What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vinegar?

[RiseAbove]

What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vinegar?

I've been using Evapo-Rust lately for removing rust on chrome tools with good results, but I recently soaked a pair of Utica pliers in the Evapo-Rust and they came out with a dark blue, almost black finish. Firstly, what can be done to take away the dark blue/black finish and get them back to the factory finish...would wire brush/wheel/wool work? And secondly, which metals/finishes react badly to chemical cleaning such as Evapo-Rust, Vinegar etc so i know for next time?

 

[Shiftless]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I just recently started using Evaporust. To remove the blackish residue, I have had success using a stiff brush under running warm water to rinse it off. Dry thoroughly with compressed air and maybe even a heat gun.

But it’s important to then apply some rust preventative. I like boiled linseed oil or Fluid Film.

 

[RiseAbove]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I just recently started using Evaporust. To remove the blackish residue, I have had success using a stiff brush under running warm water to rinse it off.

It seems to be a great product. How long do you usually leave the tool/s in the Evapo-Rust?

 

[Shiftless]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

It seems to be a great product. How long do you usually leave the tool/s in the Evapo-Rust?

Usually overnight. But one of the many advantages of Evaporust is that is doesn’t attack clean metal. So if you forget and leave stuff in for a week, it doesn’t hurt. Muriatic acid and vinegar are much less expensive but you have to constantly check on the rust removal process so you don’t pit the metal.

Here is a vintage wrench that is currently soaking in Evaporust down in the garage.
Because of the heavy rust, I can’t read any markings but based on the shape, I think it’s a Coe’s.

 

[d42jeep]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I made the mistake of using evaporust on a rusty feeler gauge with black markings on the blades. The rust was removed but unfortunately so were the black size markings. Other than that, I’ve had great results with evaporust. I’ve got a bunch of items from yesterday’s flea soaking right now. Overnight seems to work well. The dark residue usually comes off with a hand wire brush or fine steel wool.
-Don

 

[Stuart in MN]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I use a piece of Scotchbrite to clean off the black residue.

 

[notlob]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Evaporust will remove black oxide finishes and the color form color case hardened items.

Vinegar will dissolve the entire tool if left long enough.

 

[Shiftless]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Here are before and after close ups of that wrench I mentioned a couple of postings up. (#4)
I thought it might be a Coes. Turns out to be a Pexto. (Peck, Stow, and Wilcox) Not a wooden handle model... all steel.
The Evaporust removed the iron oxide from the tiniest crevices. The stamped in “Pexto” is as clear as can be. The adjusting screw used to barely turn and now spins easily with the edge of your thumb.

The shininess is from a fresh coat of boiled linseed oil. After a while the steel will darken and the gloss will fade.
As you can see, the original finish was not abraded away as should have happened with sanding, wire wheeling, or media blasting.

After a 24 hour soaking, I cleaned away the black residue with a brass bristle brush under warm running water. Wipe dry, heat over a gas flame, and apply boiled linseed oil.

Make sure to completely immerse your item to be cleaned in the Evaporust. Don’t let half of it stick out and figure you’ll do the other half tomorrow. The solution will leave a permanent line at the surface level.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Firstly, what can be done to take away the dark blue/black finish and get them back to the factory finish...would wire brush/wheel/wool work?

as mentioned, light scrubbing removes the evaporust gunk, but it already removed the factory finish, so that wont be coming back.
I've had problems with cad finish too.

 

[2oolhound]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I had some Hazet wrenches with some rust on them. They were about 50 years old and had been near the sea air for their life so they had a tarnished rust appearance. I left them in evaporust over night and the following day the evaporust ate into the rust where the chrome was scratched off and then it worked it's way under the chrome so most the chrome flaked off near where ever there was a break in the chrome. I ended up removing all the rest of the chrome which has turned out ok as they get regular use and haven't rusted again (5 years now). You have to keep an eye on it and be careful with certain tools.

 

[fang123]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I think I read somewhere to use baking soda for the black coloring left on chrome from evapo rust.

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I have been experiencing the same blackening of certain tools when using Evaporust. Chrome tools do not have this problem in my experience with the exception of the detent ball on a breaker bar for example. I normally hit the tool with a wire brush to remove the blackening and it works well. I’m glad you brought this up as I was going to start a thread about this very soon.

 

[HomeOwners Garage]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

I would say any acid based product including vinegar would strip, at least a little if not a lot, Cadmium plating or zinc plating. If you think something might be Cadmium plated, you can rub it on your skin and it will leave a black mark on your skin. If you see the tool or fasteners fizzing in a acid solution and they were plated, they are stripping. Chrome and nickel will not strip in regular or weaker acid solutions like vinegar or other.



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[Plombob]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Do not put Cadmium coated tools in Evaporust. It will take some of the Cadmium off, and make a mess of the Evaporust too.

Evaporust will remove paint, even if it is only suspended over the solution and not covered by it.

The black coating is easily removed with a soft wire brush or Scotchbrite pad.

Filter the Evaporust as large rust particles will be found in the bottom of the container.

 

[RiseAbove]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Do not put Cadmium coated tools in Evaporust. It will take some of the Cadmium off, and make a mess of the Evaporust too.

Evaporust will remove paint, even if it is only suspended over the solution and not covered by it.

The black coating is easily removed with a soft wire brush or Scotchbrite pad.

Filter the Evaporust as large rust particles will be found in the bottom of the container.

I've heard of someone filtering Evaporust using a speaker magnet on the bottom of the bucket/tray. I also saw the folks at Evaporust post something about it working better when warmed up a little. Gonna try both ideas myself.

 

[Vpross]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Pretty much any rust remover will oxidize the base metal if left on too long. Any that I have used say to apply only to rusted areas


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[Jazz1]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Vinegar will remove zinc finish. If in doubt soak your nuts in vinegar

 

[DenisG]

Re: What Tool Finishes Can Be Damaged By Chemical Cleaning Such As Evapo-Rust & Vineg

Platings found on hand tools:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366541