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Author Topic:   Cleaning Rusted Tools

bkoelbel posted 10-14-2012 09:20 AM ET (US)
Seems some salt water got into my West Marine Shipyard Toolkit, and most tools have some rust, especially the collections of screw driver heads that sit in the rubber holders. Any suggestions on quick ways to clean these up? Appreciated as always. Thanks!
jimh posted 10-14-2012 09:25 AM ET (US)
Begin the restoration process by spraying the tools with a heavy coat of WD-40. Let the WD-40 soak into the rusted areas.
jimh posted 10-14-2012 02:29 PM ET (US)
After soaking down in WD-40, saturate a 3M abrasive pad with more WD-40 and scrub the corrosion off.
jtms posted 10-14-2012 02:44 PM ET (US)
Never tried it, but heard soaking in vinegar is great.
acseatsri posted 10-14-2012 04:09 PM ET (US)
Corrosion-X has my vote. Blows away WD40.
ConB posted 10-14-2012 04:37 PM ET (US)
Boeshield T-9 blows them all away.
http://boeshield.com/
Con
Chuck Tribolet posted 10-14-2012 05:02 PM ET (US)
Start with a fresh water soak (five minutes is fine), then
a thorough drying. Then go with protective stuff. And keep
them in a Pelican case, not the case that West sells them in.
Chuck
Jerry Townsend posted 10-14-2012 05:20 PM ET (US)
The WD-40 - followed by a wire brush (hand or rotary) works well. And then, some say that vinegar works - and others say that diesel fuel is better than WD-40. --- Jerry/Idaho
pete r posted 10-14-2012 08:09 PM ET (US)
Try lanolin spray.
A mate of mine uses it in cruising yacht tool case.
it work better than WD40 and it doesn't stink as fowl as other metal protection.
Buckda posted 10-14-2012 08:21 PM ET (US)
I've found the Boeshield to be an excellent choice for STORING tools and bare-metal parts (like spare bearings for the trailer). That is what it was designed for - it leaves a sticky coating that protects the metal. If you use it on frequently used tools, you have to clean the residue off, use the tool and re-apply...and it's expensive.
...so for tools that are infrequently used it is great....once you've cleaned the rust off them.
I like WD-40 for regular use - I lighty soak a rag and wipe my tools down with that rag after use - they generally stay rust-free.
17 bodega posted 10-17-2012 03:33 PM ET (US)
I agree with "Corrosion X" It is a fantastic product that seems to bite through corrosion and rust better than anything I've found. It is designed for saltwater fishing equipment like reels and it works on steel and aluminum corrosion. As stated above. scrubbing is necessary too... A can of this stuff LIVES in my boat!
The West Marine tool kits are usually drop forged chrome vandium garbage and will continue to rust no matter what measures you take.
Fact is... even the most expensive tools will eventually rust in a saltwater environment. I have collected good quality USA made tools at garage sales and flea markets, drenched them in corrosion X, and sealed them in Pelican boxes, or similar like Chuck mentions. You have to keep after it and hopefully that adjustable wrench will adjust... (I've had one lock up when I need it!)
So... in a sense it is fine to use the crappy West Marine tools, because anything will rust in salt water, so better to keep your good tools at home. Others would argue that added expense of quality tools is worth it in saltwater boating situations where a cheap tool [failure] could compromise your safety.
Steve
contender posted 10-17-2012 04:40 PM ET (US)
1st of all I coat my tools with some type of corrosion protectant. 2nd I do let my tools get to that point (I check them every now and then). 3rd Purchase quality tools, they have life time guarantee, take them in and exchange them...
Chuck Tribolet posted 10-19-2012 11:52 PM ET (US)
These won't rust:
http://www.steritool.com/
I have an adjustable end wrench and a couple of fold-up Allen
wrenches (one inches, one metric). They been on the whaler
for ten+ years, no rust at all.
They are, however, REALLY expensive.

Chuck
contender posted 10-20-2012 09:27 AM ET (US)
Chuck you have a metric adjustable wrench???...LOL ...nice tools but I think I work have to hire 24 hour security to watch them...
Chuck Tribolet posted 10-20-2012 11:30 AM ET (US)
No I have metric Allen wrench set.
Chuck
Tohsgib posted 10-23-2012 01:50 PM ET (US)
Vinegar...cheap white stuff for a day or so.
Treypescatorie posted 10-24-2012 06:58 AM ET (US)
Run them on a wire wheel, and then spray with wd-40.
17 bodega posted 10-26-2012 01:47 PM ET (US)
$395 for an adjustable wrench! ... And the alloy is magnetic... interesting... That's how most of the hacks at the hardware stores and surplus stores test metals for being "stainless".
Again, those of us in saltwater environments know that all stainless steel is far from equal.
Steri-tools look like the kind of stuff I see surgeons use to adjust knees and hip prosthetic. That stuff needs to be free of corrosion

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Author	Topic: Cleaning Rusted Tools
bkoelbel	posted 10-14-2012 09:20 AM ET (US) Seems some salt water got into my West Marine Shipyard Toolkit, and most tools have some rust, especially the collections of screw driver heads that sit in the rubber holders. Any suggestions on quick ways to clean these up? Appreciated as always. Thanks!
jimh	posted 10-14-2012 09:25 AM ET (US) Begin the restoration process by spraying the tools with a heavy coat of WD-40. Let the WD-40 soak into the rusted areas.
jimh	posted 10-14-2012 02:29 PM ET (US) After soaking down in WD-40, saturate a 3M abrasive pad with more WD-40 and scrub the corrosion off.
jtms	posted 10-14-2012 02:44 PM ET (US) Never tried it, but heard soaking in vinegar is great.
acseatsri	posted 10-14-2012 04:09 PM ET (US) Corrosion-X has my vote. Blows away WD40.
ConB	posted 10-14-2012 04:37 PM ET (US) Boeshield T-9 blows them all away. http://boeshield.com/ Con
Chuck Tribolet	posted 10-14-2012 05:02 PM ET (US) Start with a fresh water soak (five minutes is fine), then a thorough drying. Then go with protective stuff. And keep them in a Pelican case, not the case that West sells them in. Chuck
Jerry Townsend	posted 10-14-2012 05:20 PM ET (US) The WD-40 - followed by a wire brush (hand or rotary) works well. And then, some say that vinegar works - and others say that diesel fuel is better than WD-40. --- Jerry/Idaho
pete r	posted 10-14-2012 08:09 PM ET (US) Try lanolin spray. A mate of mine uses it in cruising yacht tool case. it work better than WD40 and it doesn't stink as fowl as other metal protection.
Buckda	posted 10-14-2012 08:21 PM ET (US) I've found the Boeshield to be an excellent choice for STORING tools and bare-metal parts (like spare bearings for the trailer). That is what it was designed for - it leaves a sticky coating that protects the metal. If you use it on frequently used tools, you have to clean the residue off, use the tool and re-apply...and it's expensive. ...so for tools that are infrequently used it is great....once you've cleaned the rust off them. I like WD-40 for regular use - I lighty soak a rag and wipe my tools down with that rag after use - they generally stay rust-free.
17 bodega	posted 10-17-2012 03:33 PM ET (US) I agree with "Corrosion X" It is a fantastic product that seems to bite through corrosion and rust better than anything I've found. It is designed for saltwater fishing equipment like reels and it works on steel and aluminum corrosion. As stated above. scrubbing is necessary too... A can of this stuff LIVES in my boat! The West Marine tool kits are usually drop forged chrome vandium garbage and will continue to rust no matter what measures you take. Fact is... even the most expensive tools will eventually rust in a saltwater environment. I have collected good quality USA made tools at garage sales and flea markets, drenched them in corrosion X, and sealed them in Pelican boxes, or similar like Chuck mentions. You have to keep after it and hopefully that adjustable wrench will adjust... (I've had one lock up when I need it!) So... in a sense it is fine to use the crappy West Marine tools, because anything will rust in salt water, so better to keep your good tools at home. Others would argue that added expense of quality tools is worth it in saltwater boating situations where a cheap tool [failure] could compromise your safety. Steve
contender	posted 10-17-2012 04:40 PM ET (US) 1st of all I coat my tools with some type of corrosion protectant. 2nd I do let my tools get to that point (I check them every now and then). 3rd Purchase quality tools, they have life time guarantee, take them in and exchange them...
Chuck Tribolet	posted 10-19-2012 11:52 PM ET (US) These won't rust: http://www.steritool.com/ I have an adjustable end wrench and a couple of fold-up Allen wrenches (one inches, one metric). They been on the whaler for ten+ years, no rust at all. They are, however, REALLY expensive. Chuck
contender	posted 10-20-2012 09:27 AM ET (US) Chuck you have a metric adjustable wrench???...LOL ...nice tools but I think I work have to hire 24 hour security to watch them...
Chuck Tribolet	posted 10-20-2012 11:30 AM ET (US) No I have metric Allen wrench set. Chuck
Tohsgib	posted 10-23-2012 01:50 PM ET (US) Vinegar...cheap white stuff for a day or so.
Treypescatorie	posted 10-24-2012 06:58 AM ET (US) Run them on a wire wheel, and then spray with wd-40.
17 bodega	posted 10-26-2012 01:47 PM ET (US) $395 for an adjustable wrench! ... And the alloy is magnetic... interesting... That's how most of the hacks at the hardware stores and surplus stores test metals for being "stainless". Again, those of us in saltwater environments know that all stainless steel is far from equal. Steri-tools look like the kind of stuff I see surgeons use to adjust knees and hip prosthetic. That stuff needs to be free of corrosion