Rusty old tools

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,250
As I'm organizing my barn, I finally went through my dad's old toolbox. He's been dead for 30 years, so they sat in mom's house until I took t hem. There are a few that are dead rusty, crusty rusty.

There are also tons of sockets that are chromed and just sort of rusty.

I read that soaking in vinegar is a good relatively safe thing to do. Even for chrome?

I'm probably not going to go out and buy an expensive rust remover or cleaner because I have no use for the tools but since they were my dad's I would rather save them and clean them up if possible.
 
Coke and a toothbrush should work well too. The phosphoric acid works wonders on rust. However, not sure if it would tarnish the chrome, it should react with the rust far faster than the chrome so it may simply be a timing thing. Let it react long enough to take off the rust but not so long to pit the chrome.

We used to use diluted phosphoric acid in college for rusty cast iron shot puts and other throwing implements in track to keep them from disintegrating in the off season. Too much rust and it throws the weight off after a few years which the judges don't care for too much.

Here's a youtube video of a guy cleaning up some rusty car parts.
 
My friend soaks any slightly rusted tools in PB Blaster for a day or two and then cleans them up. I haven't tried that but he swears by it.
 
You can buy generic phospohoric acid for rust removal. It will react with the rust and 'kill' it.

The chrome will be damaged if its rusty, so they will need cleaning up and maintaining with a light coat of oil, or the rust will return. Chrome doesnt protect like galvanising, once its damaged that area has no protection
 
I took the first batch of really rusty wrenches and pliers out of the vinegar bath today. A few minutes in water with baking soda to neutralize the vinegar. I scraped, brushed and sandpapered them lightly and they came out pretty good. The vinegar left a "patina" not sure if patina is the right word. It comes off with a vigorous sandpapering but I didn't really bother to try to make anything bright. I then dried everything and sprayed with some Amway "wonder mist" that has been sitting in my closet for 25 years. It seems to be kind of like WD40.

Started my next batch today. Not really trying to make everything shiny and bright, but at least usable and not getting worse. A couple of the wrenches were pretty pitted from the old rust.
 
Cleaned up an old set of vice grips yesterday. Very rusted. Cleaned up okay, still quite pitted but everything now works freely.

I'm quite pleased with my $2.99 gallon of vinegar. Seems to do a fairly good job. Certainly has made a few tools usable again.
 
Your Wonder Mist or WD40 works but is very lightweight. Will not stand the test of time like motor oil. Kinda depends on whether or not you will be using the tool or just hanging on the pegboard for another 3-4 years in the humid basement or out building.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top