How to Treat Rusted & Pitted Steel

Steel that is exposed to air and water can begin to rust. When rust begins to appear it will corrode the metal, making expand and become flakey. Rust will spread into the metal and expand, causing it to pit. To treat rusted steel or iron, you need to remove as much of the rust as possible. Acids will help break rust apart but also damage the metal so you then need to coat it with a protective barrier to prevent further corrosion.

Things You'll Need

• Steel wool
• Wire brush
• Lemon
• Wash cloth
• Machine oil

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Use the wire brush to remove any loose pieces of rust from the steel and in the pit.

   • 2

     Coat the rusted area with lemon juice and let it sit for an hour or two, which will help break apart the remaining rust in the crevices.

   • 3

     Scrub the remaining rust off with the steel wool and wash the area with water to remove all particles.

   • 4

     Dry the area with a towel or washcloth.

   • 5

     Apply some machine oil to the exposed area and rub it in with the cloth to help prevent future rusting.