Bringing home vintage tools

[cm_osu]

I was just curious what everybody's process was for getting old tools cleaned up and ready to work. I have several tools of my grandpa's with a few decades of grease and rust build up. What is your process/products for removing grease and rust build up from old tools and what do you coat them with after to preserve them?

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

In order...soak'em in lacquer thinner, soak'em in Evaporust, rub them down with Butcher's floor wax.

 

[jakemac]

Degrease - Soak in Simple Green and scrub with a nylon brush if needed.

Rust - It depends on the coating and the intended results
_______If cleaning rust off of chrome, I use CLR
_______If cleaning rust off of bare metal to paint, I use EvapoRust.
_______If cleaning rust off of bare metal to leave a patina, I just use a fine wire wheel.

Rust Prevention - If I'm not painting, I wipe the tool with a thin coat of PB Blaster. My Blacksmith tools always got a coat of Boiled Linseed Oil. Machine tables get a coat of Paste Wax and a good buffing. I also keep a dehumidifier running in my shop to help keep the humidity under control.

 

[tiggi]

I try to stay away from chemicals as much as possible. For rust removal I use electrolysis, it's free and safe. Also lots of wire brushing. Softer brushes when I want to preserve the paint or heavier ones when stripping to bare metal. This process also removes all the grease and dirt.
Here is an example using electrolysis and soft wire brush.
This is what I started with

Left half is showing paint already after 4 hours in the electrolysis tank

Here it is after the soft wire wheel and cup.