
dangerous than the other two.

The much-hyped POR-15 system uses a zinc phosphating solution
("Parkerizing") as a prep step (they call it "Metal-Ready"). They
charge ~$17 for a quart of ready to use solution. Brownells.com will
sell you a pint of concentrate, enough to make 4 gallons of solution,
for ~$20.

After any of these, rinse well with water, dry, and paint or otherwise
protect the metal quickly.