I purchased a 10x10 tamper from Lowes by mail order. Unfortunately, when it arrived I see it has enough rust collected on the tool that I decided to inquire about that here. See the photo below.

First, should I worry about rust on a tool like this? It is coming through the paint, so that has me wondering what the actual condition of the metal underneath is. This tool is brand new and should never have seen use or exposure to the elements. I am sure that this is a Chinese made product so there is no telling what the quality of the steel is or how it was treated during distribution and production.

Second, is there an easy way for me to clean this myself, without a large time investment? I see online that they recommend dipping it in oxalic acid for 20 minutes. That might be a bit of a pain but I might be willing to try that.

If it is not going to address the problem to clean it myself, then I guess I have to haul it back to Lowes and get another one. That's an hour of my time so it's not my first choice unless there is no other option.