Hey all, I've been spring cleaning in the garage and have a bunch of tools that have seen better days. What's the best way to clean them up and get rid of rust?
@Goldmember, try soaking them in white vinegar.
I inherited and respect all my Father’s post and pre-war tools .. and 90% are still in good working condition. They are ever lasting-reliable-strong-well made and still work. Admittedly they use a little more “elbow grease” in some circumstances (that is when my power tools come to hand).
Although very feminine - I use my Father’s tools a lot and love doing so and from a young age was an apprentice DIY’er .. unknown then for little gals! Used to help him in the garage instead of playing “dolly and pram” with the girls. (Brings back memories)
OK .. OK .. back to the subject at hand: I found these tips very handy .. they work for me .. put a little more elbow grease in rubbing .. but I can use the tools at hand.
Soak any rusty object in a mixture of Vinegar and Table Salt over night. 1 Tablespoon of Salt for Every Cup of Vinegar and the Rust will Fall off!
http://www.hawk-hill.com/2013/04/removing-rust-from-found-objects-without-scrubbing/
Brilliant post @BibbyKat, I'd never heard about adding Table Salt to the White Vinegar, but I'll definitely be doing it next time I come across a rusty old treasure.
When you brought up tools from the olden days, it struck a chord with me, they definitely weren't made for the dainty, but they were built to last forever. I now regret that when my Dad upgraded from our heavy, cast iron Ogden push mower, to a self-propelled Qualcast roller mower, that I took to the new mower, & didn't give a thought about keeping the good ol' pushie.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi .. Yes "Treasure" .. great word and describes the old tools very well and "yes" they do last forever.
I still have the old pushie hand mower that my parents purchased in the mid 50's!
Unfortunately, my Mother left it outside and it has rusted up something pitifully. Shame .. this is a job I cannot handle. So this "treasure" sits under-cover in the garden as a "feature".
Things that are "old" can still be useful and beautiful and meaningful!
Here's a resource that should be helpful @Goldmember - How to clean rusty tools.
I'd also add a video below about how to maintain garden tools.
Jason
Yes .. I spray my tools with WD40 ... WONDERFUL stuff !!!!
Here's a link to Gardening Australia's recommended garden tool maintenance:
Garden Tool Maintenance
Hi all,
There's another discussion on this topic that was kicked off by @Super_D that community members should find useful - To remove rust from tools without using caustic chemicals
Same the idea is very good 😃I love it
Welcome to the Workshop community @al1.
It's fantastic to see you have an interest in restoring rusty tools. Do you have any tools you would like to try bringing back to life?
The Workshop community is full of wonderfully helpful community members just waiting to assist and sharing their own projects here daily. We'd encourage you to start a new discussion if you have something to share also. I'm sure our members would like to see this rust removal process first hand.
If you need any assistance getting the most out of the site or have questions, please let me know.
Mitchell
An old engineer taught me to clean up the rust on a bench grinder with a round wire brush. Once clean drop it into vinegar and salt until further showing it is clean or do the above in reverse. Once clean drop it into a bowl of light oil and leave for two weeks. Remove from oil and hang it up outside in the weather for the sun to heat it up and dry out the excess oil. Remove after three weeks and wipe any excess oil so it is clean to use. The oil will prevent further rusting.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @crackles2. It's great to have you join us, and many thanks for jumping into the discussion.
That sounds like a fantastic way of restoring tools. I'd be interested to know why hanging the tools up in the sun is required; perhaps it bakes the oil into the surface.
We look forward to hearing all about the plans and projects you have around your house and garden and would encourage you to let us know anytime you need assistance or have something to share. I'm sure you'll find loads of inspiration within the community as our clever and creative members contribute their projects here all the time.
G'day I've been in the tool restoration business for quite sometime and from what I've found best it to soak your tools in a bucket of vinegar or coke. Anything with a high ph level is best at removing rust from your tool. Hope this helps 🙂
-HandyAndy
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Bighandyandy78. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for jumping into the discussion.
I trust our members find your suggestion helpful. I've heard of using vinegar or coke, but haven't tried it myself. Do you have any pictures of the tools after they've been cleaned? I'd be keen to see some examples of how well they come up and if further restoration is then needed.
Many thanks for sharing and we look forward to hearing more about your process.
After cleaning the rust off tools then simply soaking them in oil the wrapping tools in a ragg, hence, eg , my scecitors nicely oiled
Hi @Toddman,
A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.
Do you have any photos of the tools without the rags?
It'd be great to see how they look after a coating of oil.
Did you use something like linseed oil?
I have heard it is a good method for restoring tools like this.
Thank you for sharing.
Jacob
Just vinegar? Or add bicarbonate soda too?
Just vinegar is fine @Yolzy. For removing rust, it is best to use plain vinegar on its own. Vinegar is acidic, and it is that acidity that reacts with the rust and helps dissolve it. If you add bicarbonate of soda to the vinegar before soaking your tools, the bicarb neutralises the acid. When they react, they largely cancel each other out, which makes the soak far less effective at removing rust.
There is no real benefit to adding bicarb during the soaking stage. It does not make the rust removal faster or stronger, and in most cases, it actually reduces how well the vinegar works.
Where bicarbonate of soda can be useful is after the vinegar soak. Once the rust has been removed and the tool is rinsed, a quick dip or wipe with a mild bicarb and water solution can help neutralise any remaining acid on the metal. This reduces the chance of flash rust forming straight after cleaning. After that, wash the tool with fresh water and dry thoroughly before applying a light oil.
