For years the old standby to removing rust from traps was to soak them in a mixture of white vinegar and water. I believe I read somewhere where muriatic acid was also used.

Is the above process still the preferred method or has something new come along that I'm unaware of?

Thanks

White vinegar and water, here too.

Still about the easiest and cheapest way.

white vinegar and water 50/50 mix here as well then pressure washed off for me.

I use muric acid

If you remove the rust "dye" won't work, because the tannin reacts with the rust to convert it to a rust free coating. The usual routine that has been posted here is to use vinegar to remove the rust, then to let rust form again; which really never made any sense.
Knock or brush off any scale/loose rust and boil the traps in walnut, sumac, or any other tannin solution and it's done. Drink that vinegar, you'll live longer and feel better, unless it's white vinegar then you can use to clean windows

I use the 50:50 vinegar:water mix. They’ll come out looking brand new. I then dip them.

How long do you soak the traps?

Ditto on the acid. A 3 min. Dip in fresh muratic acid and they come out a clean etched gray. Rinse and hang. They will start rusting almost instantly.

Yep. Like this after 3-5 days.
Then pressure wash.

Vinegar is way cheaper than muriatic round here.

Ever tried using acorns for dye?

But why? A little rust makes whatever coating you put on adhere better.

That critter could care less if it’s a rusted trap or a clean shiny one. I prefer clean and shiny then dipped in Formula 1 or just clean and shiny and repeat the process next year if needed.

Are you using pure or diluted ?

I agree Unless its thick scaly flaking off rust no need to remove it... but if you are going to, why dilute vinegar in water? It works better straight and its faster. Its like $3 a gallon...

Dilute it. I've never measured how many parts of each but more water than acid. Neutralize with baking soda in water or they will continue to rust no matter how well you rinse them.

Are you using pure or diluted ?[/quote]
Dilute it. I've never measured how many parts of each but more water than acid. Neutralize with baking soda in water or they will continue to rust no matter how well you rinse them.[/quote]

X2 I also neutralize with baking soda when I use vinegar just to be safe

I learned the hard way about doing so with muratic acid when you had 7 dozen 11/2s rust down to nothing in just a few days

Muratic is only $8 gal.

That's why a 3-4 min dip is enough. No dilution needed. I was told by a metelurgest that NO More than 5 min. The springs may get brittle. I found out the hard way. I let a couple soak for 1/2 hr. Had a #2 mainspring clip my ear a draw blood.
Other that, it works like a champ.