<p>The corrugated certainly looks like galvanized steel where some galvanized has corroded. You need to remove the remaining zinc . Dissolving it with hydrochloridic / muriatic acid would be fast , 10% should be strong enough.Salt water, vinegar, citric acid etc, would do it but slower. Once the zinc is gone it should rust pretty fast , a little dilute salt or acidic water spray will speed it up.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-02T06:02:54.207Z
It looks like you were right about the galvanising
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T16:39:26.487Z
2020-06-01T16:39:26.487Z
blacksmith37
<p>The least expensive method to rust a sheet of metal would be a light spray of salt water. Even ordinary water will rust steel if it's not particularly rust resistant. I've used 4130 chromoly steel which rusts overnight if left with moisture on the surface.</p>

<p>Diluted chlorine bleach will cause rapid corrosion in aluminum, nearly instantaneous, but I'm not sure if the same effect will happen with steel. Chlorine is corrosive to steel, it's the time involved that I'm unsure.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T13:12:17.270Z
2020-06-01T13:12:17.270Z
fred_dot_u
<p>A mixture of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt will cause steel to rust at a fast pace. Usually within minutes. I've put to mixture into spray bottles and it has given rusty results.</p>

<p>16oz Hydrogen Peroxide
2oz White Vinegar
1/2 tbsp of salt</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-04T20:06:39.097Z
I've sprayed muriatic acid and it looked like it removed the first coat. Will wait for a few days .
Carlo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-03T19:00:23.233Z
2020-06-03T19:00:23.233Z
canibeanartist
<p>Lightly scratch surface with fine scouring pad...Mix 2 teaspons of salt with warm water in 12 oz spray bottle and lightly mist sheet metal until completely wet...Rust will begin basically immediately ( not to naked eye) because its caused from Oxygen and moisture</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-03T20:20:47.137Z
2021-05-03T20:20:47.137Z
Michael Neely
<p>Basically my metal sheets are new and I need them to be with that rust effect rapidly.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Halb7.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Halb7.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T19:34:32.793Z
Can you confirm it's definitely steel? And not coated in any way?
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T20:34:51.670Z
coated with zinc
Carlo
<metal>
How can I force metal sheet to rust rapidly?
Carlo
# How can I force metal sheet to rust rapidly?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-01)

Basically my metal sheets are new and I need them to be with that rust effect rapidly.

Thanks

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Halb7.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Halb7.jpg)

**Tags:** metal

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Can you confirm it's definitely steel? And not coated in any way?  
> **username_0**: coated with zinc  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-06-01. Score: 7

The corrugated certainly looks like galvanized steel where some galvanized has corroded. You need to remove the remaining zinc . Dissolving it with hydrochloridic / muriatic acid would be fast , 10% should be strong enough.Salt water, vinegar, citric acid etc, would do it but slower. Once the zinc is gone it should rust pretty fast , a little dilute salt or acidic water spray will speed it up.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It looks like you were right about the galvanising  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-06-01. Score: 5

The least expensive method to rust a sheet of metal would be a light spray of salt water. Even ordinary water will rust steel if it's not particularly rust resistant. I've used 4130 chromoly steel which rusts overnight if left with moisture on the surface.

Diluted chlorine bleach will cause rapid corrosion in aluminum, nearly instantaneous, but I'm not sure if the same effect will happen with steel. Chlorine is corrosive to steel, it's the time involved that I'm unsure.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-06-03. Score: 2

A mixture of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt will cause steel to rust at a fast pace. Usually within minutes. I've put to mixture into spray bottles and it has given rusty results.

16oz Hydrogen Peroxide
2oz White Vinegar
1/2 tbsp of salt

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I've sprayed muriatic acid and it looked like it removed the first coat. Will wait for a few days .  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2021-05-03. Score: 0

Lightly scratch surface with fine scouring pad...Mix 2 teaspons of salt with warm water in 12 oz spray bottle and lightly mist sheet metal until completely wet...Rust will begin basically immediately ( not to naked eye) because its caused from Oxygen and moisture


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