Ways to clean things

[threeputt]

I have got several old vises and a few toolboxes I need cleaned to restore. How do most go about doing this? I have read here where many use sandblasting? If that works where could I buy a good sandblaster that would not break the bank. Thanks, Tom

 

[porschedude996TT]

Harbor Freight works for me.

 

[Charliekilo]

A lot depends on that "clean " means? Removing rust or removing grease or removing paint . For heavy rust I use a sand blaster. For grease and gunk I like engine cleaner. And for paint I use oven cleaner.

 

[threeputt]

Here is what I want to clean. The toolbox belonged to my brother. He was killed in 1976 in an auto accident. It has been sitting right there for 36 years. I know it is not worth much but I want to restore it and give it to his oldest son. The Vise is a Charles Parker #435. It was my Dads. I have owned it for 32 years and would just like to see if I could bring it back to life. It is not in good shape as you can see but it is old and I want to keep it. Thanks. Tom

 

[threeputt]

Sorry, that was not the Charles Parker I uploaded. Here it is. Tom

 

[ZRX61]

On vises I use plastic beads to remove paint & other ****, then glass bead to get it really clean for paint.
As you want to restore that box for your nephew, it might warrant getting a quote from a powder-coaters.... (once you have the dents knocked out & get it square again etc)

 

[Jack Olsen]

I use a wire wheel on an angle grinder for something like a vise.

 

[Outlawmws]

For vises, I use Electrolysis and then finish with a light wire wheeling.

The boxes I have repainted so far have been sanded out;wire wheeled if any heavy rust, semi final cleaning with Jasco metal etch, final clean with alcohol or naphtha, adn paint. but I also hit almost everything with a little heat (Spreader tip on a Bernz-O-Matic does fine, even sitting in the hot sun will do it...) to get any moisture out of the pores of the metal (whatever the moisture might be...)

 

[1948]

it can be done in so many ways. just some are easier than others. sandblasting is the fastest, but also if the metal is thin it can warp or burn through thin spots, you will also need to figure out what type of blasting media is right for your needs. for example, black beauty(crushed glass bead) is good for heavy rust, but will need to be sanded or wire wheeled after to smooth out. white silica(spelling) is good for a fine finish, but causes a lung disease if you arent wearing protection. soda blasting is the best way to go for a nice finish, and ease of cleanup, but it lacks the heavy punch of sand on rust. wire wheels dont do well on good paint, hard to get places or deep rust, but are great for loose paint, surface rust. sanding it with a jitterbug sander or DA sander works good, but takes a long time and can also still need hand sanding in certain places. sometimes chemical strippers can make the jobs easier too.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd put the vise in the blast cabinet and use sand on it, depending how much needed taken off, or glass bead. I have a Clarke blast cabinet that I picked up from Summit's clearance section for $75. It had a few bent corners but it's the same one every other place offers for around $200 now ( I believe)

The tool box, I'd wipe down to get all the dirt and grease off of it first and see what you have. It might go under the DA along with some hand sanding.

 

[little d]

I wonder if some good old paint striper wouldent work on the box and like someone said, powder coating.