Rusty Taps?

[bigempi69]

I have a bunch of HUGE taps and drill bits that have apparently been left outside or near moisture because they are rusty, some more than others. I was wondering what the best way to clean them would be? Haven't touched them or even wiped the loose stuff off yet but is there some kinda special sauce to use on the rust? Everything looks new and sharp except the rust.
I can use the smaller bits and taps but I don't even know what the big ones are used for or where you could buy something that big. I would imagine they are worth something to somebody, does anybody know? I don't know how big the taps are but the bit's range from 33/64 or .515 all the way to 3/4 or .750, and it's a whole set minus a couple. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[tonydanzah]

evaporust.......

 

[scott37300]

I was doing some searching on here yesterday and evaporust seems to be highly recommended by the guys on here. I'm not sure if you can get it locally or not, I've never seen it but also never really looked for it.

 

[jamesemery728]

I was doing some searching on here yesterday and evaporust seems to be highly recommended by the guys on here. I'm not sure if you can get it locally or not, I've never seen it but also never really looked for it.

Harbor Freight

 

[DavidB]

I used Evaprorust on some rusty taps I had and they came out great. I was able to pick it up at an O'Rielly Auto Parts store. If you have a wire brush you might try brushing them with that to knock any of the large chunks off. It'll make the Evaprorust work faster.

 

[Bolster]

Yes, Evaporust, but...are those salvageable, even with the rust off them? Wouldn't there be cutting problems with the taps, with all the pitting left behind?

Try it and report back...

 

[peter_x]

There was a big tap like that - a bit smaller - posted here a while back. Someone mentioned it was 1K new.

 

[Mugen AP1]

Those taps will be garbage...even with evaporust treatment. The amount of steel that the rust ate away will make the tap cut like sh*t. My $0.02.

 

[ironheadtom]

Sorry, but I agree. No offense meant at all, but honestly if those were mine I would throw them away. To the guy that mentioned 1K for a large tap, that may have been wayy back in the day, but I bought a 1 3/4 12 about a year ago (not Chinese) but a good quality tap for about 90 bucks.

 

[Packard V8]

Damned shame to ruin tooling in that manner.

Yes, a tap which has rusted and then cleaned will never cut like a new tap.

No, I wouldn't throw them away. Clean them and keep them for the time when you need to clean rust and crud out of an already tapped hole or nut. They work fine for this and save the wear and tear on new taps.

Maybe, post some photos after you've wire brushed and Evaporust-treated them.

thnx, jack vines

 

[sberry]

Even spray them with penetrating spray, will stop the action that is now there, I agree some taps wont cut like new but those big ones are usually used for clean up work by the home brew crowd.

 

[arkangel06]

Sand blast a few of them with glass beads.

 

[barney rubble]

vinegar will work

 

[ironheadtom]

Damned shame to ruin tooling in that manner.

Yes, a tap which has rusted and then cleaned will never cut like a new tap.

No, I wouldn't throw them away. Clean them and keep them for the time when you need to clean rust and crud out of an already tapped hole or nut. They work fine for this and save the wear and tear on new taps.

Maybe, post some photos after you've wire brushed and Evaporust-treated them.

thnx, jack vines

Yeah, you're right... for the couple of bucks it will cost to clean them up they'd still be great thread chasers

 

[lilredex]

Don't wire brush (or sand blast) them, best method for nondestructive rust removal is here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2098514_convert-rust-iron-electronically.html


If you are close by, I may be interested in them. Where on earth are you??

Welcome to the site!

 

[KrisM]

vinegar will work

works very well. I just soaked this socket in vinegar. Checked on it 7 days later.

 

[Aberdale]

I agree those taps aren't ever going to be like new. I would try muratic acid. It will remove the rust a bit faster than vinegar. It's cheap, and readily available. Just make sure to wear skin protection and neutralize it after you're finished by rinsing with lots of water, then sprinkle on some baking soda and rinse some more. Then dip them in a light oil.

Dale

 

[Coach James]

I think I would dilute the muriatic acid before using it. Muriatic acid is ~30% HCL and I think the solutions used for pickling are only ~20%.

No way I would throw away big taps like those. Even if I couldn't use them, I would clean them up and keep them for the "cool" factor.

Coach

 

[ZRX61]

If the big tap isn't salvagable, I'd beadblast it & add it to the collection of cool **** on the mantle above the fireplace

 

[tonydanzah]

Vinegar seems very slow compared to how fast and cheap evaporust works. On top of that you can strain it and reuse it.

 

[DavidB]

I think EvaproRust works only on the rust and not the underlying metal. Acids, including vinegar, will eat away at the underlying metal. On the plus side they work well for sharpening dull files.

 

[Brandon_K]

Another vote for Evaporust. It's magic in a bottle.

As others have mentioned, I would Evaporust them and then use them as thread chasers, not necessarily to cut new threads.

 

[bigempi69]

I haven't had time yet to clean them but thanks a lot for all the info. I'll post again when I clean them up.

 

[bigempi69]

Sorry I'm in North Carolina