Best way to remove this BLO mess?

[damon18]

Someone decided that after rust removal using Evaporust it would be a good idea to prevent future rust by coating the tools in Boiled Linseed Oil. Unfortunately this dumb-*** was in a hurry at the time so instead of wiping them down with a thin coating all the tools were put in plastic ziploc bags and BLO poured over them.

Then they sat like that for several months. When I finally got around to taking them out of the bag had to cut the plastic off and the BLO had turned to an indestructible jelly.

Should I soak everything in paint thinner to remove and then find a different coating? What effect has this had on the ratchet? Probably needs to be disassembled if that is even possible.

 

[thehorse13]

I've had great results using turpentine when faced with this situation.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Someone decided that after rust removal... [ ]...it would be a good idea to prevent future rust by coating the tools in Boiled Linseed Oil. Unfortunately this dumb-*** was in a hurry at the time so instead of wiping them down with a thin coating all the tools were put in plastic ziploc bags and BLO poured over them....[ ]...Then they sat like that for several months. ..[ ]...the BLO had turned to an indestructible jelly.

Those dumb-asses were in good company. US Army surplus procedures circa 1946; Sears, Roebuck warehouse procedures circa late 1940's; etc. We used gasoline when I was on active duty, but any kinds of mineral spirits, including turpentine, as Sonny suggested, will work.

 

[damon18]

I've had great results using turpentine when faced with this situation.

Those dumb-asses were in good company. US Army surplus procedures circa 1946; Sears, Roebuck warehouse procedures circa late 1940's; etc. We used gasoline when I was on active duty, but any kinds of mineral spirits, including turpentine, as Sonny suggested, will work.

HaHa, thanks thehorse13 and lugnuts, lesson learned, glad to know I didn't invent something entirely stupid. Since the parts were going into sealed bags I could have just shot some WD-40 in there to prevent flash rust but no....

 

[Leviton]

At least you are providing entertainment and a cautionary tale for the rest of us. Thanks!

 

[22george]

We all have moments like that
Live and learn

 

[mike93lx]

Good thing the plastic bag didn't melt while the BLO was drying. Not nearly the risk of a rag, but still deserves caution

 

[damon18]

Good thing the plastic bag didn't melt while the BLO was drying. Not nearly the risk of a rag, but still deserves caution

They did! The ziploc bags, BLO, and parts were fused together in a congealed mass. Had to cut the bags and chunks of BLO off to seperate them.

Now I've had everything soaking in staight paint thinner (had on hand, didn't have turpentine) for 24 hours and the BLO is still solid.

No Rust though, so it's doing it's job.

 

[rlitman]

Cured BLO is not going to dissolve in turpentine, paint thinner or gasoline. You need something that will strip oil based paint. Methylene chloride based paint strippers (with appropriate PPE) would work. Citrus based strippers are much safer, but you may get rusting.

 

[ZRX61]

Crock pot & pinesol. Simmer on low overnight.

 

[rlitman]

Crock pot & pinesol. Simmer on low overnight.

Heat will certainly help. Simple Green will break it down too, probably without that much heat, though Simple Green and heat may kill the plating.

 

[bargainhuntingking]

Crock pot & pinesol. Simmer on low overnight.

I got this 16 quart roaster from Canadian Tire for $30US; I saw the exact same version at Goodwill yesterday for $10US. It holds more than a crock pot. I bought it specifically for de-rusting tools.

Canadian Tire:

Goodwill (used):

 

[isb cornbinder]

I use my ultrasonic parts cleaner for Evaporust and parts cleaning. I have not tried gunwash in the ultrasonic bath because I am not comfortable with the product being very flammable. Simple Green in water in the ultrasonic parts bath and heat seems to work really well. The ultrasonic unit I bought is a 30 liter.
Evaporust rust removal takes 15 minutes on average for the heavy rusting. Light surface rust is gone in a few minutes.

 

[bargainhuntingking]

ISB, that ultrasonic cleaner looks amazing. Truly next level cleaning...in 15 mins! What temp do you set for Evaporust cleaning? What would happen if you let it clean for hours, say, overnight?

 

[isb cornbinder]

The tank has a thermostat and a timer. I set the temperature about 50c. Body temperature is 37.5c.
The ultrasonic cleaning used cavitation from the high frequency vibration transmitted through the liquid to remove rust or grease. Evaporust is not a grease remover. The parts should be degreased first.
the parts can be cleaned in a Simple Green/water bath to get the oil and grease off. The parts can be transferred to a ZIPLOC bag filled with Evaporust and placed in the soap and water mix. The ultrasonic cleaning action goes through the bag and still activates the Evaporust by 10 times.
I had a 6.5 liter until my friend bought it from me. The 6,5 liter was too small for some of the longer tools I wanted to clean.
The ultrasonic bubble implosions will get inside a space smaller than .001 inch.
I like to buy Crescent wrenches and Petersen Vise Grips. A clean looking tool goes into the tank and comes out with a full shine. Collected grime in the engraving cannot escape the cleaning action.
I put a surface rusted and stuck tiny Jacobs chuck in the tank for 15 minutes at 50c. I took the chuck out, blew off and out any moisture and the chuck turned like new and the original metal blue was looking good.
I do not have an after picture of the tiny chuck.

 

[damon18]

The ultrasonic cleaning action goes through the bag and still activates the Evaporust by 10 times.

Do the rusty parts come out of the ultrasonic cleaner with Evaporust clean and shiny? Or do you still have to scrub off the black residue I get from overnight soaking?

 

[bargainhuntingking]

ISB, I see, so you keep the cleaner full of a simple green water mix for cleaning/degreasing, then once clean put the tools back in a zip lock bag with Evaporust, and place them back in the simple green bath? That’s a smart way to address both the cleaning and de-rusting without having to change the tank to different solutions and also uses minimal Evaporust. Very smart!

 

[beltdrive]

how about paint brush cleaner or StripEze.

 

[drivesitfar]

Veeeeeeeery inteeeeeeeeresting!!!!!

I’m curious so watching and learning.

My gramps used to buy 55 gallon barbells of grease and lather his logging machines up in the mountains of winter and sitting around long periods of time were involved. Good stuff and not sure it ever froze but he didn’t take me up there when it was around zero degrees.

It also seemed like most things were rusty but he and his guys usually got a lot of stuff done so I guess not too rusty.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Check out the EVAPORUST You Tube videos. There are more answers than questions.
I use my first ultrasonic cleaner to super clean my BEUGLER pinstripe tool. Pinstripe brushes clean up nicely in ultrasonic. I put the Beugler and the brushes in a ZIPLOC bag with the appropriate solvent, then put the ZipLoc bag in the tank water. I can watch the dried paint residue come out of the brushes.
I thought I was a good pinstriper 60 years ago. Looking back, I have my doubts my skill level. I was pin striping my 1940 Ford when my son walked in. In a few seconds he said he could do a better job. So... I turned the job over to him. I don't know how he knew he was better, but, he is good.
For the persons who don't mind buying from a Canadian Ultrasonic seller, her is a link to the person I buy from. He ships to the USA. The USA dollar is worth about $1.50 in Canada. This is like getting a 33% discount.
https://vancouver.craigslist.org/rds/tls/d/3-ultrasonic-cleaner-with-timer-heater/6981115730.html

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