I notice a lot of vintage engines and machinery are being displayed and sold these days that look a bit like brownish-red blobs of oozing, greasy rust. They remind me of that rusty old camp frying pan and BBQ plate that has been wiped down with oil in preparation for a BBQ. This seems to be mainly due to the popularity of a product called INOX. There is another one that is supposed to be safe on rubber surfaces called LANOX, although INOX is said to be safe on rubber too, despite the fact that it contains petroleum.
I don't know what others think about such products, but I find the sight of a rusty engine all coated in "greasy stuff" very off-putting. The product is supposed to stop rust in its tracks. But I wonder how it can. Surely this would be akin to painting over rust with rust-proof paint? The oxidation process may be halted temporarily, but the rust will still be there. In the case of INOX, I am sure the rust patches and spots would become imbued with the stuff and therefore become "softer" over time. I would suspect that with repeated applications, this deep softening effect could even contribute to or hasten part failure. (?)
I am sure these products have pros and cons. Although the company claims its product is safe on rubber, I personally would not recommend it. The best thing to do with old rubber is to just leave it alone. But if people really want to give it a "fresh" look, without causing it to perish and crumble up like mince, the only safe option is 100% pure Lanolin. But beware! The modern so-called "Lanolin" preparations like you buy at the pharmacy often contain petroleum products, so I would err on the side of caution when considering these. You can still buy pure 100% Lanolin online and from some specialty shops. Don't bother asking in your local grocery store or chemist for it, as they probably will not have even heard of it. Lanolin has been replaced by a multitude of modern moisturizers and skin conditioners, composed of a huge number of chemical concoctions. Lanolin often forms just a small part of their ingredients. The real stuff should smell a bit like a shearing shed. If it lacks that distinctive shearing room floor aroma, then chances are it is not pure Lanolin. LOL!
As for rusty bolts and nuts and the like, after cleaning them down I sometimes use a small amount of Kopr-Kote on a rag and rub this well into them. I find the rust never returns and there are no potentially damaging effects.
I'd be interested to hear what others think about the various "conditioning", "rejuvenating" or "preserving" anti-rust products, such as INOX.
Personally I prefer to see a vintage engine that has either been fully cleaned down and painted, or left alone to show the real vintage patina and that includes the spots of rust. I just don't like the appearance of a rusty engine that looks like it has been soaked overnight in a tub of pig fat in order to "preserve" it.
Also, these products are often spoken about in hallowed terms as if they are a permanent fix. Surely they are only temporary solutions at best and will, depending on use and exposure to the elements, require repeat applications over a long period of time. And this makes me wonder if the long-term effects are fully known (like years or decades into the future)? Could these kinds of "quick fix" remedies eventually lead to greater problems in future?
