how to dissolve rust
 

i have some lathe parts with heavy rust on them , what is the best way to dissolve the rust without eroding the steel part around it ?

thnks

You can use tape around the rust and glass bead blast, use naval jelly, heavy wire brush and elbow grease..

Rust Removal = Evaporust
 

By far the best rust removal tool is a gallon of Evaporust. costs about $20 at Harbor freight, hardware stores, auto parts stores. Soak anything steel or iron in it for a few hours or a few weeks, won't remove anything but rust (and maybe ancient paint). doesn't hurt wood, other metals plastics. And it's non-toxic. Use it until it's black and you can't stand it anymore, then pour it down the drain.

good stuff.

2nd best process is electrolytic rust removal. this involves a plastic bucket or other container, a battery charger, some washing soda (pool supply) and some iron or steel electrodes. Works well, but it's more trouble than Evaporust.

Naval Jelly never did anything for me. it's gelled phosphoric acid.

Surface rust can be removed with 0000 steel wool and light oil or WD40.

And for that matter, scotchbrite is OK for the tougher stuff, especially non-critical surfaces. You can rub the coarsest grade on a piece of fine steel all day without removing a half thousands.