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Removing rust from Mexican tin candleholders

My mother recently passed away and I now have her collection of Mexican tin. There are candleholders and wall art and the like. How can I clean the rust off of some of the pieces? Also, what is the best way to preserve these pieces from rusting?

Cathy Wilhelm
homeowner - Germantown, Tennessee, USA
2004

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First of two simultaneous responses -- 2004

If rusting is slight you can use WD-40 [on eBay or Amazon] (or something similar)! 5% solution of ammonium citrate (mix 50 gm citric acid [on eBay or Amazon] /1 lit water and some ammonia, (pH must be 7) is also usable!

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

If the tin is rusting it's not pure tin, rather it is some tin bearing steel or iron, tin is really light and very soft. Either way, use medium grit sandpaper (if it has a heavy coat of rust) then light, I suggest starting with 100, then 300, then 600, then 00 00 steel wool [on eBay or Amazon], and finish with 0000 #0000 steel wool [on eBay or Amazon]. A commercial polish will give it a final lustre, most of this is elbow grease and patience, some sandpapers out there are wet/dry sandpapers (esp. those I find good for metal finishing) get either some WD-40 or some 3 in 1 Oil and use a little bit as lubricant.

Good luck.

Marc Banks
- Elizabeth City, North Carolina USA
2004