Thread: Restored bit brace

Originally Posted by javali

I have not managed to clean all the rust from the knurling. I tried using a sharp knife in every imaginable way, and some that are hard to imagine, but the rust is still there. Alf, if you are reading this, please reveal the secret of cleaning knurling with a sharp knife.

Nice looking brace. With regard to removing the remaining rust, could electrolysis be used without damaging the chrome? Just a thought...

Originally Posted by javali

please reveal the secret of cleaning knurling with a sharp knife.

Try a wire wheel in a drill or you can buy ones that can replace one of the stones on a bench grinder, just have GREAT eye protection when ever you use spinning wire wheels


Rgds

Nice looking brace Javali. Are you thinking of using it, or just a collectible?
Maybe just a good spray of CRC followed by a wire brush to get into the knurling...you can get nice brass bristled ones that aren't too severe.

Cheers.

I would suggest a short bristle brass wire wheel. If that doesn't work and you can get hold of a stainless steel wire wheel that is usually a little softer than many other steels.

Gee, that has come up really nicely! Funny where inspiration comes from. My dad died 6 years ago, and I have from time to time being cleaning up some of his many tools (that I rescued before the clearing sale). I used his old brace about a month at a school working bee, and thought then that it might be noce to clean it up - they ARE a very handy tool at times. You have given me some inspiration. If it comes up half as nice as yours I will be happy.
Well done! By the way, I was cleaning the knurled knob on his old sliding square the other day and found my stiff and cheap brass welding wire brush did the trick - I also use a brass wire brush in the drill press frequently for cleaning up rusted metal items.

Any more tools going to get a renovation?
Jeff

The wire wheel on the drill did the trick. I got most of the rust off. I left a few brown spots just for the restored-not-new look. It still leaves the question of how Alf cleans out knurling with a sharp knife...

I tested it today, and am impressed. It is just a pleasure to work with. It seems that I have underestimated the importance of a smooth mechanism in a brace. Either that, or I am having a severe halo effect.

Andy, I hope I answered your question about the 'C' word.

Jeff, I have a huge pile of tools waiting for renovation. The next one will probably be a Stanley 10 1/2 I picked in some auction, but something else might come in the way. Good luck with your father's brace. I am sure it will come nicer than mine, and it will always be special to you. Post a photo when you are done.

I suspect Alice will be along sooner or later, but I'll send her a note about the thread...

Take care, Mike

As Mike's practically dragged me over here by the ear...

Tsk, got to watch what I write, haven't I? The sharp knife run painstakingly along each individual line will remove the crustiest rust and all the other crud that haunts kurled parts, but nothing really ever completely cleans it up and makes it "as new" (although I'd love to hear otherwise). I've tried all sorts, even unto going down each line with a suitably charged hard felt wheel with a knife edge in a Dremel, and it'll still look "used". Trouble is, with knurling, it takes next to no time to look used anyway, so there's probably not much future in trying to do more than get rid of the worst, slap on the wax and retire content.

Sorry, no magic formula.

But good to hear of a brace put back to use. Try a magnetic bit holder and screwdriver bit in it on the next evil-minded screw you need to remove - more torque than a chat show.

Cheers, Alf

Originally Posted by UKalf

...But good to hear of a brace put back to use. Try a magnetic bit holder and screwdriver bit in it on the next evil-minded screw you need to remove - more torque than a chat show.

Cheers, Alf

Good for countersinks too

Thanks Alf (and Mike).

I have tried this approach, but it did not come up as nice as your brace. The wire wheel did clean it better. I usually do not like using wire wheels, as they leave too much wire marks, but these seem invisible one the knurling, and it seems to have revived the knurling. It provides a much better grip now.
It does not make them as new, but IMO that's OK. I do not plan on putting any of my tools in a display box, and even if I bring them to an as new condition they will lose that look after some use, so why bother?

For the knurling (next time) use a very strong citric solution made up with boiling water, and agitate the solution after you put the knurled item in, ie stir it vogorously for a short period, say 10 minutes, take it out and give it a scrub with a stiff bristle brush, repeat if necesary until de-rusted.

IMPORTANT next step - dry with a hair dryer thoroughly and immediately. While still hot spray some G15 rust preventative on and wipe in. If you cannot get this (an industrial product not available from retailers), use 3in1 oil.

My experience is that hot strong citric will get rid of all but hard rust, ie where the rust is very thick and hard and stable. For this, citric gets rid of the surface rust layer, and you then hit with rust converter and paint. I am thinking of machinery here of course, I not recall found this sort of rust on hand tools. If I had such a tool I would toss the tool in the bin.

cheers, peter