Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rich5ltr · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK

I’ve been spending some time in the garage lately, tidying it and sifting through hundreds of old rusty tools. Over the years I have hoarded tools belonging to my dad, granddad and uncles and never refused a box of old stuff when offered!

I’ve binned a load but since I got the Lagonda I have started to build a small collection of appropriate tools; Whitworth spanners, adjustable spanners, box spanners, wooden handle screwdrivers, files etc. I've actually got lots of tools that could well be 60-70 years old but they are all old and rusty.

So, how best to clean them up, any suggestions? I could soak them a tray of petrol and wire wool them but that rather sound tedious! I've heard about these ultrasounds baths but never used one and I don't know if they would remove surface rust. I don't have access to a sand blaster but wondered if a home garage sized one might be a good acquisition.

Any thoughts for someone working in just a home garage?
Confused

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4285 Location: South Cheshire

Buy a tin of Lyles black treacle ( about a quid) pour it into a bucket with a gallon of hot water so that the treacle dissolves, then throw anything in that has rust and leave it for a couple of weeks. Then remove the items, they will now have a black scale that flakes off or can be removed very easily with a wire bush, leaving bright steel.

Cheers

Dave

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2739 Location: South Cheshire

I've had good success with citric acid for removing rust.

Rich5ltr · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK

Curious! Almost so barking mad that I will give it a try!

p.s. How about getting that nice used patina? Is that just wire brushing?

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

Or Coca-Cola as suggested elsewhere... Wink

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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4285 Location: South Cheshire

Rene · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 125

Rent a cement mixer,put a bag of gravel and the tools in,add some water and soap and let it turn for some time.........the tools wiil come out new.
Dry the tools and clearcoat with spraycan of laquer and they will last forever.

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

Phosphoric acid, neat or in solution. you can get it cheaply as a liquid or crystals. It will only remove rust and therefore no damage to good metal. Leave in a bucket as long as you can be bothered, fishing out occasionally and wire-brushing the loosened rust. Eventually you will get to the point where the empty rust pits will be revealed and you have only the exposed steel. After a rinse in water, the tools will have a grey. phosphated coating and if used regularly, the oil sheen thy acquire will keep them looking good; you could even wipe them with a clean, oily cloth to promote this.

Dipster · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:02 pm Post subject:

If you have "loadsamoney" you could invest in a laser rust remover. I simply use a wire brush in an electric drill or grinder doing one or two as my fancy (or need) takes me.....

goneps · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:08 am Post subject:

I'm in the rotary-wire-brush-on-bench-grinder camp. Since several of the above soaking suggestions still require wire brushing afterwards, why not just do the one operation?

Richard

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

I would use a rotary wire brush on an angle grinder, using a workmate to clamp the tools (outdoors)
then preserve with oil, that will give you the look you are after Cool

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

Over the years I've bought literally tons of old tools to re sell or in some cases keep for my own use.
The best thing I've found is to brush on diesel fuel,then leave them for a few days in a tin or bucket. Then take them out,shake them dry and clean them up with a rotary wire brush in a bench grinder. It leaves a nice finish retaining much of the patina.Rubbing them with a cheap wax afterwards keeps new rust at bay for years.
Just be aware that flaking chrome can be as sharp as any razor blade.
Of interest to me has been the number of once well respected manufacturers we used to have in this country and comparing the superior quality of some of the older tools compared with some of the rubbish imported now.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4285 Location: South Cheshire

goneps · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 11:55 pm Post subject:

Horses for courses I think, Dave. In my experience the steel most old tools were made from has decent anti-corrosive properties, so invariably it's only light surface rust and that can be removed quickly and easily with the rotary brush.

Richard

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I have little faith in the phosphoric acid,sure it turns rust black but I've also seen it turn concrete black when spilled,presumably my workshop floor wont be going rusty any time soon.
I tried all sorts of different stuff when I supplied the fishing boats with tools in lowestoft,the best rust preventer was a horrible stinky black grease that they used on winches,it out performed any of the stuff you can buy in an auto shop.I left some metal bars coated with it on the roff of the shop where they got covered in salt spray.They were still perfect when I moved,they are probably still up there.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).