Clean surface rust off tools

[joseywales]

Well, my vacation is almost over and I’m thinking of starting the tool cleanup. I have nearly all of my tools in tool boxes in my garage. No ventilation, etc., they’d been fine but some of the rubber grips would get moldy at times and I had too much going on to set up a dehumidifier, but did place crystals in each drawer and that seemed to work fairly well.

When we replaced our home HVAC, we spur of the moment hung a ventless gas heater in the garage, to knock the chill out and used it sparingly. I’m not certain, but believe the heater might have caused enough condensation that some of the chisels, hammers, etc., developed surface rust. Some of these are high quality and I’d like to clean them up.

Is it s simple as a super fine sand paper and spray them with WD? If there a better process, as I’m not thrilled about using sand paper.

 

[SAA44-40]

I have had excellent results with the German made Sandblock. I picked up a pack on Amazon for about $15. I really like them.

“Fooled em again Josey”

 

[Dibiase77]

I usually use a fine green pad with some wd-40. I have good results with it. Considering I buy all of my tools at estate and garage sales I am cleaning surface rust off of tools on a daily basis. That's just me though.

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[u118224]

Wire wheel on the bench grinder works well for me. On impact sockets I just wipe them with an oily rag and put a light oil film on them.

 

[Wamsutta]

3M Scotch Brite hand pad in the maroon color. Works super fast at removing surface rust on pliers, hammers, and chisels.

 

[joseywales]

3M Scotch Brite hand pad in the maroon color. Works super fast at removing surface rust on pliers, hammers, and chisels.

Thanks. I have those in my bench. I’ll check when I get home to see if I have burgundy. Just clean me up and spray with WD? Anything better, less odorous perhaps?

I also have Kroil, so s nice citrusy smell!

 

[dar24601]

for Light surface rust a soak in distilled vinegar and fine steel wool does the trick for me

 

[seber]

Scotchbrite is first if it works. Select the grade on how bad the rust is. I would, however look for something better than WD40 if you plan to leave them more than a month or two. Short term it works very well but after it evaporates you are left with almost no protection. The basic rust inhibitor in WD40 is mineral oil but it has only a tiny amount. Baby oil is essentially 100% mineral oil. It contains no detergents or solvents like motor oil that cause other problems in your box. Walmart near me carries unscented if it matters.

 

[astroracer]

Eastwood Fast Etch... Check out this thread.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422299

 

[measuredtwice]

If it's really light, just wipe it down with WD-40 and then put a paste wax on them for long term storage. That won't make them shiny but they don't need to be.

A gallon of Evapo-Rust will do the work for you. It's quick but a gallon costs around $18. Molasses is cheap and works the same way but it's much slower (slow as molasses ). There's also electrolysis. The tool needs to be completely immersed for all of three of these methods. So remove the wood handles from the chisels. There are likely Youtube videos of all these techniques.

If you use abrasives, go light. 000 steel wool should knock off light rust.

 

[Terracar]

Just clean me up and spray with WD? Anything better, less odorous perhaps?

Oddly, I am toying with the idea of PAM. Yes the non stick cooking spray over WD40. It works better than WD on door hinges. Bathroom door would squeak every month when sprayed with WD. 3+ years after spraying with Pam, still no squeak.

I imagine it would have the same water shedding capability.

 

[measuredtwice]

Scotchbrite is first if it works. Select the grade on how bad the rust is. I would, however look for something better than WD40 if you plan to leave them more than a month or two. Short term it works very well but after it evaporates you are left with almost no protection. The basic rust inhibitor in WD40 is mineral oil but it has only a tiny amount. Baby oil is essentially 100% mineral oil. It contains no detergents or solvents like motor oil that cause other problems in your box. Walmart near me carries unscented if it matters.

I also like mineral oil. I just buy it straight. It's in the laxative section of Walmart and Walgreens. Use self checkout and nobody will see.

But as you say, baby oil is the same with fragrance (unless unscented).

 

[Mick56]

Sockets I spin with an impact, and steel wool them while spinning.

 

[AS556]

Wire wheel on bench grinder

 

[SGKent]

wire wheel, spray with WD40 when done. Wipe with an old towel or diaper. Wear safety glasses and an old shirt. The ventless heater added moisture to the garage.

 

[DieselNut88]

Vinegar and table salt. Works fast and wont remove paint.

 

[joseywales]

Oddly, I am toying with the idea of PAM. Yes the non stick cooking spray over WD40. It works better than WD on door hinges. Bathroom door would squeak every month when sprayed with WD. 3+ years after spraying with Pam, still no squeak.

I imagine it would have the same water shedding capability.

Oddly, I always have PAM in the garage. I spray down the snow blower bucket, shute, and auger prior to each use, especially with heavy wet snow. PAM keeps the wet snow from sticking. Years ago commercial plow drivers would put motor oil on their plow for the same reason.

I'll look at each of these ideas above. I recall finding a decent set of wood drill bits that also got the rust pretty badly. I actually have 0000 wool, so might even give that a go on some of these items. I would prefer not to immerse the handles of some of these tools in any liquid. Funny, because I've removed circuit boards from HAM radios and simply submersed the entire board into a solution of water and dish soap. It does a great job of cleaning the components and getting nicotine off them. Just have to be certain it's dry before you plug it back in!

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Vinegar and table salt. Works fast and wont remove paint.

Table salt??
Had never heard that. But grocery store vinegar is what I use.

 

[joseywales]

Table salt??
Had never heard that. But grocery store vinegar is what I use.

I can assume there's a reaction with the salt and vinegar. I've used backing soda and vinegar, other than to make a volcano for the kid's school projects, it creates a reaction, kinda like denture clean. Not sure what salt does.

 

[ZRX61]

Before ya get stuck in with the Scotchbrite, try #0000 steel wool. It won't scratch the finish like Scotchbrite

 

[alcorelli]

Oxalic Acid .
"Wood bleach" at a real hardware store.

Immerse awhile and, Voila!

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[M_George]

For surface rust, I just use 0000 steel wool soaked with WD40.
Then a little paste wax will keep them nice for a long time.

 

[TXpintail]

Check out CorrosionX. Spray it on a rag and wipe them down. Houston is very hot/humid and it works better than anything else I’ve tried. Even works on tools exposed to salt water spray.

 

[Danglerb]

Ugh, I hate using abrasive rust removal. Vinegar, evaporust, mostly I clean with dawn, rinse well with hot water, WD40 and a rag for the final.

 

[Dibiase77]

Before ya get stuck in with the Scotchbrite, try #0000 steel wool. It won't scratch the finish like Scotchbrite

I'm going to try that today. Thank you.

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[Elsinore13]

Red scotch brite is 400 grit, gray is 600. Evaporust is great but I have noticed it will remove the black oxide coating from some tools. Depending on how trashed some of my estate sale or used tool finds are I will occasionally throw some in the blasting cabinet with a fine glass bead. Quickly knocks off any rust including pitted rust and leaves a nice satin finish, almost polished. Keep them lightly oiled after that.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

If you are storing, Fluid Film is the best. You want lanolin with out getting a herd of sheep.. I've heard WD-40 is kerosene and paraffin. For the hand saws I use maroon Scotchbrite and WD-40 as lubricate/wash. It tends to be hard on the etch, though. I shy away from acid when cleaning, such vinegar or lemon juice. Sometimes I'll use Evaporust on hand planes, it works. But I can see where black oxide would be cleaned off, it's rust finish. I have a big Record wood vise that's going to get electrocuted, it's the only way I can see to clean it.

 

[seber]

The salt is used to give a head start to the next corrosion cycle.

 

[Samuel D]

Do any of you use Duck Oil on tools to prevent rust in the first place? I’ve heard it recommended but haven’t tried it … yet.

 

[TXpintail]

I used to duck hunt in the salt marsh with a Remington SP10. Even with a fresh rubdown of rem oil or CLP that thing would be orange within 15 minutes.

A buddy that works offshore told me about corrosionx. I never saw rust on that shotgun again, not even in the worst of conditions.

It works guys.