A customer swore by a homemade rust converter mix, so I tested it on a '98 Civic quarter panel

This guy came in with a recipe using vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and salt he found online. I was sure it would just make a mess, but we tried a small spot on a junker. After 24 hours, the rust turned black and scraped off clean, leaving bare metal ready for primer. Has anyone else had a weird home remedy actually work out in the shop?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella_ross147d ago

Remember my buddy trying to fix a rusty lawnmower deck with a paste made from baking soda and dish soap. Sounded nuts, but he slathered it on thick and let it sit for a day. The rust just wiped right off with a rag, no scrubbing. He was shocked it worked and the metal looked great. I still wouldn't try it on a car panel though.

val_craig377d ago

Wait, you used salt? On purpose? I have to stop right there. Every instinct says adding salt to a metal problem is just asking for more rust later on. The fact it left bare metal ready for primer is blowing my mind. I guess the acid in the vinegar and the peroxide did the heavy lifting, but I still can't get over the salt part. That feels like fixing a leak by punching another hole in the pipe.