I love Deox

[mrscalex]

Crystals anyway, the gel is a bit rubbish in comparison.

https://www.bilthamber.com/deox-c

Before

After

Btw I did this for a demo. They are rear anti-roll bar brackets and £4 new from BMW so better to buy new really especially given the pitting evident. The front ones are a lot more expensive though!

 

[Lee]

How long does the process take ?

 

[mrscalex]

How long does the process take ?

It will make a serious dent into things overnight. But generally I leave it for 24 hours. I have left stuff for 2-4 days before. But that's for convenience while I'm in Swansea. I think it does most of it's stuff within the first 48 hours max and typically 24 hours.

If the rust is really heavy it needs to come out after 24 hours anyway as some chipping away is required for the heaviest deposits. Wire brush - then back in. It will start creeping under the heavy deposits and loosening them but it can't do the nastiest stuff on it's own. Generally I don't chip before it goes in the first time as the Deox will help highlight where the stubborn stuff is by leaving clean metal everywhere else. It leaves little islands of deposits.

These brackets I did over 3 passes but 85% of the work was done on the first pass.

 

[mrscalex]

Rear calipers & carriers are probably the nastiest thing to tackle as they can come off the car very ugly. Lots more chipping required with them and maybe a 4th pass too.

But the good news is no harm done to rubber seals or machined surfaces. The only thing I have noticed was just last night. I put a set of handbrake linkages in and it stripped the silver paint off. Bit surprised at that. But pleased all the same as I now have a nice base to paint back up.

 

[mrscalex]

This caliper was truly awful when we started. And there was a lot of chipping. But the Deox still did a stunning job.

Mind you the VHT paint really finished things off and was excellent to work with.

 

[DrWong]

Love DEOX Had my first play with the crystals last month. Did front anti-roll bar, front ARB brackets, x-brace, and all associated nuts and bolts.

Bits as they came off the car. Very crusty:

ARB bracket after 24hrs. As mentioned, pricey compared to the rears so worth rescuing:

Gratuitous shot of bits back on the car after Deox, epoxy primer, and top coat. Chassis mounts for the ARB brackets were also pretty crusty so they were cleaned up with DEOX gel.

 

[DrWong]

Crystals anyway, the gel is a bit rubbish in comparison.

Bit surprised you say this, as I thought the crystals weren't as effective as the gel in comparison. I had to leave the ARB, brace and brackets soaking for three days to get back to clean metal. Whereas the gel - based on previous experience with it - would've prob got the same result overnight or in two days max.

 

[t-tony]

Could "hard" and "soft" water areas be the difference?

Tony.

 

[mrscalex]

Bit surprised you say this, as I thought the crystals weren't as effective as the gel in comparison. I had to leave the ARB, brace and brackets soaking for three days to get back to clean metal. Whereas the gel - based on previous experience with it - would've prob got the same result overnight or in two days max.

Yes it really is the opposite for me. Our water is the hardest in the country btw.

The other thing with the gel is you have to clean it off 100% otherwise it pickles the paint when it goes on.

Btw Deox themselves say always use the crystals not the gel when you can.

 

[Sean d]

I like the looks of that Robert, makes me wonder if it does remove all the rust, if it does then there is no reason to assume it would come back quickly in the future

 

[mrscalex]

I like the looks of that Robert, makes me wonder if it does remove all the rust, if it does then there is no reason to assume it would come back quickly in the future

Well if it comes back anywhere first on the parts we’ve done it will be the red calipers. And you’re in a good position to judge that yourself

 

[Mario]

Amazing results - will have to give this a go.

 

[Nodzed]

My problem is I start jobs like de-rusting and want it done in the same day, so I tend to use an array of rotary wires / soft pads for the angle grinders add some Krust and let dry and then clean off with a pre-paint degreaser and then paint. All done in a day. And to be fair looking at stuff I have done over 3 years ago, the rust aint back, not sure I would want the faff of waiting days to de-rust tbh and with no better results as far as I can see. Plus I get a bit of a buzz by cleaning stuff up by hand.
Good write up though.

 

[DrWong]

My problem is I start jobs like de-rusting and want it done in the same day, so I tend to use an array of rotary wires / soft pads for the angle grinders add some Krust and let dry and then clean off with a pre-paint degreaser and then paint. All done in a day. And to be fair looking at stuff I have done over 3 years ago, the rust aint back, not sure I would want the faff of waiting days to de-rust tbh and with no better results as far as I can see. Plus I get a bit of a buzz by cleaning stuff up by hand.
Good write up though.

I get that. Deox can get rid of all traces of rust if you want it to, but the big kicker is that it takes a lot more time and effort. Personally, I was happy to take as long as it needed, but we’re all different

The buzz I get is from taking stuff from horrible crusty brown back to shiny bright metal

 

[Nodzed]

The buzz I get is from taking stuff from horrible crusty brown back to shiny bright metal

Agree wire and grinders will do just that and remove the pitting the Deox method wont, makes for a better paint finish.

 

[mrscalex]

Agree wire and grinders will do just that and remove the pitting the Deox method wont, makes for a better paint finish.

I'm not sure it doesn't have the opposite effect. I don't think it would be as good getting into the pittting like a liquid can. And there is a risk of pushing dirt and grease into that pitting. Well that's what the manufacturers of Deox and similar would like us to believe.

Also you can't really use power tools on small things like fixings and brackets. And if you're removing the pitting you're removing metal I would think.

if it works for you though.

 

[t-tony]

You have to grind away a lot of metal to lose a small pit mark. Personally I wouldnt bother as brushed paint will fill pit marks anyway. Spray paint doesn't give a thick enough coat to last in my opinion.

Tony.

 

[DrWong]

You have to grind away a lot of metal to lose a small pit mark. Personally I wouldnt bother as brushed paint will fill pit marks anyway. Spray paint doesn't give a thick enough coat to last in my opinion.

Tony.

This is the other reason why I love Deox. It has no interest in - and is very benign to - solid steel. It only takes away the bad stuff and leaves the good

 

[Nodzed]

I'm not sure it doesn't have the opposite effect. I don't think it would be as good getting into the pittting like a liquid can. And there is a risk of pushing dirt and grease into that pitting. Well that's what the manufacturers of Deox and similar would like us to believe.

Also you can't really use power tools on small things like fixings and brackets. And if you're removing the pitting you're removing metal I would think.

if it works for you though.

It removes the pitting Rob, so I'd say better job

 

[Sean d]

It removes the pitting Rob, so I'd say better job

Imo you will never get rid of as much rust with tools, be it wire brushes or grinders