Best way to clean up this anvil

[Ran58]

The pics below are of an anvil that belonged to my grandfather. He was a mechanic and I have memories of this anvil when I played around in his shop when I was 6 or 7 years old and I am now 67 years old. I estimate this anvil could be 100 years old. It is secured to an old tree stump. My uncle gave it to me about two weeks before he passed away.

I would like to clean it up and get all the rust off of it. I would prefer not to have to remove it from the stump. Can someone tell me the best way to approach this. I got some great advise from you guys about how to clean up some of my grandfathers rusty tools. For most of them I went the electrolysis route followed by Fluidfilm. Obviously, can’t do electrolysis here with the anvil. So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how to approach this? thanks

 

[rsanter]

Knotted wire wheel

 

[Buckeye93]

I have sanded a lot of rusty metal using these purple disks on an angle grinder. For sale on Amazon.

10Pack Strip Disc Stripping Wheel, Purple Wire Strip Disc Wheel for Angle Grinder, Paint Strips Grinder Discs for Clean and Remove Paint, Rust Welds, Oxidation，4-1/2'' x 7/8'': Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

10Pack Strip Disc Stripping Wheel, Purple Wire Strip Disc Wheel for Angle Grinder, Paint Strips Grinder Discs for Clean and Remove Paint, Rust Welds, Oxidation，4-1/2'' x 7/8'': Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

 

[John T]

Why can't you use Electrolysis?

Carefully remove it from the stump, Use whatever size bucket/container will hold it.

No way in Hell I would use a wire wheel of flap disk on that... NO way.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a beaut!

You know you're going to get a range of opinions and perspectives, right? There are guys who would not hesitate to take a wire wheel to it and others wouldn't dare go any harder than penetrating oil and a stiff brass or stainless steel brush.

Only you can decide what's "best."

Much depends on what kind of final appearance you want.

If you want to clean it up, remove rust (hematite) and retard further rust, but preserve its age (leaving a layer of magnetite), you can do that lightly and carefully. It will be a dark, ruddy color. It will not look new.

If you want to strip everything down to shiny steel, you can do that with wire wheels and flap discs. The layer that will be the new surface layer was never exposed in your grandfather's lifetime.

 

[FTG-05]

Why can't you use Electrolysis?

Carefully remove it from the stump, Use whatever size bucket/container will hold it.

No way in Hell I would use a wire wheel of flap disk on that... NO way.

Been there, done that: Well worth it.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Corrosion-X, let it set overnight, knotted wire wheel followed by sandblaster

Dad's old vise I re-did.

 

[QUIKSVT]

Naval jelly.

 

[larry_g]

Why can't you use Electrolysis?



No way in Hell I would use a wire wheel of flap disk on that... NO way.

Is there any way that you can suspend it upside down in a vat for electrolysis or in vinegar? I'm not sure if either process would affect the wood stump, maybe others can address that.

I agree with John that a wire wheel is the wrong tool. It's obvious to me any tool that has been wire wheeled and it just looks wrong to me.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[RTM]

There is an Evaporust Gel, which can work outside of a car.

 

[txvwnut]

For leaving it on the stump soak some rags in Evaporust, wrap the rags around the anvil followed by some cellophane wrap or pallet wrap and let sit for a day. Remove wrapping then hit with a wire wheel on a drill or grinder.

 

[leg17]

Those "coleslaw" anvils are pretty well thought of.
Very cool.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those "coleslaw" anvils are pretty well thought of.

Still being made, I think.

Kohlswa Sweden Anvils

www.kohlswasweden.com