[meteorite-list] Re: Dronino & Steve Schoner's meteorite anti-rust treatment.

[Mike Fowler]

(Don't know if this made it thru the other day)


Hi List,

Went to my local hardware store to buy Red Devil Lye, but couldn't  
find any so I bought some (where else!) on ebay.  I will be trying it  
out on some smaller irons that show some rust, including at least one  
Dronino.

I was curious about Steve Schoner's 150 lb Campo mentioned in the  
post from November, 2003.  Was the treatment successful, and what are  
the details?  How long etc?

I have one 13 lb Campo that could use a little help after I practice  
an a couple 100 gram slices first.

Mike Fowler
Chicago

Bob King's post regarding Dronino:

> Hello Bernd, Marcin and all,
>
> I, too have had problems with Dronino until I used Steve Schoner's
> NaOH method. I left my slice in solution in a jar for two weeks.  
> Every so
> often I'd pick up the jar and swirl the contents around to keep the
> chemicals mixed and monitor the process . The solution gradually
> became as dark as maple syrup as rust was dissolved. Then I removed
> the slice, washed it in distilled water (the lye makes the pieces very
> slippery.) and baked it in the oven for an hour at around 200 degrees.
> I still keep my Dronino with dessicant but I have not seen a speck of
> rust since this treatment.
> Marcin, you asked about dissolving the lye. I fill the jar halfway  
> with
> regular isopropyl alcohol (off-the-shelf drugstore variety) which  
> contains
> water. Then I add about 5 tablespoons of lye (Red Devil brand here in
> the U.S.) and stir and stir. It takes a while for the lye to  
> dissolve in the
> alcohol. While this is happening you get an interesting exothermic
> chemical reaction and the jar warms up.
> Anyway, this is the only thing that's worked for really stubborn  
> irons.
> Best to all,
> Bob
>



Post from Steve Schoner, November 2003

> <s.gif>
>> By popular request, and a huge amount of e-mails regarding it, I post
>> it now and for as long as the internet exists at:
>>
>> http://www.geocities.com/american_meteorite_survey/naoh.htm
>>
>> You can post it anywhere, share it, distribute it widely, and do so
>> with the intent of preserving stubborn rusting meteorites that would
>> otherwise snap crackle and pop as they flake away on the shelves,  
>> keeping
>> one awake at night in the never ending cycle of terrestrialization.
>>
>> This "anti-rusting" process will help slow that down so that we can
>> enjoy our specimens a bit longer.
>>
>> Currently I am soaking a 150 lb Campo and it has been in solution  
>> for 7
>> months.  Soon I will take it out and see where it is in the process.
>> It is the largest meteorite I have ever done in this process.
>>
>> Some meteorites might not respond, but most do.
>>
>> Steve Schoner
>> http://www.geocities.com/american_meteorite_survey