Thread: Removing rust and restoring old hand tools

Originally Posted by Avery

Hydrogen explodes on contact with an open flame.

Actually hydrogen can ignite just through friction as in a leak from a vessel in which it is stored.

However, hydogen is normally not as dangerous as might be supposed as it disappears upwards rapidly when released. (I am not recommending that you take any chances with it). As long as the area is well ventilated there ought not to be a problem. Even ignition is not a disaster. Explosion on the other hand.

A quick question for BobL: I think older style battery chargers might not have the self regulating aspect you are referring to. Is this correct? I have three battery chargers and the newest and best does not work nearly as well as the two old machines.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

A quick question for BobL: I think older style battery chargers might not have the self regulating aspect you are referring to. Is this correct? I have three battery chargers and the newest and best does not work nearly as well as the two old machines.

Correct.

Newer style chargers would work by putting an old battery in parallel and running alternately the battery and then the charger together with the battery.

Here is a photo of the one that blew up.

Holy cow!

I've done it many times and I've NEVER seen foam like that. Looks like an example of how not to do it. My bath just looks like clear water. It develops a scum over time, but nothing like that.

Originally Posted by Avery

That is what I thought too.

A couple of weeks ago i had half of a Dawn 100 mm vice mildly bubbling away. I was doing some soldering with a small propane torch nearby and suddenly I had this
GREAT IDEA.

I waved the torch across the top , very close to the bubbling bucket. I got a huge shock. There was a very loud and very sharp crack. Scared the **** out of me.

The process produces hydrogen. Hydrogen explodes on contact with an open flame. It really, really does.

KEEP IT WELL VENTILATED AND DON'T GO NEAR IT WITH A PROPANE TORCH.

That should no surprise, prior to world war 2, the manufacturers and designers of airships used Hydrogen to fill their structure to achieve liter than air.
I guess you have seen movies of the destruction of one Nazie Germanies flagship the Hyndenberg that was destroyed by just a little spark.
Malcolm Eaton

Ordinarily this process is very safe. The amount of hydrogen generated per unit time is relatively low and being lighter than air it quickly dissipates.

Easy, safe, reusable.

Evapo-Rust Australia Home Page

Corro Dip Liquid Cleaner Manufacturer & Wholesale Supplier From Australia - Liquid Engineering Limited

Workshop Heaven Shield Technology Restore Rust Remover 250ml

Toby

Originally Posted by BobL

Ordinarily this process is very safe. The amount of hydrogen generated per unit time is relatively low and being lighter than air it quickly dissipates.

I agree. I have used the process many, many times always with excellent results.

You have to do something really stupid to cause a problem - which is exactly what I did. I went looking for trouble and almost found it.

A question from a newby to this process - is is possible to clean the rust of a chisel with the handle still attached? I have inherited some old titan chisels that need to be de-rusted, but I don't really want to pull the handles off the chisels.

Thanks

Trav

Trav I am in the process of doing just that. I've found the videos on this youtube page to be really helpful. It takes time but trust me after doing one chisel last weekend the results are amazing, I had a rusty old wooden handled chisel that is now shiny silver with sharp edges all round.

www.youtube.com/user/askwoodman/videos?sort=dd&view=0&page=11

Cheers,

Paul

Originally Posted by digitalgiraffe

Trav I am in the process of doing just that. I've found the videos on this youtube page to be really helpful. It takes time but trust me after doing one chisel last weekend the results are amazing, I had a rusty old wooden handled chisel that is now shiny silver with sharp edges all round.

www.youtube.com/user/askwoodman/videos?sort=dd&view=0&page=11

Cheers,

Paul

Tried to have a look at that vid and the link didnt work

Hrmm ok try this one...

Bring Old Carpenter's Chisel Back to Life with Belt Sander

or you should be able to access the youtube channel from askwoodman.com there are so many useful vids on his page!

Could be hijacking here....I have a very second hand steel rule. It is Very old and the surface rust is clouding the ability to read a measurement. I first thought of wet and dry but stopped because I figured it would rub away the engraved figures on the rule. Would the electrolysis method restore the rule to its former glory?
I tried a mild acid but was worried about the engraving.
Another item that has come to mind is the fuel filter housing on WWII Jeep. The housing is alloy but it has a steel bolt going right through it to hold the filters and lid in place. The electrolysis will restore the steel but leave alone the alloy. Right?

Originally Posted by chambezio

Could be hijacking here....I have a very second hand steel rule. It is Very old and the surface rust is clouding the ability to read a measurement. I first thought of wet and dry but stopped because I figured it would rub away the engraved figures on the rule. Would the electrolysis method restore the rule to its former glory?
I tried a mild acid but was worried about the engraving.

I would not use acid or any abrasive.
I would use something like molasses or electrolysis

Another item that has come to mind is the fuel filter housing on WWII Jeep. The housing is alloy but it has a steel bolt going right through it to hold the filters and lid in place. The electrolysis will restore the steel but leave alone the alloy. Right?

By alloy I presume you mean aluminium? It depends on the electrolyte used in the electrolysis tank. Some people use lye (Sodium hydroxide) but that eats Ally. Sodium carbonate is "probably OK" but I would test it first as there is ally and "ally".

Bob you are quick off the draw!!!
Thanks for the advise. Yes the aloy is ally. But being war time who knows what went into the mix. As with any Jeep restorer I have more than one to play with. I will report back my progress.
Did you see that report from the bloke who bought a saw bench for $53? He had a really corroded adjustable leg that leveled the machine. The before and after photos were amazing. The pictures were like night and day and I think he only ran the electrolysis over night from memory. I am eager to give it a go.