Rusty Tools

trick_xd · 30-08-2010, 02:15 PM

My nephew and son used my tools and have left them either out in the weather and in my tool box and water has gotten to them and now they are rusty ..
Some are sidcrome kingcrome scockets and the spanners are a mix and some are just cheap Drop forged ones .

I tired WD40 and steel wool but that did not do a heap.

My Question is . . . . . How is the best way to clean them ??

Cheers
Trick

**cs123** · 30-08-2010, 02:22 PM

I've been told molasses is good to get surface rust of things. Have a google and try it out on a cheap spanner first.

Geez Louise · 30-08-2010, 10:04 PM

Clean them with vinegar. I do that and it works well. If there is still rust, I use a little bit of sandpaper or steel wool and rub very, very gently. (I don't want to scratch them up anymore than they are) Then rinse them and dry well. If there is still rust, make a paste of bicarb of soda and rub it over the rusted area. Takes a bit of elbow grease but it will come off.

After they are clean, make sure you oil or wax your tools before you put them away

I am sure there are chemical cleaners out there that would do it but I prefer to use simple, non toxic methods.

JC · 30-08-2010, 10:15 PM

Put them in a bucket of Coke (the cola kind).

3vXT · 30-08-2010, 11:00 PM

Let them soak in the blood of whoever left them out in the weather.

JazManXII · 31-08-2010, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

Clean them with vinegar. I do that and it works well. If there is still rust, I use a little bit of sandpaper or steel wool and rub very, very gently. (I don't want to scratch them up anymore than they are) Then rinse them and dry well. If there is still rust, make a paste of bicarb of soda and rub it over the rusted area. Takes a bit of elbow grease but it will come off.

After they are clean, make sure you oil or wax your tools before you put them away

I am sure there are chemical cleaners out there that would do it but I prefer to use simple, non toxic methods.

this is the correct answer

BOSHOG · 31-08-2010, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken2903

Let them soak in the blood of whoever left them out in the weather.

i think this is the correct answer

FGII-XR6 · 31-08-2010, 10:16 AM

CLR like vinegar is a mild acid but also also had a surfactant to aid cleaning and does a great job of getting rust off rinse well and oil when finished. if there is anything with moving parts like shifters soak in diesel after the CLR the diesel penetrates and frees up the parts

The Yeti · 31-08-2010, 03:30 PM

Dont let them lay still long enough to develop rust

gocruzin · 02-09-2010, 03:00 PM

I find WD40 and scotch brite work real good.

**ebxr8240** · 02-09-2010, 03:58 PM

10% Hydrochloric acid and soak for 20min or so...
Was off with water or bicarb to neutralize the acid...

Hydrochloric acid is used on swimming pools and cleaning/ removing concrete..
Rinse in Kerro wipe with rag and your done...

Danny · 02-09-2010, 05:30 PM

My very well used Estwing Hammer Has a huuge rust issue, you buy them with this plasicky shiny chroimey looking coating which immediately scratches off and the hammer develops surface rust. It's my second one in 8 years and I find after a good sand with sandpaper or steel wool if you like the surface rust comes off and never returns. Least that is what happened with my hammers ;)

**ebxr8240** · 02-09-2010, 06:39 PM

Most my tools never get a chance to rust.. Especially my car stands, engine crane.. Lol....Always in use.. Golp...

flukey · 03-09-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trick_xd

My nephew and son used my tools and have left them either out in the weather and in my tool box and water has gotten to them and now they are rusty ..
Some are sidcrome kingcrome scockets and the spanners are a mix and some are just cheap Drop forged ones .

I tired WD40 and steel wool but that did not do a heap.

My Question is . . . . . How is the best way to clean them ??

Cheers
Trick

I'm betting until recently your avatar was a pony prancing on a meadow.
If you are patient you can gently use autosol on them. I use it a bit on exterior chrome work. The trick is to lightly WD40 regularly afterwards.
Works great for fine rust but heavy scale rust will unfortunately need a wire brush.
I gave a bunch of small tools to a barrel roll zinc plater once and they came back nice and shiny. Zinc isn't chrome of course but it was better than rust.