Off the Grid: The battle to remove rust from weathered steel shipping containers Us vs. the rust: Best tools and techniques for getting rid of mild to heavy rust in corrosive environments Rust: The reaction of iron and oxygen in a catalytic presence of water and/or air moisture. Living in a place as corrosive as the Oregon coast, rust has become our greatest enemy. We are in a constant battle against it and have tried just about every type of common rust treatment or removal technique possible. Throughout our experiences on Pacific Pines Ranch with rust management, especially with building our steel shipping container home, we have learned rust's weaknesses. Using the angle grinder, rust converter, and sandblaster, we've conquered our enemy and can confirm which techniques work best with each level of rust.