[InFlight]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

For rust removal, I can confirm that electrolysis works well. Use "washing soda" instead of baking soda if you can, and use the cheapest brand available without much other stuff in it. I think Sodium Carbonate is what you want, and baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, or maybe I have that backwards. A 6 Amp Schumacher manual (not automatic) charger works well as the power supply, as does an ATX computer power supply. Use any scrap steel for the electrodes, and I recommend more than one electrode.

Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) is NaHCO3, which in water is Na+ and HCO3- ions.

Sodium Carbonate is Na2CO3, which in water is 2Na+ and CO3-- ions.

Sodium Carnonate is a very strong caustic base (pH 11); where baking soda has a pH around 8. The purpose of either is just to be an electrolyte. The compounds don't take part in actual reaction.

Baking soda might take slightly longer, but it's solution is far safer to handle and dispose with afterwards. As a bonus, most people that bake will already have some at home.