Preserving Patina - How To Tips and Tricks

[wngrog]

@wngrog are you still using the same rust converter that you linked on the first page of this thread?

Trying to line up all the products to get this thing cleaned up.

I do. I don’t use it near painted surfaces any more because it creeps under and discolors the paint. I use it on straight steel

 

[pb4ugo]

WD40 is a decent penetrant though right? Would it make any sense to spray the whole freaking thing with WD or even the cheap walmart lubricant version of it before you wash it, just to penetrate the dirt/rust/corrosion/oxidation and help "lift" it all away? Then the usual soap cannon, pressure wash, and then hand wash?

Ive been using a fair amount of the walmart "lubricant" on my 40 as Ive been bringing it back to life, and Ive thought about literally just spraying the entire exterior down with it. As others have said, its pretty thin, (the generic walmart version is even thinner I think) so its not hard to wash away.

To be clear, this is not for any sort of protection or rust prevention, but for the initial cleaning.

WD40 isn't a penetrant. By name it stands for Water Displacement formula # 40. So it's for water Displacement and lubrication. It doesn't do anything to free rusty stuff.