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How to Make Metal Rust With Potatoes
by
Amy Ellis @ StowandTellU
(IC: blogger)
I've been working on a project that required me to make some nails and hardware rusty. I wanted to go the easiest route (of course) so I tried the vinegar and salt method which I had used before, but it just wasn't happening fast enough, meanwhile, my husband was chopping potatoes for stew: lightbulb!
The metal started to turn dark immediately and after soaking for about an hour, I took them out and rust began to form.
The metal started to turn dark immediately and after soaking for about an hour, I took them out and rust began to form.
I let the potatoes oxidize for a while, then dropped them in a vinegar salt mixture.
I used standard nails - not zinc or galvanized
The rust really begins to form once exposed to air.
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Published March 21st, 2013 6:50 PM
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6 of 29 comments
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Rainy Odessy on Sep 16, 2015fresh apples will rust things fast too i learned this from expressing juice to make hard cider..... anything metal will rust in about two days
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Amy Ellis @ StowandTellU on Oct 01, 2015@Rainy Odessy I had no idea that apples would work too. I will be trying your method. Thanks so much for sharing and I'm sorry for the delayed reply~ Amy
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Judy L Watt on Jun 03, 2019
I thought Coke takes away rust?
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Carolyn Bragg on Mar 30, 2020
Coke removes rust, given enough time. It will also completely dissolve a tooth. (See the Mythbusters tv show.)
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