John Deere wrenches rust removal

[Joeldhammers]

Hi! I was just going through stuff with my father in law and he insisted I take these wrenches. They are two complete sets (minus one 7/16) John Deere wrench sets from 1/4 to 1-1/4. I have an odd ball Bonney 11/32 that looks exactly the same so I'm assuming that's who made them. They're lovely wrenches but several have surface rust and some rust in the box end. My question is, what is the best way to remove the rust? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[KnurledNut]

Those JD USA are highly sought after, especially sets.
If you decide to sell, they can bring a premium in the right market like eBay.

 

[Joeldhammers]

He practically wouldn't let me leave without them. I thought I would try to clean them up and sell a set on his behalf if they are worth much in not pristine condition.

 

[dukefx]

Those JD USA are highly sought after, especially sets.
If you decide to sell, they can bring a premium in the right market like eBay.

What makes them special? I'm genuinely curious. I can't tell how durable they are, I image they are, but what I can tell is that they are old school bolt rounders. I sure as hell wouldn't buy them for actual work. Are these collector items?

 

[Bubba Fett]

Evaporust. I was using white vinegar, but Evaporust is safer and won't harm the steel.

 

[hailwood1965]

John Deere. I don't know how it is on either coast but in the Midwest there are legions of collectors of old tractor stuff. I almost ran out of gas in rural Iowa last Summer and had to tour some rural roads to find fuel. Nearly every home had an antique tractor on display in the yard, has a Deer/Binder/White/etc styled mailbox and signage. It's almost a religion.

 

[KnurledNut]

I have an odd ball Bonney 11/32 that looks exactly the same so I'm assuming that's who made them.

That is correct. These wrenches can also be found as Matco. Bonney (LocRite) and Snap-on (Flank Drive) were some of the first with off corner engagement in the box end design.
Bonney made high quality wrenches. All the John Deere USA tools are in demand and it’s not uncommon for single wrenches to sell for $30+. A recent 9 pc SAE set went for $200. While having high collectible value, they still hold their own against modern brands for actual use.

 

[4xdog]

Yes, definitely Evapo-Rust. It will work beautifully on those. Easy-peasy.

 

[dukefx]

John Deere. I don't know how it is on either coast but in the Midwest there are legions of collectors of old tractor stuff. I almost ran out of gas in rural Iowa last Summer and had to tour some rural roads to find fuel. Nearly every home had an antique tractor on display in the yard, has a Deer/Binder/White/etc styled mailbox and signage. It's almost a religion.

Funny thing is I work at a dealership for agricultural machinery. We have an antique John Deere tractor in the lobby, and an antique Claas harvester and another John Deere tractor in the parking lot. Got this from google maps (the tractor covers the harvester on our parking lot photo)



This is the one in the lobby

 

[bob15]

What makes them special? I'm genuinely curious. I can't tell how durable they are, I image they are, but what I can tell is that they are old school bolt rounders. I sure as hell wouldn't buy them for actual work. Are these collector items?

You are incorrect. Those Deere wrenches and Bonney's have the first off-corner boxed end lobular wrenches ever made, followed about 2 years later with the Snap On Flank Drive (this was in the 1960's). Besides still being on par with today's wrenches (off-corner engagement & wrench strength), they are probably the most comfortable wrench to use out there. Try using them someday before saying they aren't good for actual work.

For cleaning the rust off the, try spraying some penetrating oil (Kroil works well for this) onto a thin rag and rub the rusty area; the rust will come off.

 

[dukefx]

You are incorrect. Those Deere wrenches and Bonney's have the first off-corner boxed end lobular wrenches ever made, followed about 2 years later with the Snap On Flank Drive (this was in the 1960's). Besides still being on par with today's wrenches (off-corner engagement & wrench strength), they are probably the most comfortable wrench to use out there. Try using them someday before saying they aren't good for actual work.

Lets agree to disagree, it's an early attempt at best. I also call BS on the "first ever". The nazis had better ones during WWII. They also had the rounded open end design back then. Stahlwille, Belzer, and Dowidat all manufactured them.

 

[Bockscar]

You are incorrect. Those Deere wrenches and Bonney's have the first off-corner boxed end lobular wrenches ever made, followed about 2 years later with the Snap On Flank Drive (this was in the 1960's). Besides still being on par with today's wrenches (off-corner engagement & wrench strength), they are probably the most comfortable wrench to use out there. Try using them someday before saying they aren't good for actual work.

For cleaning the rust off the, try spraying some penetrating oil (Kroil works well for this) onto a thin rag and rub the rusty area; the rust will come off.

I guess if you know how to turn a wrench those are great wrenches.....I have a set of Bonneys I use as my main standard set.....they are superb wrenches....I would have no problem using those JD wrenches ....infact I would bet that they are a pleasure to use

 

[bob15]

Lets agree to disagree, it's an early attempt at best. I also call BS on the "first ever". The nazis had better ones during WWII. They also had the rounded open end design back then. Stahlwille, Belzer, and Dowidat all manufactured them.

Early attempt.....LOL, so you call the Snappy's Flank Drive also an early attempt at best? Funny, it took until the Bonney (Kelsy-Hayes, owner of Bonney) and Snappy's patents to run out before other companies (Mac/Proto/Cornwell/Wright/SK/KD-Easco/etc) started making off-corner engagement wrenches and sockets. And Bonney was using that up until the late 1990's when Cooper shuttered them.

So where are the German WWII lobular/off-corner engagement wrenches and socket pictures? How are they better?

Rounded open end? I am kinda lost on that one......

 

[mikedodge]

I see I'm not the only one with JD tools. I've got screw drivers and some others also, not pictured.

For rust if it's light you can sometimes get it off with bunched up aluminum foil. I've used that trick for other things. Safer then steel wool and won't do damage to the finish or make it change color like rust removers can do sometimes.

 

[4xdog]

...For rust if it's light you can sometimes get it off with bunched up aluminum foil. I've used that trick for other things. Safer then steel wool and won't do damage to the finish or make it change color like rust removers can do sometimes.

Bunched-up aluminum foil and water is a terrific polish for chrome-plated stuff! I've used it on highly-visible things like the headlight bezels on my Triumph TR3 and it works perfectly. Returns slightly-stained and oxidized chrome plating to a high finish. I've not used it on "rust", but it would probably work if the corrosion is light.

 

[mikedodge]

Bunched-up aluminum foil and water is a terrific polish for chrome-plated stuff! I've used it on highly-visible things like the headlight bezels on my Triumph TR3 and it works perfectly. Returns slightly-stained and oxidized chrome plating to a high finish. I've not used it on "rust", but it would probably work if the corrosion is light.

It works on that kind of rust that you'd get in chrome. I have one car bumper with little pits that rust over time and it cleans it up well as well as wire wheels.

 

[stonesfan68]

I don’t think that I‘d put those wrenches in Evaporust. Just use the aluminum foil trick as above or use a wire wheel to brush the rust off.

 

[bonneyman]

Bunched-up aluminum foil and water is a terrific polish for chrome-plated stuff! I've used it on highly-visible things like the headlight bezels on my Triumph TR3 and it works perfectly. Returns slightly-stained and oxidized chrome plating to a high finish. I've not used it on "rust", but it would probably work if the corrosion is light.

I've seen a trick on Utube where guys clean up rusty bike handlebars with aluminum foil and they come out beautiful. I haven't been as successful in person but might be worth a try.

 

[lugnut71]

I love those wrenches, i have had severals sets on the matco name and some john deere also, As much as i like them the smaller sizes the open end spread pretty easy. But yes awesome comfortable wrenches