Removing rust from hand tools

colind3782

colind3782

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I dug out my old Record hand plane to do a job, not realising how long it's been since I last used it and the base is now covered in surface rust and some a bit deeper. I've tried wire wool and cream cleaner but it's not touching it. Are there any recommended potions out there to restore it to shiny?
 
I've used HG rust remover on Plane before worked well for surface rust, did leave small indentations but didn’t seem affect the overall surface of the plane. Used it neat and water down. Don’t leave on too long neat it crystallised for me and needed a light wire brushing to remove.

Evapo Rust seem to be the industry leader
 
rotrax said:
1200 Wet and dry, done wet, on a sheet of glass or other very flat surface. Take the blade out first. It will take a little time.

Oil it before storage................... :cool:
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I'd add to this that I find it helpful to stick the abrasive down with double-sided sticky tape, to keep the surface as flat as possible (the abrasive doesn't "pull" like it does if loose). Works well for honing chisels and the likes too and if done on a piece of ply or acrylic is lighter and less breakable that a wetstone.
 
KevinV said:
I'd add to this that I find it helpful to stick the abrasive down with double-sided sticky tape, to keep the surface as flat as possible (the abrasive doesn't "pull" like it does if loose). Works well for honing chisels and the likes too and if done on a piece of ply or acrylic is lighter and less breakable that a wetstone.
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Yes, sounds good. I use the glass from an old halogen floodlamp:
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just use it? i guess i am lazy/always trying to save time, but surface rust will disappear, and deeper (?pits) you can then treat or ignore. and then oil it, as above(!)
 
bikedaft said:
just use it? i guess i am lazy/always trying to save time, but surface rust will disappear, and deeper (?pits) you can then treat or ignore. and then oil it, as above(!)
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It's up the sides too, unfortunately, so using it wouldn't quite cut it. The job I want it for is outside and it hasn't stopped raining! I've ordered some Evapo Rust so let's see what that does.
 
KompetentKrew said:
I've been thinking this week to try electrolytic rust removal on some rusty parts of my cooker.

I didn't realise that the electrolytic solution (is that the right term?) is as simple as washing soda in water, then hook up a sacrificial steel cathode and a battery or battery charger (not a smart one though).

Some folks seem to swear by it. The best links I found:
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This works. I use it on old bits of machinery very often.
A substantial benefit of the method is that there is no dangerous waste product for disposal, just rusty wash water.
 
I was also going to suggest using the electrolytic method having seen it used by Dominic Chinea on YouTube. It works brilliantly

Dad's got a huge collection of now rusty hand tools which I'm working through over the winter
 
A bit radical I know, but I've cleaned up rusty steel and tarnished bronze and brass in the dishwasher. Just set it as hot as possible, use a dishwasher tablet . . . and make sure the missus doesn't catch you.
 
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