Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Rust-joint
A quick-setting compound is made from pulverized sal-ammoniac 1 lb., flour of sulphur 2 lbs., iron borings 80 lbs.; mix to a paste with water in quantities as required for use. A better cement than the above, but requiring more time to set, is made from sal-ammoniac 2 lbs., sulphur 1 lb., iron filings 206 lbs. See CEMENTS.
Rust, To preserve from.--It is commonly claimed that iron, under ordinary conditions, decomposes water, abstracts the oxygen and combines with it, and thus forms rust; but it is now asserted that the chief agent in this phenomenon is carbonic acid, which, if excluded, neither moist nor dry oxygen can affect the iron to rust it.
Polished steel or iron is prevented from rusting by applying a coat of paraffine, or steeping the object for a few minutes in a solution of sulphate of copper, and then transferring it into a solution of hyposulphite of soda acidulated with hydrochloric acid. The coating obtained will resist the action of either air or water.
Cast iron is best preserved by rubbing with black lead. Polished work may be varnished with wax dissolved in benzine. Clean white wax may be rubbed over polished work when hot, and allowed to remain some time, after which rub over with a piece of serge.
Deep-seated rust may be removed with benzine, or soak the object in kerosene for a day.