A little Coca-Cola bath for the Fuse (experiment)

captain spaulding · **on:** July 04, 2014, 08:50:17 AM

So I mentioned it in another thread, but I used to use Coca-Cola to remove rust form golf clubs so I figure I could use it on a MT just the same. My only concern is the Zytel liners on the Fuse as it is my test subject. I guess we will know by morning if it was a good decision or not. Until then here are a few pictures. Fingers crossed guys.

It doesn't look very rusted but most of the rusting is in pivot areas and hard to reach areas. This is why I am testing the Coca-Cola method.

Look at those scrubbing bubbles.

Top-Gear-24 · **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2014, 09:40:17 AM

Is it me or does anyone else see a nice desktop background here ...

I've got a Kick and a ST200 with some rust issues around the pivot area so I can't wait to see the result

.

captain spaulding · **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2014, 09:45:32 AM

Quote from: Top-Gear-24 on July 04, 2014, 09:40:17 AM

Is it me or does anyone else see a nice desktop background here ...

I've got a Kick and a ST200 with some rust issues around the pivot area so I can't wait to see the result .

Ill update you guys tomorrow.

kirk13 · **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2014, 10:53:05 AM

Those pix,it's like looking at a sunken ship,encased in gunk and mud

derekmac · **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2014, 12:44:45 PM

Quote from: Top-Gear-24 on July 04, 2014, 09:40:17 AM

Is it me or does anyone else see a nice desktop background here ...

I've got a Kick and a ST200 with some rust issues around the pivot area so I can't wait to see the result .

Yep, that last pic is awesome!

sawman · **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2014, 01:05:14 PM

Have a Fuse, and a Smile

Chako · **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2014, 01:23:14 PM

Zed · **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2014, 01:45:00 PM

Quote from: Top-Gear-24 on July 04, 2014, 09:40:17 AM

Is it me or does anyone else see a nice desktop background here ...

I've got a Kick and a ST200 with some rust issues around the pivot area so I can't wait to see the result .

Me too tg

Roche · **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2014, 01:53:04 PM

An interesting experiment. FWIW, here is my thinking: soak in Coca- Cola, rinse with water to remove Coca-Cola, spray WD-40 to remove water. That's why I'm a fan of WD-40.

enki_ck · **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2014, 03:02:06 PM

Quote from: derekmac on July 04, 2014, 12:44:45 PM

Quote from: Top-Gear-24 on July 04, 2014, 09:40:17 AM
Is it me or does anyone else see a nice desktop background here ...

I've got a Kick and a ST200 with some rust issues around the pivot area so I can't wait to see the result .
Yep, that last pic is awesome!

Love the last pic too.

Looking forward to updates,

dks · **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2014, 06:25:59 PM

Make sure you post it on coca colas Facebook page

taaaaaaapaaaaaaas

Aloha · **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2014, 06:37:50 PM

Great pictures. What camera are you using Capt?

rdub934 · **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2014, 07:44:38 PM

You always hear these old wives tales about how corrosive Coca Cola is, what are the odds that the Coca Cola will have dissolved the tool by tomorrow? Lol

I bet Dr. Pepper would get it 23x's cleaner...

captain spaulding · **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2014, 07:55:14 PM

Quote from: Aloha007 on July 04, 2014, 06:37:50 PM

Great pictures. What camera are you using Capt?

The same old point and shoot as always.

sawman · **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2014, 07:57:56 PM

I can't handle the suspense

How did it work out Cap'n??

captain spaulding · **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2014, 08:05:18 PM

So at first look this morning the tool is still in tact and the Zytel is unharmed. I gave it a rinse and noticed a few of the more rust affected areas to still have some rust on them. I scrubbed the whole tool with warm dish soap water and 90% of those affected areas are rust free now from what I can see. I gave it a good rinse again to get all the soap off and am drying it in the sun to disperse the water out of the pivots. I'm actually more worried about the sun ruining the Zytel then the Coke. I will give it a very close look once it's all dry and let you guys know how well it actually worked. As of now its looking pretty good, but not 100% removal. I'll keep everyone updated and get some pictures up.

Monrogue · **Reply #16 on:** July 04, 2014, 08:09:06 PM

Very interesting Cap

I've heard that Coke is some bad stuff really. I can only imagine what someone's stomach looks like if they drink it regularly. Of course, I've got no evidence of any of that.

captain spaulding · **Reply #17 on:** July 04, 2014, 08:26:34 PM

It looks like diet Mountain Dew might of been a better choice.

microbe · **Reply #18 on:** July 04, 2014, 08:40:22 PM

With the last clean I gave my Skeletool, I found opening and closing the tool over an over again while I dropped some oil in the pliers head pivot pushed out a lot of rust-brown gunk out of it. After a few repeats, the gunk stopped coming out, reason to believe it was all clean.

captain spaulding · **Reply #19 on:** July 04, 2014, 10:25:09 PM

So here are my findings. As you will see in the pictures their is still some rust on the tool. The rust left is pretty minimal in comparison to where it was at and after some research this morning most people using Coca-Cola for rust removal do a 24 hour soak. I only did 9-10 hours. I can assume if I did a full 24 hours it probably would have removed almost if not all of the rust. I did have to give it a little scrub with warm dish soap water after to remove some of the other rust that was basically already "neutralized" by the coke, but was still on the surface. I would have done this step regardless so it's no biggie at all. I used nothing abrasive and assume if I did after the initial soak it would of removed the small spots left over.
If this was not a Fuse with Zytel liners I would have been much more comfortable letting it soak for a full 24 hours. After the test I think a 24 hour soak would be completely fine since their was no damage to the Zytel at all. I can't tell if the Zytel swelled or if the oil removed from the pivots caused it, but the lanyard ring got a little stiff, but after the sun dry it is much easier to open and close and is back to normal.
I would call this a success and if let soak for the full 24 hours I bet it would of turned out much better. If I did a 24 hour soak and used an abrasive on it afterwards that would be ideal. I'm going to say it is a viable option if you have a rusted out tool. I am going to do the same on my Rebar once it get rusted up real good. I will do a 24+ hour soak on that one. I would love to see someone do it on a tool that is extremely rusted out to get a real good sense of the capability.
Basically I think if I let it soak longer and used an abrasive after the soak 99% of the rust would be removed. I am pretty happy with the result, but with refinement could of been better. In my original picture it doesn't really look rusty, but the problem areas were the pivots which turned out pretty good, but not excellent. Again I think a longer soak would be needed. Sorry for not taking better (before) pictures. When my Rebar needs it I will do detailed before and afters.

A bit less bubbly this morning.

Here is the pliers head. You will see some rust in the Leatherman logo and a small amount left in the teeth of the pliers. This is much less than was in their before and the wire cutters were rusted before and are completely clean now. Their was also rust in the groove where the pliers open and close which is clean now.

Inside the handles and the pivot areas were the most affected and while they show a small amount of rust still they came out pretty good.

Same with the tools. Most of the rust was removed leaving a small amount left over.

sawman · **Reply #20 on:** July 04, 2014, 10:30:53 PM

That seemed to work out nice. Great results Cap'n

Lichtbote · **Reply #21 on:** July 04, 2014, 11:51:17 PM

If i may chime in.

Once i tested Coke with these ph-sticks from our lab - the result was ph between 1 and 2, pretty acid. But ... it was only the bubbles of carbonic-acid, all the fluid is just useless with a lot of sugar. After some time, when all the bubbles are gone, there is no longer any effect. So it doesn´t hurts to refresh the fluid from time to time to get all rust gone.

You could buy citric-acid powder in many supermarkets. Set some of it with hot water and try this - I often use that to get rust off from important/functional surfaces when restoring old machines (mills, lathes, ...) where i can´t use abrasive ways.

captain spaulding · **Reply #22 on:** July 05, 2014, 12:22:13 AM

Quote from: Lichtbote on July 04, 2014, 11:51:17 PM

If i may chime in.

Once i tested Coke with these ph-sticks from our lab - the result was ph between 1 and 2, pretty acid. But ... it was only the bubbles of carbonic-acid, all the fluid is just useless with a lot of sugar. After some time, when all the bubbles are gone, there is no longer any effect. So it doesn´t hurts to refresh the fluid from time to time to get all rust gone.

You could buy citric-acid powder in many supermarkets. Set some of it with hot water and try this - I often use that to get rust off from important/functional surfaces when restoring old machines (mills, lathes, ...) where i can´t use abrasive ways.

Very good info. Thank you.

captain spaulding · **Reply #23 on:** July 05, 2014, 12:30:24 AM

I just remember I have that Sideclip that is a little rusty. I might give it a good Coca-Cola soak for just under 24 hours (switching out the coke half way through) and seeing the results. Couldn't hurt.

captain spaulding · **Reply #24 on:** July 05, 2014, 12:48:48 AM

I said screw it and the Sideclip is now in the Coca-Cola bath for test number two. I took some before pictures. I'm about to post them in a few and they will be great for comparing to the finished result.

I put it in at say 4:00pm. I will drain and refill with fresh Coke at 12:00am (8 hours) and pull it and rinse with soapy water at around 11:00am (19 hours total). It should give a good idea of what we are really working with here.