Remove rust with vinegar

[Old tool guy]

I know some folks use vinegar rather than rust remover. I want to try that on an old pipe wrench. Do you use the vinegar straight, or diluted? And how long do you leave the tool in the vinegar?

 

[whateg01]

Straight and until you decide to take it out. It varies.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Depends on how rusty. I usually go a day and rinse to see. Goes back in if needed. Full strength 5%. There is industrial strength but the home canning stuff is good enough for me.

 

[bluedog225]

I forget why but I read to add salt.

And it (vinegar) comes in any concentration you want if impatient. Up to pretty strong acid (45%) on amazon.

Also, rinse with water/baking soda to neutralize inside areas.

I’ve heard good things about molasses also.

 

[jabberwoki]

I first clean the tool with gas or super clean to remove any oil.
Then soak in a blend of vinegar and salt at a 1 gal vinegar to 1 cup of salt ratio.
After a day or two rinse and brush the part under the tap.
Then i soak in bicarb and water for a bit to neutralize any remaining acid.
Rinse again and heat up in the oven or a heat gun.

 

[crguy]

Never use vinegar on an old tool with collectible value, unless you want to devalue it.

 

[Old tool guy]

Never use vinegar on an old tool with collectible value, unless you want to devalue it.

It’s this pipe wrench. It was badly rusted and packed with dirt, i suspect it had been buried at one time. I cleaned it with a pressure washer to remove all the dirt, and then worked at it with pb blaster. The adjusting collar turns about 1/4 turn, but the movable head is stuck. It tilts back and forth a little, but is jammed with … rust i suppose. My goal is to make it usable, not full restoration.

 

[pcrov]

I typically used distilled white vinegar straight or 1:1 with water if I needed to fill a larger volume to cover. Leave it overnight or until I remember it, wire brush, rinse, repeat. Now I use the homemade rust remover from https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/inexpensive-alternative-to-evaporust.536692/

1 liter water
100 grams citric acid
Pick one of:

• 40 grams sodium carbonate (aka washing soda)
• 63 grams sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda)
• 30 grams sodium hydroxide (aka caustic soda or lye)

And a healthy squeeze of dish soap

Super cheap and easy to make, more effective than vinegar, and gentler on the parent metal.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve used vinegar and I’ve used Evaporust. I would never go back to vinegar no matter how inexpensive it is. No matter what you end up using, I suggest not submerging the wooden handle.
-Don

 

[thehorse13]

Vinegar is not an ideal choice. There are several other cheaper and better alternatives out there. I'd explore those and leave the vinegar in the kitchen.

 

[PCustoms]

Vinegar is not an ideal choice. There are several other cheaper and better alternatives out there. I'd explore those and leave the vinegar in the kitchen.

Such a?

 

[thehorse13]

Such a?

This for one:

Inexpensive alternative to evaporust

Pretty amazing results. Figured you guys would find this useful.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Old tool guy]

, I suggest not submerging the wooden handle.

Goes without saying. I was going to suspend it vertically only deep enough to clean the head part, not even the adjusting collar. And really not long enough to clean off all the rust, just long enough to be able to get it to move.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Farmer J.]

Vinegar will remove the rust, but the problem is that it removes some of the tool too! Also, you never know how much it will remove until it's too late..
I've not used it since I invested in a can of Evaporust.

 

[Leviton]

Goes without saying. I was going to suspend it vertically only deep enough to clean the head part, not even the adjusting collar. And really not long enough to clean off all the rust, just long enough to be able to get it to move.

Thanks for all the help.

Be aware that you could end up with a permanent etch line on your steel at the air/solution interface.

 

[Old tool guy]

24 hrs and some tapping with a hammer. Rinsed in water and soda, ready for additional cleaning.