Hi Guys!

[Mawkovin]

Hello! I would like to introduce myself but I am probably posting this in the wrong spot. I am new so please forgive me. My father and step-father have recently passed away and now I have no one to help me. I do a lot of home repair/renovation type stuff and I am a very experienced gardener. Being the "son" my father's never had, I am left with their tools. At this moment I am working on cleaning all of my step-fathers tools. He was sick for 12 years and his tools were left in a shed that eventually got wet. Everything is covered in varying degrees of rust. I want to sell the tools but I need a little help. I went to the local pawnshop and he told me I would get more for them if they are clean and organized so that is what I am trying to do. I clean them with wire brushes and SOS pads, WD-40 and/or CLR for light rust and Rustoleum Rust Remover for heavy rust. I dry them carefully and wipe them with oil. I hope I am cleaning them properly. I was very close with my "Dad's" and they helped me and taught me so much. I hope you guys can help me now that they are gone.

 

[Robinson1]

Unless they are duplicates of duplicates of duplicates or so heavily damaged they are unusable or just flat worn out I would keep them.

I went through this with a ton of woodworking tools that belonged to my grandpa. No one in the family wanted them and I kept a few but sold most of the specialty stuff that I didnt see myself ever using. Now 15 years later I'm heavily into woodworking and having to rebuy alot of things that I sold for pennies on the dollar.

If you have space. Keep them. You never know what you'll be doing 10+ years from now

 

[relicrecoveryspecialist]

Welcome to the forum my friend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OMMP]

Oh, well, maybe we did not lost him after such a welcome...

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I start by using Nevr-dull cotton wadding. Next step up is steel wool with penetrating oil, usually PB blaster but WD-40 should work.
If the rust is heavy enough to require a wire brush I use the wire wheel on my bench grinder. At that point the tools usually aren't worth spending much time on.

 

[r_olson_06]

Evaporust is the best thing I have found.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Professional Tool User]

Welcome to GJ. If your goal is to sell the tools, make sure the tools your are cleaning up are worth it resale value wise. Also, don't spend too much time and chemicals on cleaning up the tools. You are trying to recoup some money here. I would just leave the rusty tools in a tub of vinegar and come back the next day. That should get rid of most of the rust with the least amount of effort and cost.

 

[Mawkovin]

Thank you all so much for your messages. It's good to know there are people out there who are willing to help and give good advice. I really appreciate your input!

 

[urchinhead]

Vinegar works well, but Evap-O-Rust has worked even better, with no flash rust after a long soak.

It can discolor some tool steel, if that is a concern, FYI.

 

[urchinhead]

Also, I made the mistake of soaking some cast iron parts in Vinegar after it was praised as a cure-all on another forum. Vinegar will soften cast iron as it is a reactant.

Next time I will use lye.