First time vinegar bath.

[Notorious BRT]

I was rummaging through the tool box on my big tractor the other day and found an adjustable wrench and a pipe wrench that a buddy of mine had left in there at least two years ago. The pipe wrench wasn't too bad, still functional. The adjustable was awful and completely frozen up.

Since they were both China's Best and the one was screwed anyway I thought I'd try out the vinegar treatment I've read so much about on GJ. I went out and bought a gallon of Heinz cleaning vinegar, which is 6% acidity and dunked them in, along with a few rusty Craftsman nut driver bits. 36 hours later I was pleasantly surprised. I only took before and after pictures of the adjustable as it was by far the worst.
Before:

After:

 

[Rookie2]

cool.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

I tried my first vinegar/salt bath earlier this week and I'm hooked. Total rust removal without scratching the finish or PITA electrolysis setup. Very cheap too.

 

[Junkyard_dog]

Looks good ! I wonder how much cleaner it would get if it was wire wheeled first.

 

[Notorious BRT]

I tried my first vinegar/salt bath earlier this week and I'm hooked. Total rust removal without scratching the finish or PITA electrolysis setup. Very cheap too.

I saw the Estwing, it turned out very nice. I didn't add any salt to mine but I might try it next time. Does the salt make it work faster?

 

[Jswain]

Looks good ! I wonder how much cleaner it would get if it was wire wheeled first.

If you wire wheel it afterwards it usually turns out as good as it could. It usually leaves a black scale where the rust was so you need to wire wheel it after anyways.

 

[Junkyard_dog]

I saw the Estwing, it turned out very nice. I didn't add any salt to mine but I might try it next time. Does the salt make it work faster?

O ok, so its better to give the tool a bath and then wire wheel it ?

 

[Notorious BRT]

Looks good ! I wonder how much cleaner it would get if it was wire wheeled first.

I specifically didn't put it on the wheel just so I could see what it would do with heavy scale. What you see is what it looked like after I pulled it out, washed it with Joy detergent and a nylon scrub brush and hit it with some spray lube. The only thing left is a bit of the black coating and the pitting from the rust.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yeah, I vote for WW after Vinegar.

I've never tried adding salt either. I should try a pair of test pieces both ways....

 

[justme-]

I've never done tools in vinegar bath, but I use it with salt for wire/terminal cleaning followed by a baking soda/water soak to neutralize with very good results.

 

[ArtDeco]

I never use salt - and I learned not to cover the container tight (messy)

 

[jmlcolorado]

Tried my first bath on a tank that looked as bad at that adjustable wrench

5 gallons and 3 days later and the inside of the tank looked just as good. And no more plugged carbs. Carbs were fully rebuilt of course.

 

[KamiCrit]

Salt and vinegar? You guys making potato chips?

 

[IFMJohn]

Salt and vinegar? You guys making potato chips?

Hahahaha. That was gold.

 

[stage20]

regular white vinegar?

 

[Notorious BRT]

regular white vinegar?

I used the Heinz white cleaning vinegar, the only difference is the regular white vinegar is 5% acidity, the cleaning is 6%.

 

[SweetD]

I used the Heinz white cleaning vinegar, the only difference is the regular white vinegar is 5% acidity, the cleaning is 6%.

Is the Heinz white cleaning vinegar readily available? Would it be in the store near the laundry detergent or something? Or just near the other "regular" white vinegar?

Thanks -

Dave

 

[Notorious BRT]

Is the Heinz white cleaning vinegar readily available? Would it be in the store near the laundry detergent or something? Or just near the other "regular" white vinegar?

Thanks -

Dave

I bought it at Walmart in the bulk aisle, it was there with all the rest of the the vinegar. Don't go out of your way to get it, I just grabbed it because it was there. Regular vinegar would've done fine as well. Honestly, the smartest thing to do is by the cheapest you can find.

 

[Danglerb]

I hate WW, every time I see a tool somebody has destroyed with a wire wheel I make a point to look it over and shake my head and tell the seller I would have bought it except for this wire wheel treatment.