Haven't tried myself, but I've seen people recommending using acetic acid (vinegar) to neutralize and remove electrolyte from busted caps from PCB:s, so it should be ok.

If acetic acid doesn't do the trick, I'd try with diluted phosporic acid instead, at least to soften the rust up, and make mechanical cleaning possible. Wouldn't be too worried about using that on electronics either.

Make sure you wash everything thoroughly with [distilled] water afterwards.

vinegar and a toothbrush will help lots IMHO

Pics?

Hot (hot!) sauce with good vinegar content works great. It's thick enough to persist after it's applied to the metal, so you don't have to worry about immersion.

gdjacobs wrote:

Hot (hot!) sauce with good vinegar content works great. It's thick enough to persist after it's applied to the metal, so you don't have to worry about immersion.

So just to be clear, if I whip up some of this hot vinegar sauce, I can apply it liberally, including over actual ICs (ram chips mainly), maybe caps, and other miscellaneous stuff on the board? This stuff won't just dissolve silicon upon contact? I doubt I can effectively target the rust without getting some on various chips and other components.

And what is an example of hot sauce? Tobasco is not very thick. I don't know of any others (in Australia here).

You can use Vegemite... j/k 😀

Chips are encased in plastic so don't worry about it.

gdjacobs wrote:

Hot (hot!) sauce with good vinegar content works great. It's thick enough to persist after it's applied to the metal, so you don't have to worry about immersion.

THICC and spicy GPU!

squiggly wrote:

So just to be clear, if I whip up some of this hot vinegar sauce, I can apply it liberally, including over actual ICs (ram chips mainly), maybe caps, and other miscellaneous stuff on the board? This stuff won't just dissolve silicon upon contact? I doubt I can effectively target the rust without getting some on various chips and other components.

And what is an example of hot sauce? Tobasco is not very thick. I don't know of any others (in Australia here).

Yes, I am serious, and just put it on the rust.

HP NetServer 4d/66LE

Any pasty chili or hot sauce with high acid content should do.

I would recommend a soft brass brush and ethyl acetate like found in nailpolish remover. Just be sure not to use acetone!

gdjacobs wrote:

Yes, I am serious, and just put it on the rust. […]
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squiggly wrote:

So just to be clear, if I whip up some of this hot vinegar sauce, I can apply it liberally, including over actual ICs (ram chips mainly), maybe caps, and other miscellaneous stuff on the board? This stuff won't just dissolve silicon upon contact? I doubt I can effectively target the rust without getting some on various chips and other components.

And what is an example of hot sauce? Tobasco is not very thick. I don't know of any others (in Australia here).

Yes, I am serious, and just put it on the rust.

HP NetServer 4d/66LE

Any pasty chili or hot sauce with high acid content should do.

OK I got some hot sauce on the weekend. Ingredients say vinegar, and it appears to be Hot! When you say "just put it on the rust" - well the rust is covering the legs of Ram chips so it would be hard to not get some on the actual chip as well - my main concern is it will eat through chips and other components. If I just covered the entire rear of the card in hot sauce would that be a problem? There is enough rust to justify spreading a nice thick layer right across the back. And I need to use distilled water to clean it off?

Haven't you read my comment? I have yet to see a hot sauce that could eat through plastic...

I'm not sure I would want to use a video card that has too much (if any) rust on it. Especially if the card is as common as a Voodoo3. I would just buy another Voodoo 3.

Half-Saint wrote:

Haven't you read my comment? I have yet to see a hot sauce that could eat through plastic...

No I overlooked it sorry (:

tegrady wrote:

I'm not sure I would want to use a video card that has too much (if any) rust on it. Especially if the card is as common as a Voodoo3. I would just buy another Voodoo 3.

Its a 3000...i don't mind giving it a try. What else am I going to do with this Hot! sauce?