Ive got some light SURFACE rust on some axle tubes and the undercarriage, not structural or rust-thru yet.

Is there a short cut to getting most of this stuff off easy... not that I want to do a half ass job, its that most of the places cant be sanded easily, and it wont be sand blasted.

Plan of attack:
1) power washing
2) degreaser (simple green)+ a brush
3) hose off
4) a friend told me to spray it down with chrome wheel cleaner, which will eat up 80% of the rust
5) hose off

dry

6) sand still rusty areas
7)patch with metal if necessary
8)) alcohol or paint thinner wipe down
9) rust converter primer (generic stuff I have) on rusted spots, red, rust proof auto primer (rustoleum)rattle can
10) top coat x2 (probably herculiner on the underbody and Rustoleum Industral rattle can on axles, etc

what you think about the process?
what about the products I mentioned?

my yj has all kind of rust on the frame and the body. i just used some navel jelly rust remover which i think they sell at just about any parts store. all you do is clean the surface off and then wipe the jelly on, then let sit for a couple hours then hose off.i also sanded mine a little before paint.stuff worked great!! GOOD LUCK MAN.

I stripped my whole undercarriage/axles etc down to bare metal with sandblaster. I know u said no sand, but it is a lot simpler and faster. I would strongly recommend using Por-15 for the undercoating and top it with ceramic automotive rattlecan. (I get mine at Wally World, $3.23 per can) I used Por-15 with a black ceramic topcoat and it has held up very well. Por 15 makes the best and toughest coatings this side of Rhino. It can be painted right over rust, although I'm anal and chose to go to bare metal and primer it first. I have used it right over medium-rusty metal on other vehicles and it is fantastic. The only drawback it that its UV sensitive, so u gotta lay it down in a shop or garage and top coat it. Por-15 also makes something called Chassis black, several different colors of topcoat and high heat engine enamals that are not UV sensitive. I've used the chassis and engine enamal with good results. Do a search on E-bay. Its pricey and you have to get their special thinner, especially if you want to run it through a sprayer like I did, but I did my entire underside, axles, bed, frame, wheel wells, bumpers etc with about two pints. A little goes a long way. I've also had really good results with the ceramic rattlecan stuff. Its a little tricky to use at first, but the results are worth it. The first pic is after gas tank and axles were done, did frame later. Good luck

Better living thru chemistry! One rusty ass scout hood:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=107321&stc=1

A quick pour of phosphoric acid. No scrubbing, no sanding, no work. 10 minutes later, bare metal
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=107322&stc=1