Cleaning rusty tools?

[RichB]

Been spending some time in the garage lately tidying it and sifting through hundreds of old tools. Over the years I have hoarded tools belonging to my dad, grandad and uncle and I've never refused a box of old stuff when offered!

Since I got the Lagonda I've started to build a small collection of appropriate tools; chunky Whitworth spanners, adjustable spanners, box spanners, screwdrivers, files etc. I've got a lot of tools that could well be 60-70 years old but they are old and rusty.

So, how best to clean them, any suggestions? I could soak them a tray of petrol and wire wool them but that sound exceptionally tedious. I've heard about these ultrasounds baths but I don't know if they would remove surface rust. I don't have access to a sand blaster but wondered if a home garage sized one might be a good acquisition.

Any thoughts for someone working in a home garage?

[finlo]

Soak them in Coke.

[BugLebowski]

Electrolytic rust removal in my experience works better than all other methods, and will remove really deep pitted rust.

[RichB]

So all in a bucket and in with 2 ltrs of cheap coke, does it need to be Coke-Cola or will Lidl's do?

[grumpy52]

Beaten too it ,coke the original full fat is best .
It is also good for un-seizing engines but not recommended to leave it too long with anything aluminium.
Duck oil is good to use to stop stuff rusting and is the right smell .

[Humper]

BugLebowski said:

Electrolytic rust removal in my experience works better than all other methods, and will remove really deep pitted rust.

This. Easy, amazing results, no effort. What's not to like?

[mgtony]

I was quite impressed with how a propshaft came out after sandblasting it (Was replacing the UJ's afterwards). Was done in a friends workshop but possible with a home set-up if you have a large enough compressor.

[V8 Fettler]

Hang tools at pig's head height above lots of pigs. A country person told me this a few decades ago.

[RichB]

V8 Fettler said:

Hang tools at pig's head height above lots of pigs. A country person told me this a few decades ago.

You did read the bit about suitable in a home garage!

[EricE]

The reason why Coke works is phosphoric acid (H3PO4). They add small amounts of it for that sharper tangy taste and counteract the sugar.

You could buy phosphoric acid at a chemist's shop and dilute it accordingly but unless your tools are very rusty, Coke is the better and certainly safer choice. There are also various rust removal gels available that contain the same substance.

[72twink]

If you have plenty of time molasses and water make a cheap biodegradable de-ruster, Google/Youtube for exact ratio.

[DM79]

http://www.bilthamber.com/corrosion-protection-and...

[OldGermanHeaps]

The bilt hamber deox stuff works very well

[DonkeyApple]

RichB said:

Been spending some time in the garage lately tidying it and sifting through hundreds of old tools. Over the years I have hoarded tools belonging to my dad, grandad and uncle and I've never refused a box of old stuff when offered!

Since I got the Lagonda I've started to build a small collection of appropriate tools; chunky Whitworth spanners, adjustable spanners, box spanners, screwdrivers, files etc. I've got a lot of tools that could well be 60-70 years old but they are old and rusty.

So, how best to clean them, any suggestions? I could soak them a tray of petrol and wire wool them but that sound exceptionally tedious. I've heard about these ultrasounds baths but I don't know if they would remove surface rust. I don't have access to a sand blaster but wondered if a home garage sized one might be a good acquisition.

Any thoughts for someone working in a home garage?

The first thing you need to do is convert the Fe2O3 to Fe3O4. So you just need to add an extra iron molecule and an oxygen also to the oxide. Simples.

Or rather, you want to convert the red oxide to the black oxide. The black oxide is actually protective. It is traditionally the blueing of gun barrels and drill bits etc.

The best way to create the required chemical reaction is to simply boil the metal in water. Scrub off the excess red oxide then boil it all in a big tub.

The quicker way is to use an acid at room temperature. This will dissolve much of the red oxide and leave the remaining outer layer as black oxide.

But, personally I'd use phosphoric acid. It etches the metal slower than some acids so is really difficult to get wrong. I seem to recall that the process is called hydrogen embrittlement but might be wrong. However the real bonus of using phosphoric acid is that it deposits a layer of iron phosphate on the metal which is brilliant at preventing rust. If you then cover the tools in duck oil after that then they will last forever.

[Bodo]

DM79 said:

http://www.bilthamber.com/corrosion-protection-and...

What's in there? Citric acid?

In that case, it's going to work well - here's how it's done with citric acid:
https://youtu.be/ckdMdiJlV7c

[bitwrx]

RichB said:

V8 Fettler said:

Hang tools at pig's head height above lots of pigs. A country person told me this a few decades ago.

You did read the bit about suitable in a home garage!

To be fair, it would probably work. If you used sheep instead, everything would get a good coat of lanolin as well, which may well stop it rusting again.

[DonkeyApple]

bitwrx said:

RichB said:

V8 Fettler said:

Hang tools at pig's head height above lots of pigs. A country person told me this a few decades ago.

You did read the bit about suitable in a home garage!

To be fair, it would probably work. If you used sheep instead, everything would get a good coat of lanolin as well, which may well stop it rusting again.

Either way the real upside is a lot of Sunday lunches.

[V8 Fettler]

RichB said:

V8 Fettler said:

Hang tools at pig's head height above lots of pigs. A country person told me this a few decades ago.

You did read the bit about suitable in a home garage!

The carriage of the rusty tools to wherever the pigs are located would be a good opportunity to be out and about in your Land Rover.

[Astacus]

I can very much recommend the Bilt Hamber Deox C powder. A couple of spoonfuls in a bucket of water and drop the tools in overnight. Goes faster (obvs!) if you use hot water.

[droopsnoot]

Bodo said:

DM79 said:

http://www.bilthamber.com/corrosion-protection-and...

What's in there? Citric acid?

In that case, it's going to work well - here's how it's done with citric acid:
https://youtu.be/ckdMdiJlV7c

I think it is Citric acid - it certainly looks like it, and works like it (and maybe is what the "C" denotes), it's just pricey compared to what you can get citric powder for. I've used citric and phosphoric (in the form of Milkstone Remover) to clean stuff, and I prefer Citric. Electrolytic is good but needs more set-up than just a bucket with some citric acid in. Vinegar is also supposed to be good, but leaves very smelly items at the end. I assume stuff soaked in Molasses will at least smell better.