What causes this crazy brown 'crazing' in a varnished steel measuring square?

Strip the varnish, put it in an electrolytic derust tank (I know, it
sounds like I'm asking you to do something ludicrous, but I'm running
one right now, and trust me, once you have one set up you will find
stuff to put it it, it's great) paint/varnish.  Or buy a new one for $10
or so.

The crazing I believe is corrosion caused by moisture/air actually
getting underneath the finish at a tiny flaw and spreading from there.

nate

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I had never thought it was rust, but you're the second person to say
that.

Since it doesn't look or feel like any rust I've ever seen, it didn't
even cross my mind that it's rust.

Here's a closeup of the crazing. It's almost as if a tiny burrowing
animal tunneled under the varnish looking for food to eat!
 http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/7487896/640/7487896.jpg

Technically, it is called "rust".

You can get rid of it by removing the clear coat on the rule and then either
sanding off the rust or removing it chemically.

--

dadiOH
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I had a bit of something called neutra rust a long time ago. It was
watery like solution  and I used some on a rusting pipe railing and it
has not rusted in 15 years or more. I ran out of the stuff and now
cannot find where to by more. Anyone have a place to buy it or a
replacement for such?

probably a phosphoric acid based solution, I'd guess.

nate

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if you mean the rust-converting solution,then an auto store,like PepBoys or
Auto Zone. There also are paints that have the rust-converting ingredients.

if you want rust removing stuff,try a woodworker's store,stuff Like
Boeshield T-9.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
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dot com

Thanks, Sounds just like what I was  looking for.

OK. You're the third person to say it's rust under the varnish.

I have to say, I've seen rust. This doesn't look like rust. But all three
of the responses say it's rust - so - rust it must be.
 http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/7487972/img/7487972.jpg

I'll look at the cost of varnish remover versus just buying a new square!

It wouldn't be varnish, it would be lacquer.  A bit of lacquer thinner will
remove it.

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dadiOH
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Ooops. I don't know the difference between varnish & lacquer.

Looking it up by a variety of sources, Wikipedia included, the difference
is interesting ... but after looking that up, I'm still not sure how you
know it's lacquer.

Here's how Wikipedia lists differences:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varnish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquer

Here's a synopsis from multiple web sites:

Varnish:
oil + resin + solvent
always clear
usually brushed on
slow drying
relatively high percentage of solids
usually less durable

Lacquer:
nitrocellulose + solvent
can be tinted
usually sprayed on
fast drying
relatively low percentage of solids
usually more durable

Because no manufacturer would use varnish because it dries so slowly.  Ditto
commercial furniture - lacquer finish.

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dadiOH
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Why wouldn't they use a UV-cured epoxy, or some such?  Much faster than any of
the above.

Maybe they do, no idea.  It would depend on cost I would guess.

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dadiOH
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It's used on flooring (many coats, even), why not on even a cheap square?

Because flooring sells formore?

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dadiOH
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<$1/ft^2 flooring uses UV treated coatings.  Several coats.  Even a cheap
square is what, $10?

Lacquer seems to be a thinner coating. They could easily use acrylic enamel
with the hardener, used on practically all cars. It sets up fast.

Greg

I don't see it more durable. I also see lacquer as being able to absorb
moisture. Ever seen clouding on a piece of furniture top. I had clouding
and actual gouging on a car paint finish using one of those bras. Permanent
damage. The finish was lacquer.

I have one of those squares that get all rust. I have to try dissolving the
rust ever so often. Dam hard to read in any condition.

Greg

Lacquer dries solely by the evaporation of its solvent. No chemical change
takes place. When dry, it can be removed with its original solvent

When varnish dries and cures, it combines with oxygen from the air and a
chemical change takes place. Because of this chemical change, its original
solvent will not remove it.

When you hear that piles of oil soaked rags will spontaneously combust,
they are not talking about motor oil. They are talking about oils used in
varnishes and oil based paints (linseed oil, etc.) that combine with oxygen
(oxidize) producing an exothermic chemical reaction as they cure.