Old Timer Question - Rust Removal

[thirty-30]

My grandfather, about 30 or 40 years ago had a jar of clear liquid. He kept it in glass and it looked like moonshine. I can't remember how it smelled.

He said he used it when he went to sea for ship rails and such, and even back then I believe that it wasn't possible to get it anymore due to environmental regulations.

Any idea what it was?

It was amazing stuff, you paint it on and the rust just fell away almost instantly.

[zero_eight]

Sounds like Naval Jelly

[RandyBoBandy]

Originally Posted by zero_eight

Sounds like Naval Jelly

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner !!!

https://www.loctiteproducts.com/en/p...dissolver.html

[qwert]

Originally Posted by zero_eight

Sounds like Naval Jelly

active ingredient is phosphoric acid.

-link to safety data sheet @
https://www.loctiteproducts.com/en/p...dissolver.html

see section 3 for ingredients

or @
https://mysds.henkel.com/SAP_GATEWAY/odata/SAP/YPSSWH_DOO_SRV//DocContentSet%28Appid=%27YPSSW_SDSUA%27,Matnr=%270 00000000000553472%27,Matnrcomp=%27%27,Subid=%27000 000181115%27,Subidcomp=%27%27,Sbgvid=%27MSDS_UT_US-US%27,Laiso=%27EN%27%29/DocContentData/$value

more info @
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid

USE ALL CAUTION, Good Luck, YMMV.