Restoring Tools

Well im a tool hoarder and after a few years of collecting garage sale tools i finally decided to sort through them and open my shop back up for business. One problem is rust and finishes and just getting the crap out of the sockets and everything else. I will buy a whole too box if there is one hammer head or anything unique in there. So will a blast cabinet with some glass bead do the trick or is that still too aggressive. I like the tools and dont care what they look like as long as they do the job but if i can get them pretty clean i would rather go that route. Any tricks or ideas is welcomed and appreciated. And have any of you plastic dipped any tool handles or or would consider it?

 

put em in clr ,rinse in hot water[so they dry faster],any thing that pivots or turns heat up just enough to melt parrifan wax.that is the best way to make them work.

 

I would first try soaking them in parts cleaner before blasting them. I've cleaned several machining tools this way. Drill chucks, etc.

 

If rust is a problem, soak them in a 25% Molasses/water solution, agitating a couple of times a day.
It isn't quick, but then, most worthwhile things aren't, anyway.
Cheap as chips and very good.
Davo.

 

Oh yea i read rust repair with molasses on here before, i have a buddy who owns a tool store in Ft Worth and could easily work out a deal to get new tools but im all about function not fashion. I figured blasting was a little harsh on the finish and im glad i have the hamb to refresh my memory before i make a huge mess out of my tools. I was kind of looking for a excuse to get a blast cabinet though....

 

I use Evaporust on old tools. It's the only thing at Harbor Freight that is worth buying.

 

Anything that doesn't have aluminum parts, use vinegar. Cheap, plentiful and works wonders on getting rust off.

 

Ditto on Vinegar. Watch it though, it works faster than you think. a couple of days usually does the trick. I left a chain in for a week and returned to find it gone, just rusty foam. It does a fantastic job on old rust tools.

 

Soak them in motor oil,,then heat. HRP

 

Vote number 2 for Evaporust. Soak them for a day or so and the rust will have disappeared. But you need to put some oil on them pretty quick as it will come back.

Don