Cleaning wrenches

[Tribalvision]

I had a driver quit a few Weeks back before I could fire him. I called him and asked if he wanted the toolbox he left. He said they were old and didn't want them. So a found a small diamond in the rough. All American made.

How can I clean the rust of them?

Sent from my Galaxy S2 phone

 

[gsmornot]

There are Several options like a brass wheel on a grinder but the fastest will be a bucket of white vinegar or Evaporust. Just fill the bucket/pan with enough to cover the tools and let them sit.

 

[NCCheesehead]

Vinegar and a 24-36 hour soak

 

[JASTECH]

Here are my tools started and almost done. This is a 4% vinegar soak.

 

[Tribalvision]

sounds like a plan, thanks guys....\

 

[JASTECH]

Would you like me to start a thread with all this and the end result?

 

[HaroRider]

Post here I wanna see

Is it 100% or do you still have small amounts of rust left over after the vinegar process?

 

[mitusa]

I would be careful using vinegar on wrenches with plating. If you leave them in too long, they have a tendency for the plating to start peeling. The evaporust works better for me, but it is much more expensive....about $20 for a gallon at HF.

Good luck!

 

[HandyManny]

WHY ON EARTH WOULD A GUY LEAVE TOOLS THOSE BEHIND?????????????

He must not have been very smart, that's all I can say.

 

[cmandp]

Do not let any plated tools or ones that still have their original finish sit in vinegar too long, it will remove it. You can still use it just be aware.

The big Williams adjustable I would use steel wool (four ought, thats 0000)/ motor oil for the light rust and probably wire wheel/ brush for the bad spots. On the wrenches that still have good chrome the steel wool/ motor oil trick won't scratch or harm the chrome (still, be gentle). The tin snips and two offset wrenches could probably use a vinegar soak.

After all the rust is gone I like to wipe stuff down with an oily rag.

 

[Tribalvision]

I use Diesel fuel to remove the dirt and rust from my towing and recovery chains and it works well. I think I will try that first with the steel wool...
I dont know why he would leave the tools behind. As soon as I opened them and saw what kind of tools they were, I thought he was crazy as well.

 

[TwoInch]

i actually did some old JHwilliams wrenches just like those last week. use regular vinegar. they are not plated. a couple of mine were pretty knarly, and didnt even take 24 hours. i soak them for a few hours, scrub with shop rag, rinse, soak again for a few hours, and they look damn good.

i also did some lightly rusted chromed pieces, craftsman sockets, chrome wrenches, etc... in the vinegar also. hour or two, scrub with shop rag, rinse, repeat if needed. vinegar works pretty quick with chromed stuff it seems. dont be worried about vinegar and chrome, just remember not to forget about em...

on a side note. i used the 6"buffer i found in the garbage a few weeks ago on the heads of the williams wrenches, brought them to a luster. just the sides of the heads. they look pretty bad ***.

 

[JASTECH]

Haro, I will be pulling mine out Monday. They will get rinsed good then dried and pics' will be taken and posted.