Which Rust Removal Method Brand Wins?
This head-to-head test of 2 rust removal method options has the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Evapo-Rust
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
All measurements (7 more)+
Bolt/lug nut weight after test
- 1Evapo-Rust77 g
identical to the electrolysis bolt's final weight (an exact tie)
- 2Electrolysis sodium carbonate electrolyte, sacrificial steel anode, battery charger77 g
identical to the Evapo-Rust bolt's final weight (an exact tie)
Visual progress at 24/48/72/96 hours
- 1Evapo-Rust
at several checkpoints described as having 'looser rust' or looking 'a little bit cleaner' than the electrolysis bolt, but by the 96 hour mark the narrator concludes there 'really doesn't seem to be all that much more rust' on the electrolysis bolt by comparison; darker in color was noted for the electrolysis bolt rather than the Evapo-Rust bolt
- 2Electrolysis sodium carbonate electrolyte, sacrificial steel anode, battery charger
electrolysis bolt described as darker in color than the Evapo-Rust bolt at the 24 hour check but with a similar overall amount of rust throughout; the wrench showed clear, steady visible improvement at every checkpoint and was eventually freed
Lug nut freed by hand
- 1Evapo-Rust
no, required a wrench to break loose, same as the electrolysis lug nut
- 2Electrolysis sodium carbonate electrolyte, sacrificial steel anode, battery charger
no, required a wrench to break loose, same as the Evapo-Rust lug nut
Liquid level
- 1Evapo-Rust
level visibly decreased over the test (evaporating), narrator topped it off partway through
- 2Electrolysis sodium carbonate electrolyte, sacrificial steel anode, battery chargernot tested
Wrench weight before test
- 2Electrolysis sodium carbonate electrolyte, sacrificial steel anode, battery charger448 g
- 1Evapo-Rustnot tested
Wrench weight after test (96 hours)
- 2Electrolysis sodium carbonate electrolyte, sacrificial steel anode, battery charger442 g
a loss of 6 g
- 1Evapo-Rustnot tested
Sacrificial steel
- 2Electrolysis sodium carbonate electrolyte, sacrificial steel anode, battery charger
accumulated a large, visibly heavy amount of rust over the course of the test, as expected for the sacrificial anode
- 1Evapo-Rustnot tested
How it was tested
- side-by-side rust removal on two identical rusted wheel-stud lug nuts, one in Evapo-Rust and one via electrolysis, checked at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, final weight compared
- electrolysis-only rust removal and unseizing test on a badly rusted wrench, weighed before and after
Data notes and caveats
No single winner: the two lug nut test subjects finished at an identical 77 g final weight for both Evapo-Rust and electrolysis, an explicit numeric tie, and neither method fully freed its lug nut by hand (both needed a wrench). The narrator gives a conditional, use-case-based recommendation rather than declaring an overall winner: electrolysis for large items (cheaper at scale, needs only an open container), Evapo-Rust for small items (convenient but comparatively expensive as a product). This is a follow-up to an earlier video (not this videoId) that compared several over-the-counter rust removal chemicals, in which Evapo-Rust and Krud Kutter performed well; that prior video's results are referenced only as context and are not re-extracted here.
More Shop Chemicals & Lubricants
Which Brake Parts Cleaner Brand Wins?
Gunk (Chlorinated)
See the results
Which Oil Spill Absorbent Brand Wins?
16 products tested
See the results
Which Hand Cleaners Brand Wins?
Permatex Fast Orange Extreme
See the results