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Posted

I recently came into a large set of neglected tools. From what I was told these tools are 25-30 years old and have been sitting in a corner for about as long. Most are rusted and discolored. I will get pix in a few days of some of them when I am not so busy with work. When you come across tools like this, are they toast? Or can they be cleaned up and made usable again?

Thanks

Wolvie

"The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE

Her: Hit Me

Him: Do you want me to use the knife?

Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!

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Posted

Even highly rusted tools can be salvaged, ID say right up tothe point of metal fatigue BUT to o so may you maybe fatigued. I can even show you how to rig a battery charger to make a very simple highly effective heavy rust remover.

Romey

Cowboy inc

highcountryknives

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Posted
Even highly rusted tools can be salvaged, ID say right up tothe point of metal fatigue BUT to o so may you maybe fatigued. I can even show you how to rig a battery charger to make a very simple highly effective heavy rust remover.

That tickled my curiosity bug, mind explaining?

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  • Contributing Member
Posted
I can even show you how to rig a battery charger to make a very simple highly effective heavy rust remover.

BTW & FWIW, that's exactly how you clean ancient Roman (and other) coins.

God, Family, and Country (although liberals are attempting to destroy these in the USA)

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Posted
Even highly rusted tools can be salvaged, ID say right up tothe point of metal fatigue BUT to o so may you maybe fatigued. I can even show you how to rig a battery charger to make a very simple highly effective heavy rust remover.

Ok, Romey, we'll bite! How do you make it? Thank you in advance!

russ

  • Members
Posted

Hold the item in your mouth, clamp positive clamp to your left big toe and negetive to your right thumb while holding a 10 ft copper rod in left hand in a lightening storm, turn charger to trickle and wait, will blow the rust right off!!

Romey

Cowboy inc

highcountryknives

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Posted (edited)

Ok now if THAT dont work here is another way. I was waiting to see pics of the tool and parts before saying much but here it is.

Electrolysis, A plastic tub; iron electrode (REBAR) or steel bar, water,Sodium Carbonate (Arm and Hammer LAUNDRY soda if you were wondering),battery charger and some way to suspend the object (chain or wire).

About a half cup to 5 gallon of water (well mixed). The iron or stainless electrode is connected to the positive (red) terminal. The object being cleaned, to the negative(black). Submerge the object, making sure you have good contact. DO NOT GET IT BACKWARDS UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR ITEM TO DISAPPEAR!! Make connections on a part of your electrode that protrudes out of the solution. The electrodes must not touch the part.Depending on the amount of rust, a few hours to over night is needed. Then depending on the objest a brillo pad or somthing under running water maybe needed for clean up.

As soon as you turn it on you should see bubbles coming from the part being unrusted. This is pretty safe but unless you liked the film of the Hindenburg going down dont get flame near it. Hydrogen tends to burn. I say that as i have had this set up and running 20 ft from a lit coal forge. I still wouldnt stand over it with a cigerette in my hand if I smoked or a BBQ steak right next to it. That is ONE way and the very best way to get the cleanest steel but there are a few other tricks . Soaking in vinegar over night is one. Vinegar is a very mild and yet very effective acid the down side is that it will look pickled afterwards so a bit of simichrome or flitz will be needed to bring it shiney again. Before I do ANY of this i go to the wire wheel first, sandblaster second, if its horrid bad or a very large peice as can happen around a blacksmith shop, Electrolysis it is. If infact none of that works find your dumbest friend do to what I suggested in the above post. Electrolysis can be done in as small as a gallon of soloution for small parts to a hundred gallons for big peices, for instance like a iron gate.

Edited by Romey

Romey

Cowboy inc

highcountryknives

Posted

wolvie, Another method that I have used in removing rust from some old McMillan tools that I found was to use a cream of tarter solution. I use a disposable aluminum pan with about an inch of water. I use about a tablespoon of cream of tarter. Place tools in pan and put it over a low heat. Watch the water turn dark. Ron Ross originally told me this method and it works real nice. carlb

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Posted
Hold the item in your mouth, clamp positive clamp to your left big toe and negetive to your right thumb while holding a 10 ft copper rod in left hand in a lightening storm, turn charger to trickle and wait, will blow the rust right off!!

Ok, everything was going fine the rust blew right off like you said. 2 Days later I woke up in a hilltop cornfield with some severe burns on my toe and thumb. I think I'll try the next solution you gave, the first was waaaaay to dangerous & painful :rolleyes:

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