Iron Ballast

[Guest]

Can anyone please suggest the easiest way of cleaning and re-painting iron ballast pigs. Generally in good condition but with some flaking paint. In particular does anyone know of sandblasting facilities in the portsmouth area?

Thanks

 

[Peterduck]

If you are looking to remove rust from the pigs, I suggest that you soak them in a bath of 25% Molasses and 75% water. Yes, molasses! I'm not kidding! It does an excellent job of removing rust. It takes about a week or so, depending on how deep the rust is. I'm not sure of the actual chemical process, but I think that the molasses ferments, and in doing so provides an reducing environment, drawing the oxygen from the rust.
Peter.

 

[Guest]

thanks. sounds interesting!