What would you clean these machine tools with?

[Mark914]

I got a bag of these counter sinks and stuff at a tag sale the other day for a couple dollars. light surface rust, What would you do? I have the ability to do electrolysis, vinegar, acetone and ****** fluid, phosphoric acid, wire brush on a grinder, etc ??? Thanks !

 

[Mintgrun]

I keep an electrolysis bucket set up.
I would just dangle them in there.
Then I'd rinse them with a soft wire brush, by hand.
That is one of my favorite activities.
Nice score.

 

[rsanter]

Vinegar, Evaporust, oxolic acid, citric acid
Any of these would be my choice

 

[PETE14]

For anyone who has used Evaporust - does it turn the part black at all? And if so, can that be removed easily? Just wondering. I have a couple of small things I want to de-rust and thought of using it. Thanks.

 

[PacificaVette]

No, Evaporust does not turn the part black. Make sure you have the piece as clean as possible before you immerse it in the Evaporust.

 

[dwall174]

For anyone who has used Evaporust - does it turn the part black at all? And if so, can that be removed easily?

On some types of metal it will turn them black, But the black color can be removed pretty easily with a wire-wheel.

I think it also depends on how much the Evaporust is used & how rusty the part is. I've used Evaporust over & over until it turns black it's self & stops working.

Doug

 

[Fretters]

I keep an electrolysis bucket set up.
I would just dangle them in there.
Then I'd rinse them with a soft wire brush, by hand.

Same here. Those'll come up a treat via electrolysis & a scrub with a brass bristle brush.

 

[Carla]

If I was cleaning those, as I've cleaned quite a few tools like them, I'd just remove any oil/grime with a solvent (stoddard solvent, acetone, lacquer thinner, etc.), and then use a fine-bristle wire wheel on a grinder/buffer to remove that light rust. After wire-wheel de-rusting, just wipe them down with a rag and any good preservative oil.

(fancy chemical or electrolytic de-rusting would be gross over-kill for the light rust on these tools)

cheers

Carla

 

[2oolhound]

I'm with Carla and wouldn't hassle with a chemical dip (I tend to forget them in there). I'd hand buff with a scotch brite pad or fine emery cloth. I might chuck them in a drill press and hold emery against the sides to get that heavier rust off the sides then oil. There's just one bad one and another close to bad that need a heavy wire wheel or chemicals maybe. The counter bores look in good shape.

 

[Maui]

WD-40 and hand cleaning with either a wire wheel or scotch brite pad would be my choice. Chemical cleaning is a possibility too, but as Carla suggests it is probably overkill for this particular situation. FYI oxalic acid is poisonous, and should only be used with great care by those who have had proper training. If you mishandle it you could be looking at potentially expensive medical attention.

Maui

 

[EdT]

I have had Evaporust turn hardened steel parts black and, in my experience at least, it's not easy to undo. AFA cleaning the tools you have, I would opt for the least invasive means you can find. There as some risk of ending up with nice shiny tools w/o any useful cutting edges left especially with any electrolytic process since the charge tends to concentrate at the edges and corners and, depending on the polarity and the chemistry of the bath, will either eat the edges away or build them up neither of which makes the cutting edge predictably sharper.

 

[rikmac]

I personally like the electrolysis. But if you like you can send them my way and not use your valuable time to clean them. Great find!!!

 

[bmwrd0]

Machine tools are... not delicate exactly, but not something to rough up so to speak. I would go machine oil and bronze wool.

 

[Fretters]

(fancy chemical or electrolytic de-rusting would be gross over-kill for the light rust on these tools)

Not if you have a setup constantly available/running, it isn't. Won't generate workshop mess/dust as with wire-wheeling either. Stuff like that I just drop in my basket and then dunk them in fresh water the day after & tickle them with a brass brush. Simple, and keeps all mess outside.

Not much fun at this time of year though, granted. I've had numb fingers a few times these past few weeks due to ice cold water.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Vinegar is cheap and easy. It is a lot slower than electrolysis (might take weeks instead of days).

 

[My Old Tools]

Chuck them up and use them.

 

[lilredex]

Use them, as above. Wire brush the shafts if they need it. They will clean up through use. Oil them to store between use.