cgv69
Well-known member
I don't know about you guys but rust is a constant battle with the tools in my shop, especially this time of year with all the humidity. Despite my best efforts sometimes my tools develop rust before I catch it.
Now I have tried just about every method of rust removal including chemical (Naval Jelly), wire wheels, WD-40 and green scotch bright pads, etc. but I recently become aware of another method that may be old news to some of you but it is my new favorite... distilled white vinegar. I have used this now on over a dozen tools with excellent results.
Basically all you do is soak the tool in the clean distilled white vinegar which can be found very cheap by the gallon in places like Wallyworld. For tools with light rust or crud, 30-45 minutes is long enough. I'll let tools with heavy rust or crud soak for a couple of hours. Once you pull it out I go over it with a brass brush to remove any remaining crud. Whatever is left over generally comes off very easy and I spend less then a minute or 2 with the brass brush before wiping it off and applying some type of rust preventative (Lately I've been trying Eezox).
As an example, here is one of my rustiest tools, my old Estwing hammer that has not be cared for in the least and has spent more then one night out in the yard in the grass or back of the truck. I soaked this thing for maybe 3 hours and the put the brass brush to it. The pics speak for themselves I think...
Not only is this quick and easier then anything else I've tried but as an added bonus, it's less destructive too. No metal is removed and even factory paint and marking may be unharmed. Hard to tell from these pics but the hammer above has factory paint under and in between the claw area. The Vinegar removed the rust and crud but left whatever paint remained intact behind. Same thing for laser engravings if you don't go crazy with the brass brush. Try that with a wire wheel or scotchbright pad.
Only 1 potential caveat, I have purposely not let any of the plastic handles soak in the Vinegar. It may not matter but I'm not sure if it will have any negative affect on the plastic or whatever is used to bond it to the metal and haven't felt like testing it to find out. It may be a non issue but I don;'t know?
That said, this is far and way the easiest and best method I've tried for de-rusting old tools. Just thought I'd share it.
Now I have tried just about every method of rust removal including chemical (Naval Jelly), wire wheels, WD-40 and green scotch bright pads, etc. but I recently become aware of another method that may be old news to some of you but it is my new favorite... distilled white vinegar. I have used this now on over a dozen tools with excellent results.
Basically all you do is soak the tool in the clean distilled white vinegar which can be found very cheap by the gallon in places like Wallyworld. For tools with light rust or crud, 30-45 minutes is long enough. I'll let tools with heavy rust or crud soak for a couple of hours. Once you pull it out I go over it with a brass brush to remove any remaining crud. Whatever is left over generally comes off very easy and I spend less then a minute or 2 with the brass brush before wiping it off and applying some type of rust preventative (Lately I've been trying Eezox).
As an example, here is one of my rustiest tools, my old Estwing hammer that has not be cared for in the least and has spent more then one night out in the yard in the grass or back of the truck. I soaked this thing for maybe 3 hours and the put the brass brush to it. The pics speak for themselves I think...
Not only is this quick and easier then anything else I've tried but as an added bonus, it's less destructive too. No metal is removed and even factory paint and marking may be unharmed. Hard to tell from these pics but the hammer above has factory paint under and in between the claw area. The Vinegar removed the rust and crud but left whatever paint remained intact behind. Same thing for laser engravings if you don't go crazy with the brass brush. Try that with a wire wheel or scotchbright pad.
Only 1 potential caveat, I have purposely not let any of the plastic handles soak in the Vinegar. It may not matter but I'm not sure if it will have any negative affect on the plastic or whatever is used to bond it to the metal and haven't felt like testing it to find out. It may be a non issue but I don;'t know?
That said, this is far and way the easiest and best method I've tried for de-rusting old tools. Just thought I'd share it.
