Wrench-shaped rust

[mriddell]

Been cleaning up some of my tools this week, so while digging around in the old man's barn today I asked Pops if he had anything old and cool that could use a cleaning. My dad the joker hands me this prize.

Worth trying to clean it up or should I stick it back on the nail it came from? It is cool but I don't know what's left under there.

 

[jakemac]

Clean it up, just to poke the old man.
Just drop it in a tub of vinegar and forget about it for a week. Repeat as needed. When it's done you can neutralize the vinegar with a quick bath in water and then give it a touch with a wire wheel to pretty it up. At Thanksgiving you can hand it back to him and tell him "Here's your wrench back".

 

[PelicanPines]

Hell yea... you sooo need to clean that and give it back to him and ask for another.

 

[MarkG]

Depends how much work you're willing to go to for a joke! Working with rust is bad enough on things that I actually can USE. I think what's under there, is more rust.

Also----it would depend if he actually expects you to 'resurrect' this thing. It's hard to tell on a forum and not knowing the people involved, context, expectations, etc.

If you're just wanting to drag out a joke, you might just spray paint it silver and write 'Snap On' on the handle. You could even include a humorous 'certificate of authenticity'

 

[jabberwoki]

If your really keen brass weld up the pits, polish it up close to finish then drop it of to the local chrome shop. They`ll do the final polish and chrome it. Then give it back to the old man with your best smart **** look on your face and get the last laugh.

 

[woody 73]

Heck yes only drop it of to a machine shop and have them just skim off the top and bottom then hand it back to pops for a priceless last laugh.

 

[BMack37]

If you do please update with pics of the progress!

 

[kimokalihi]

Head over to AutoZone or harbor freight and get yourself a bottle of evapo-rust. Let it sit in a container of that stuff for a week. Check it daily and wire brush it and the rust should come right off. That stuff works wonders. Way better than vinegar. And it's non-toxic and reuseable and non-acidic.

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[scissorman]

Muriatic acid will remove ALL the rust (and maybe more, lol).

 

[BlueBomber]

Might be just the excuse you need to build an electrolysis bath...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237752

 

[n8n]

^this. Electrolysis takes almost no effort once you get the tank set up. I just saw some Malibu 12V power supply/timers at my local salvage place for $16 apiece...

 

[kimokalihi]

Might be just the excuse you need to build an electrolysis bath...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237752

I built one myself. Works well but the evaporust is easier and I think it works better.

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[mriddell]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

The electrolysis bath was considered but I've got too much going on right now to get to it (designing a new rod building station, working on several leather-stacked handles, and prep for hunting season). In to the vinegar for a few days and then maybe a trip to get some evaporust. Pic update next week.

 

[---]

Subscribed!

 

[Two Speed]

You need to find one of those small bicycle repair kit stamped steel wrenches with the same pattern to hand back to your dad. "I think I finally got all the rust off it!" =-)

Alex.

 

[disston]

That wrench will not be the same size it once was once the rust is removed. It's not a project I would spend anytime on. A stamped wrench such as this was a cheap tool in it's day and not worth much now, if anything.

You asked for rust he gave you the biggest piece of rust he had. End of joke in my book.

 

[kimokalihi]

That wrench will not be the same size it once was once the rust is removed. It's not a project I would spend anytime on. A stamped wrench such as this was a cheap tool in it's day and not worth much now, if anything.

You asked for rust he gave you the biggest piece of rust he had. End of joke in my book.

I'm sure the OP knows the wrench won't be useable. It's just for fun. If you get the evaporust, it's like $25 for a gallon and then you have it any time you need some rust removed in the future.

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[mriddell]

Yes, I don't plan on using the wrench, it's mostly just a worst-case scenario for learning what works and how. September is a very slow month for me so I currently have projects all over the place to keep busy, this is just one of them.

24 hours in the vinegar and some decent sized pieces are sloughing off, but it's going to be several days yet. I'm only doing half the wrench, I'll do what I can and then hang it back up in the barn to laugh at.

 

[disston]

In that case do post a pic of what is left. I think there is a chance there will be nothing left. But let's see?

 

[kimokalihi]

It'll be interesting to see. I tried vinegar first but it wasn't enough.

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[BFBOB]

Here's some inspiration - before and after. About two weeks in electrolysis followed by 30 seconds of wire wheeling.

I've tried Evaporust, sulphuric acid (aka muriatic), sandblasting and other mechanical means. For me, electrolysis is by far the best at getting all the rust without taking the solid metal. Others have reached other conclusions. Try 'em all and decide for yourself.

Oops... can't believe I didn't take any before pix
anyway, you get the idea. It was way worse than yours!

 

[Shiftless]

^this. Electrolysis takes almost no effort once you get the tank set up. I just saw some Malibu 12V power supply/timers at my local salvage place for $16 apiece...

Note:
If the Malibu transformer timer is what I think it is, don't use it for electrolysis. It won't work. The landscape lighting black boxes have an ALTERNATING current output (AC). For electrolysis you need DIRECT current (DC)

 

[Shop Dad]

Subscribing. Vinegar just takes longer. If you have time it's pretty useful.

 

[mriddell]

Wow Bob, that came out pretty clean!

 

[gtg082y]

Here's some inspiration - before and after. About two weeks in electrolysis followed by 30 seconds of wire wheeling.

I've tried Evaporust, sulphuric acid (aka muriatic), sandblasting and other mechanical means. For me, electrolysis is by far the best at getting all the rust without taking the solid metal. Others have reached other conclusions. Try 'em all and decide for yourself.

Oops... can't believe I didn't take any before pix
anyway, you get the idea. It was way worse than yours!

That thing is sort of cool... no longer an adjustable wrench, but a cool wall hanger.

 

[Brasso]

I wouldn't be surprised if nothing is left if he cleans it. Had it happen to me, had a 3/8 inch nesco wrench my dad used all the time but it was cover half in rust. I hit it with a stainless steel brush on a drill and it turns on it was snapped in half. The rust was holding it together

 

[Off-Street Parking]

In to the vinegar for a few days and then maybe a trip to get some evaporust. Pic update next week.

How is it looking?

 

[Off-Street Parking]

How is it looking?

Any updates?