Surprised by the results using vinegar as a rust remover...

[chickenfried]

So a little while after reading the replies in this thread forged ahead with the project. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-rust-removal-can-it-be-used-with-axe-head-on

After less than 24 hours soaking, I'm really surprised and happy with the results. This morning it was pretty much the same and nothing came off after scrubbing with a toothbrush and the vinegar was clear. Decided to give it another whirl just now.

Last night, already dipped the hatchet in before remembering it might be cool to take a before pic.

Just now

 

[cityofthesouth]

Yeah buddy there ya have it. I know it was referred to as "hype" elsewhere but the results speak for themselves and look better than tool marks IMO. Heads with less or no paint, and more patina than rust will give you better results in vinegar because it works more quickly on the rust than anything else, leaving your patina in place and requiring less time. Paint is a big PITA, but since it was commonly used on axes, sometimes you are stuck with it and have to really let is soak, or get out something more persuasive. In that case you get a really clean head, much like what we're seeing in your pics. Some kind of scrubby can help knock off the chunks so the vinegar only has to deal with shallow rust.

 

[maddawg308]

I've had great luck with vinegar on tools and blades alike. A day's soaking in vinegar takes off all of it except a few rough spots, and then a toothbrush or wire brush will remove what's left of that.

I will say, however, that the vinegar hasn't worked well on HEAVY pitted rust as well, though. Recently tried to do a 100-yr-old hewing axe head that had spent most of it's life in damp storage in a barn. Three days later, the hardened edge was mostly rust-free, but all the rest of the head was still heavily coated in pits and hard rust. Might be easier to hit it with the wire wheel in that case.

 

[chickenfried]

took it out of the bath after less than 48 hours and sharpened it. Made a slight mistake this morning I used a brush I thought was brass but it was stainless steel so I got brush marks on the side with the paint spot. Shoulda stuck with the toothbrush. But I'm really happy and didn't have to fret too much about sharpening my first hatchet/axe since it was a found hatchet. More of the logos came out like I wanted.

 

[Operator1975]

just be careful as after vinegar axe heads are especially susceptible to rust, so get it lubed up

 

[chickenfried]

thanks for the tip. I have to figure out what to use for oil because the main use for now is going to be splitting hickory into chunks for the bbq. maybe mineral oil? A little bit of petroleum product on bbq wood probably isn't going to hurt me. But it definitely ain't going to benefit me .

 

[Operator1975]

thanks for the tip. I have to figure out what to use for oil because the main use for now is going to be splitting hickory into chunks for the bbq. maybe mineral oil?

You can use a wide variety for protection while not in use - linseed, mineral, wd40, beeswax, many others and even combinations. I like regular linseed myself when not in use, and for ones getting somewhat regular use wd40 is quick.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

took it out of the bath after less than 48 hours and sharpened it. Made a slight mistake this morning I used a brush I thought was brass but it was stainless steel so I got brush marks on the side with the paint spot. Shoulda stuck with the toothbrush. But I'm really happy and didn't have to fret too much about sharpening my first hatchet/axe since it was a found hatchet. More of the logos came out like I wanted.

Looks like that was an "Official Boy Scout" hatchet from the logo under the name.

 

[cityofthesouth]

Nice job. That thing came out spic-n-span. I'm not sure you'll have to worry about a food safe type of oil even though you'll be splitting cooking wood with it. That surface is probably pretty porous right now and will drink up whatever you choose to put on it and very little will end up in your wood. Maybe once in a while you will have to put something on it, maybe if it's going to sit, but shouldn't be a big issue. My axes live inside, they are usually slathered in BLO when I hang them, and they don't get anything else or ever really need anything else. When the edge needs touched up, then maybe wipe it down with that oil. That's about all I do.