Clean rust or crud off ratchet

[Ralf11]

This can be scraped or sanded but solvents don't seem to work on it.


I'm trying to figure out the best way to get rid of it (without damaging the chrome on the ratchet handle).

 

[alcorelli]

Oxalic acid.
Sometimes called Wood Bleach.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[measuredtwice]

Chrome can't rust but it can occur on the underlying steel through microscopic holes and imperfections in the chrome or where there is damage to the chrome. Difficult to tell from just a photo but there might already be some damage to the chrome. And there might be pitting.

Evaporust would work. Just take out the innards and put immerse the whole body of the ratchet. Evaporust is expensive but there are often deals. I know some deals have been posted on GJ in the past.

000 steel wool would probably make quick work of it.

 

[ForrestT]

Brake Parts Cleaner? That what is tray first.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Ralf11]

I should have listed what I tried in the OP - so far I've tried:

000 steel wool - did NOT make quick work of it

Wurth Rost-off - made it nice and slick

brake cleaner, CRC red can - unh, uh

sanding sponge - works slowly while scratching the chrome

knife blade - I can get it off a bit, it comes off as dust

maybe I should try vinegar?

Oxalic acid? is that for rust? I'm not sure this is rust...

 

[CGarage]

Try Eezox.....it’s a great surface rust remover.

 

[jpaw]

Soft bristled wire wheel at high speed may work.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Soft bristled wire wheel at high speed may work.

This is what I do with old tools like that. Cleans the exposed steel and actually polishes the chrome a bit.

 

[Ralf11]

I'll check on my Dremel bits after I see how a vinegar soak overnight works.

I did get the rust or crud or whatever it is nice and smooth....

 

[sparky 1971]

I used a wire brush with brass bristles to clean the rust off an old SK that was worse than that. It worked pretty well. I didn't care about the chrome, but I don't think the brush hurt it in anyway.

 

[Shiftless]

Another vote for Evaporust

 

[Shiftless]

Another vote for Evaporust

I use hot Simple Green for grease and dirt removal first.

 

[DadsTools]

This can be scraped or sanded but solvents don't seem to work on it.


I'm trying to figure out the best way to get rid of it (without damaging the chrome on the ratchet handle).

I handle a lot of used tools. The photo looks like the side of the head that gets a "rash" from rubbing on tool trays, or often enough, rubbing on the concrete shop floor during a repair job.

Your photo is sufficiently close-up to see the details. The chrome is already gone. That's why you have black and rusty colors. If the chrome was still on that spot, it wouldn't look like that. You can also see the pitting. Evaporust will remove the packed rust inside the holes so you will really see the pitting!

The best thing you can do is sand and polish the spot, although you may need to take some metal off to get down to the bottom of that pitting, but that may be a waste of time and just make it look bad in a different way. There are a number of available tool bits for a dremel that will do the job well enough. Then just keep it clean and oiled.

 

[Shiftless]

Dad’s Tools is right. Evaporust will remove the rust and convert it to a black compound that can be easily rinsed away. But to make the tool shiny agin, you’ll have to sand away residual chrome through the pitted area and then polish the bare steel. After removing chrome and polishing, the steel will rust. So you’ll have to coat it with something. I use Fluid Film or sometimes carnuba paste wax.

You have to be pretty dedicated to do that much work.

 

[Ralf11]

Thx - I'm not that dedicated, but it keeps me busy during the pandemic. I've got another 1/2" Snappy like this one but older - 1940s. I hardly use either one and almost always pick up a longer ratchet.

I'll see how it looks after the vinegar bath.

 

[seber]

Vinegar is just as effective as Evaporust but it generally takes two days.

 

[Davefr]

Once you get the rust removed try rubbing that area with aluminum foil. The old timers use to do this on chrome bumpers and it actually disguises some of the rust pitting. I think some aluminum actually get's deposited into the pits and bare metal.

 

[Ralf11]

Thanks! Here is the after vinegar and Al foil - the foil worked surprisingly well. I hosed it down with Gibbs too.