Unrusting Tools

Tesla · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:06

My tool box got a little damp and some of my nice tools have gone slightly rusty within 12-24hours!

The main stuff I want to salvage are my Torx socket bits. Is there something I can soak them in to remove the rust. I am a bit worried to wire wool or sand them through fear of changing there shape.

They are draper pro bits I think. The 1/2inch adaptor they fit into is chrome plated which I think is why that hasnt rusted.

Wang · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:09

I would have thought that the rust you are talking of after just 12 hours is "pitting". Get it on my golf club shafts if i don't dry them off after a wet round but is easily removed with Duraglit.

JRS · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:09

Cola? Cillit Bang?

Lopéz · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:13

Should be alright given a once over with wire wool.
WD40 helps keep them rust-free (albeit slippery)

Glaucus · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:14

pitting

.. that aint pitting. Pitting is where you get little dimples in the metal.

Wang · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:20

AcidHell2 said:
pitting .. that aint pitting. Pitting is where you get little dimples in the metal.

Agreed... but the OP didn't show us any pictures of said rust, so i assumed that with it only being 12 hours old, it would still be very superficial and maybe just simple pitting.

Tesla · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:23

Well I havn't examined them closely but they have gone orangey/brown all over

Glaucus · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:24

Wang said:
Agreed... but the OP didn't show us any pictures of said rust, so i assumed that with it only being 12 hours old, it would still be very superficial and maybe just simple pitting.

pitting takes month. At 12hrs I expect, its that light brown stuff. All you need to do is a bit of wire wool.

Yep orangy/brown = light rust, not even anything to worry about. Just clean it off.

pitting

after you clean it up, looks like this..

silversurfer · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:27

Its nothing worse then what your brake disks will look like after a week of no use

If they cant take a bit of wire wool they are worthless anyway. A bit of polish will remove surface rust, its just cosmetic. If you left them out for a year they might pit, maybe

Wang · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:34

AcidHell2 said:
snip

Fair enough chief, suppose i am looking at this from a golfing point of view, never good in a motors forum

Glaucus · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:35

Wang said:
Fair enough chief, suppose i am looking at this from a golfing point of view, never good in a motors forum

are you golf clubs chrome plated? in which case you probably get rust underneath, wich then peels a bit of chrome of?

Zip · 4 Aug 2006 at 22:38

Get a lot of lemon juice and let them soak in it. They must be submerged though

It should clear it right up