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Post by dsmith on Nov 3, 2013 20:13:41 GMT -5
We have come into a ton of old screws, nuts, bolts, etc. They are all rusted up. Is there anything we could soak them in to help remove the rust. I am experimenting right now with different things, like cola, vinegar, peroxide. Would like to just put them in a bucket and let them set. No way we are gonna clean each indivual one  |
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Post by dsmith on Nov 3, 2013 20:39:06 GMT -5
In all my experiments, one worked great. Toilet bowl cleaner called "The Works"  That bolt looks brand new!! But could still use suggestions. Hate to go to the dollar tree and buy about 10 bottles of toilet bowl cleaner. They will think I lost my mind. |
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Post by lsull on Nov 4, 2013 4:39:42 GMT -5
Sounds like you have the answer. Would they think you needed toilet bowle cleaner to cleen your
mind? Or because you need so much? How many bolts do you have?
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Post by dsmith on Nov 4, 2013 19:31:31 GMT -5
Oh, we have tons of bolts. We were planning on getting both a wire welder and a rod welder. Well, we got a great deal at Harbor Freight on the wire welder, so got it. So then, we headed to the family farm where Dennis' grandparents used to live and farm. Found metal haven.  We brought a pickup load back, and will make a few more trips. But with him being a farmer, and working on his own equipment, there is an unbelievable amount of nuts, bolts, washers, etc. I want to clean the rust off, and sort them by size. Hundreds of them. So that is why I want an easier method. Just let them soak, then wipe them down and sort them into ziploc bags. We won't be needing any from hardware store again. ;D Citric Acid seemed to work good too. Am testing CLR right now. :DI have old butter bowls sitting all over the kitchen testing out different things |
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Post by dsmith on Nov 4, 2013 19:52:04 GMT -5
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Post by lsull on Nov 5, 2013 0:59:50 GMT -5
OBKB!
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Post by mastercatter on Nov 7, 2013 8:33:58 GMT -5
The CLR works to some degree. Youn will need to coat them after cleaning with something such as WD-40. They will rust up again otherwise.
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Post by lsull on Nov 7, 2013 8:48:57 GMT -5
My chemistry teacher woke me up with a CO2 fire extingister and said, I was fileing lead with a shoe
rasp and now the teath are full of lead. How do I get it out? I thought for a while could not think of
anything that would eat lead and spare steel. I said, I would use a wire brush. He blinked his eyes and said, yes that would be the best.
Seriously if you have access to a lathe put the bolts ect in the solution and put all in a tumbler.
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Post by daveedka on Nov 7, 2013 11:18:43 GMT -5
A rock or casing tumbler would work well. "The Works" will do it, coke will do it it also but works slower. when you get them cleaned put them in a coffee can or similar and spray with WD-40 like MC said.
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Post by tentfire on Nov 12, 2013 4:27:39 GMT -5
CLR is what came to my mind, first. I am anxious to see what you come up with that works best. It will be handy to know!
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Post by dsmith on Nov 12, 2013 20:54:59 GMT -5
So far, the best is The Works. Vinegar, lemon juice, citric acid are great, but have to soak a couple days. I am bound and determined to clean them up. After letting them soak, I am running steel wool over them (with gloves on), then cleaning them up in soapy water. Then, spraying them with wd 40. They are not 100 percent rust free, but they are looking dang good. After they dry, I am sorting them out into plastic containers.
Dennis keeps telling me I am wasting my time as they will just rust again. Hopefully, in containers, they will stay dry. All of these bolts, nuts, scrap metal , etc is mainly for welding. We plan on making all kinds of goodies. The rust makes things look all the better, rustic. But ya can't weld rust, so they gotta be cleaned up
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That bolt looks brand new!! But could still use suggestions. Hate to go to the dollar tree and buy about 10 bottles of toilet bowl cleaner. They will think I lost my mind. 
