You need to stabilize the rust before putting any coating on the cast iron stove. To simply coat over it will allow the deterioration to continue - probably at a slower rate. Cast iron contains core metal that has a stable grey oxidation (Fe3O4 - magnetite) from it's thermal history of manufacutre in a foundry. Additionally historic cast irons can have patinas of iron oxides ranging from brown to reddish-brown and black, as well as historic coatings, and soot and ash deposits from use. So all this must be taken into account before cleaning - you never-ever want to clean below the stable grey magnetite into the core metal. Also, you never use a dissimilar metal in cleaning iron such as a brass brush or brass wool. The brass is softer than the iron and will leave microscopic particles imbedded into the micro-topography of the iron. This will cause severe galvanic corrosion between the two dissimilar metals - the brass will be electrically "protected" while the iron will corrode at a greatly accelerated rate. I have seen this in several instances in a collection - it is a very ugly sight! You also need an experienced eye to examine the stove to see if this really is "rust". Get a very bright direct light on the surface and look for various shades of brown, orange, and red that are associated with surface features like pitting or even delmaination (in severe examples). Using low-power magnification helps (even one of those magnilights on extention arms). You may notice a bright orange layer that goes over and covers details and over pittting - this is often seen under or at the edges of paint or coating layers. This is NOT corrosion, it is most likely a red lead paint primer - and as such it is HAZARDOUS and should only be removed by someone who is trained. Red lead was used ubiquitously on metals from the 18th century up until the 1970's (at least in America). I have often seen it on architectural metals (hinges, crossties, weathervanes, etc) and sometimes on cast iron wares (pans, stoves, firebacks, etc.). In terms of coating cast iron stoves much depends on if a historic coating is present, the condition of the object its environment, if the stove will be used, and the sort of appearance (aesthetic) that is appropriate. The coating choices can range from non-ionic oils, to pigmented micorcrystalline waxes, to stove blacking (an historic coating appropriate for stoves in use - contains graphite usually bound up in a parrafin/solvented base). I try to stay away from paints on stoves or firebacks because their thickness clogs up and obscures decorative details and paint removal can sometimes be difficult in future years. In these situations you need to understand what coatings were applied historically and to find its comparable modern counterpart that has the stability that we conservators like to see in the materials we use. Cheers! Dave David Harvey Artifacts 2930 South Birch Steet Denver, CO 80222 303-300-5257 [log in to unmask] ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).