Multitool.org Forum
Outdoor Section => The Axe Hole => Topic started by: Sparky415 on December 28, 2012, 08:37:04 PM
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I thought I would do a little comparison of rusted steel and 'finishes'
From left to right lets call the heads ABC and D, finished with...
A; Wire brush
B; Vinegar
C; Original
D; Flap wheel
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/rust.jpg)
A; I think this is the easiest and most durable finish to do, done by using a wire brush then oiled, rust seems to be porous and holds the oil, this finish requires very little maintenance
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/28122012032.jpg)
B; Leaving the steel to soak in vinegar anything from a few hours to a couple of days leaves the steel looking 'Grey' this does the least damage to the steel and seems to 'hold' the oil but not as well as 'A'
This will rust unless protected with oil, below right after wire brushing (oil applied to half)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/28122012008.jpg)
You don't need any power tools to achieve this finish also its quite a 'clean' process creates no dust but you will need somewhere to wash off the gunk (you can use leftover gunk/vinegar to stain wood (and anything else) )
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/18082012020.jpg)
C; This is how they look originally
D; Was done with a 'flap wheel' needs to be protected, rusts very quickly
More examples of rust treated to some vinegar
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/Rust1.jpg)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/Rust3.jpg)
You can protect your tools using linseed oil on the handles and works well on steel if you are going to store your tools long term,
brush it on and after a few weeks it will harden to protect from rust
Coated with linseed
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/100612014.jpg)
I hope this has been of some use and feel free to add your own tips ( :pok: but only tips you have tried and found effective yourself)
:viking: :cheers:
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Very nice :tu: Looking forward to updates to this thread and some new tips. :salute:
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Very interesting post Tony, thanks for putting it together for us :tu: I've done a fair amount of wire-wheeling and have not always been content with the results. The rust comes off well enough, but on fancy old "collector" tools like I often work on, I don't care for the shiny finish that the wire wheel leaves. So I think I'll give that vinegar method a try. :)
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Very nice mate. I've not done any vinegar cleaning either, just wire wheel and emery wheels for me. The emery wheel is the one I'd avoid on anything precious myself, very easy to go to far in my experience.
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i like the effect using vinegar has. Removes rust but still leaves the used kinda look to it.
also nice post! :tu:
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Nice one Tony :tu: I got an axe of sorts (one of the combo roofing tools with axe/hammer/prybar head) a couple of months back from the big international car boot known as ebay :D It has wooden scales on it's full tang handle so I don't think vinegar will be an option for me. I'll try to remember to get pics up soon
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Here we go - pictured with a Yeoman and Spirit for size perspective
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx122/50ft-trad/IMG_5098_zpsde0984c7.jpg)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx122/50ft-trad/IMG_5090_zps412aea90.jpg)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx122/50ft-trad/IMG_5092_zpsd83d3e24.jpg)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx122/50ft-trad/IMG_5091_zps9ed8f693.jpg)
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx122/50ft-trad/IMG_5093_zps1be7ae43.jpg)
Would the vinegar trick work on this or be detrimental to the wooden scales? I'd like to clean it up a bit with minimum metal removal, and without having to rehandle it.
Cheers :cheers:
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Vinegar will stain wood (might not matter in this case) and possibly ‘raise the grain’ of the wood
I would try the wire wheel/wire brush and some oil in your case to see how it turns out, you can always try the vinegar if you don’t like result :tu:
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Vinegar will stain wood (might not matter in this case) and possibly ‘raise the grain’ of the wood
I would try the wire wheel/wire brush and some oil in your case to see how it turns out, you can always try the vinegar if you don’t like result :tu:
Now you've got me thinking it might be a good idea after all :think:
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I like that crating tool you've got there Al. Over here those same tools were made by Bridgeport Hardware. Hmmm, matter of fact yours appears almost identical to a Bridgeport.... (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/smileys/inspectorsmiley_zps9441dccf.gif)
Guess I'd better send a PM off to our resident expert from Australia who can hopefully come give us a ruling. :D
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Bob, Al's Snail tool , those poor English snails :ahhh :P :D. Looks very similar to the US made Bridgeport combination tools but does differ slightly in that it has a more defined hammer , it almost looks like it has been shaped to resemble a conventional hammer :think: :think:. The Snail does share the hatchet, hammer, nail puller & chisel/lever/nail remover,that a lot of Bridgeports had as features. I have seen similar tools made in Germany,England,Japan & the US. Europeans tend to call them 'roofers' tools & the US 'Box' tools(for use in warehouses,dockyards etc,used on wooden crates/boxes).
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/Bridgeport%20multitool/9fcfa267.png)
Great post Tony :salute: :salute:
Al keen to see how your Snail comes up mate :think: :think:
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Ax tip for today :salute:
If you need to do a little refurbishment to your edge I find some 150ish grit emery cloth/sandpaper glued to a flat batten very useful, I hold and use this the same way you use a file,
and you don't have to worry about overheating the steel ;)
When it gets clogged with filings you can clean it using a belt-sander 'rubber' if you don't have one of these find an old hardened tube of silicon sealant , split open the tube and use the contents (also works on belt sanders ;) )
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff/01012013020.jpg)
:cheers:
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Good tip with the silicone Tony, I'll need to give that a go sometime. :tu:
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Yep its a good one :tu: how many of these have I thrown away over the years? ::)
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Great tip there :salute:
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Last tip that I can think of at the moment :think:
When you get your rusty tools home pop them in the freezer for a couple of days if there’s a possibility of woodworm in the handle
Cheaper and nicer to handle than chemicals ;)
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I can see you hosting a DIY tool maintenance TV programme Tony - I'd watch it :tu: :D
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I think its been done before Chrissy :think:
Reg Prescot Makes a Cabinet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p_mdGtY26Y#)
:oops:
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:rofl:
Oh, thanks for that!
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After a post from Stew
Removing rust with Electrolysis >:D
Most people use a 12v car battery charger, I have two but they are both out on loan ::)
So after a little look around the mess that is my garage I came up with a 2amp 24v power supply,
this method produces hydrogen so only try it somewhere with good ventilation
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/13032013002b.jpg)
I hung 4 x 4” nails (anodes +) inside a plastic tub and connected the – to the Axe head
The liquid is a tablespoon full of washing soda crystals dissolved in warm water
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/27032013003b.jpg)
After about 8hours we have soup :)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/28032013001b.jpg)
After a scrub in the sink ;)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/28032013014.jpg)
After a drop of linseed oil :D
Just needs a sharpen and a bit of stick now
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/28032013018.jpg)
I hope that all makes sense :salute:
Remember
-to Axe
+ to sacrificial steel
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Nice work Tony :salute: :salute:.
I think just as well you are a sparky mate :think: I am not sure I would be game to set up that de-ruster :ahhh :ahhh. I am fairly sure our house insurance policy would get cancelled should things go pear shaped :ahhh :ahhh :D
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This is a great thread tony, with great ideas that I can see working. However not too sure what swmbo would think of a rusty hand tool in the freezer.
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This is a great thread tony, with great ideas that I can see working. However not too sure what swmbo would think of a rusty hand tool in the freezer.
Better rust in the freezer than worm in your Chippendales :D
@Mat,
You probably have all you need somewhere in the garage :tu:
Mine seems to be under powered I think it will work better with a battery charger :think:
It was mentioned on the net that newer car chargers are too intelligent, they think there’s a problem and not work with this set up
And there’s a lot of concern about this process producing hydrogen but I don’t know how much of a problem it is on this scale?
Probably best done with lots of ventilation ;)
Good luck Guys :cheers:
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Looks good Tony, worth the effort do you think?
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(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/28032013018.jpg)
Not sure really, I have another one cooking at the moment so we will see how that looks when its done :think:
But it seems to remove the rust, it is not as harsh as using vinegar, leaves more of a patina and there’s none of the dust that wire brushing gives you
So we are at the ‘still playing with our new toys stage’ :tu:
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After a couple of days in the electrical stew my ‘test’ axe looks like this
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/Axe/05042013038.jpg)
Just need to pop it back in the other way up now :D
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Looking good mate. Happy with the finish/effort?
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Not sure yet, I think I need more rust to test and would like to try a car charger :think:
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Great thread cheers!
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Thanks Philby :salute:
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After a post from Stew
Removing rust with Electrolysis >:D
Most people use a 12v car battery charger, I have two but they are both out on loan ::)
So after a little look around the mess that is my garage I came up with a 2amp 24v power supply,
this method produces hydrogen so only try it somewhere with good ventilation
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/13032013002b.jpg)
I hung 4 x 4” nails (anodes +) inside a plastic tub and connected the – to the Axe head
The liquid is a tablespoon full of washing soda crystals dissolved in warm water
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/27032013003b.jpg)
After about 8hours we have soup :)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/28032013001b.jpg)
After a scrub in the sink ;)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/28032013014.jpg)
After a drop of linseed oil :D
Just needs a sharpen and a bit of stick now
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/sparky_415/stuff%202013/28032013018.jpg)
I hope that all makes sense :salute:
Remember
-to Axe
+ to sacrificial steel
Please explain "washing soda crystals". And where the hell have I been to miss this ???
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This is what it is and uses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-washing-soda.htm#slideshow
I reckon its this stuff :tu:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Arm-Hammer-Super-Washing-Soda-Detergent-Booster-Household-Cleaner-55-oz/19407690
:cheers:
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Time for a thread resurrection. Just borrowed the vinegar from the kitchen. Axe head is in having a bath. How long before I add the salt?
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Now?
Salt is supposed to make it work better / quicker, probably?
Put the vinegar in the microwave for a min or two to warm it and stir the salt in (it can bubble over very quickly but leaves the microwave clean but smelly ::) )
I guess you will tell Laura its all my fault? :facepalm:
Edit to add ;) And you should wait until shes gone out before you wash all the black off in the kitchen sink :rofl:
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Ah bit late for the microwave as there is a steel axe sat in it. However I will add some salt.
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Can't do any harm :tu:
:dwts:
:D Good luck Mate
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You know we need some pics right mate? :pok:
:D
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I must have got duff vinegar. Getting more tomorrow or possibly coke.
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I must have got duff vinegar. Getting more tomorrow or possibly coke.
:think: :think:
Whats the outcome Mark? I use ordinary value vinegar the cheapest I can find
You could try leaving it in another day and night?
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Kind of removed some but has requires quite a bit of wire wool work too.
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Kind of removed some but has requires quite a bit of wire wool work too.
:pok: Chuck it back in Mate,
Just thinking, the steel wasn't oily was it? :think:
And don't forget you have created vingaroon, stains everything :whistle:
http://www.adamsleatherworks.com/vinegaroon-a-k-a-vinegar-black/
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Great thread Tony. :tu: Not sure how I missed this one. Glad I've now found it. Lots of good info! :) Since I seem to have some rusty tools and axes. I've spent a goodly amount of time working on axe heads with sanding sponges. Time well spent since I seem to enjoy it. :D
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Great thread Tony. :tu: Not sure how I missed this one. Glad I've now found it. Lots of good info! :) Since I seem to have some rusty tools and axes. I've spent a goodly amount of time working on axe heads with sanding sponges. Time well spent since I seem to enjoy it. :D
Thanks David, I tried to get some useful stuff in one thread :salute:
Feel free to add other 'Rusty' tips :tu:
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Now its gone nice and quiet on here. The vinegar trick did work on some footprints I had. The axe must have some sort of surface protector on it
Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk
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:pok: Pictures?
Did you wash the black gunk off in the kitchen sink? >:D
:D
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Kitchen sink! You have met the wife? I am still alive to be typing this. No my garage has all mod cons including cold water collected from the rain water butt just outside the door. Pics will have to wait as I am now indoors and plan to stay that way.:-)
Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk
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Everything you need to know about removing rust :tu:
(Thanks Smashie :salute: )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCuQquR-rzo
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^^^ :D :like:
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Great thread :like: :cheers: :tu:
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Just like my garage, Full of rusty steel :D
:cheers:
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Is there such a thing as "too long" to leave steel in a vinegar bath?
Is there an optimum time or the longer the better?
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Kinda Yes :D
Take it out when the rust is gone, I know it's a silly answer but the vinegar will eat the steel when it has finished the rust (I forgot a round file for a few weeks and it wasted away :facepalm: )
So put it in, leave it for a few hours then check it, repeat...
Over night will sort out most rust :tu:
Wash the black gunk off in a sink but be careful as it will stain everything! :ahhh
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Kinda Yes :D
Take it out when the rust is gone, I know it's a silly answer but the vinegar will eat the steel when it has finished the rust (I forgot a round file for a few weeks and it wasted away :facepalm: )
So put it in, leave it for a few hours then check it, repeat...
Over night will sort out most rust :tu:
Wash the black gunk off in a sink but be careful as it will stain everything! :ahhh
OK, it has been 3-4 days so that will do then!
Oh, and I watched that video above, then part 2, then part 3 instead of going to the gym. :facepalm:
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I have used a rust converter that you apply, leave on for 15-30 minutes, then wipe off with a damp cloth, followed by a methylated spirit soaked cloth, then a dry cloth. Seems to work quite well, but don't ask me how much it costs, as I can't remember!
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I have used a rust converter that you apply, leave on for 15-30 minutes, then wipe off with a damp cloth, followed by a methylated spirit soaked cloth, then a dry cloth. Seems to work quite well, but don't ask me how much it costs, as I can't remember!
I checked last night, my rust converter is Phosphoric Acid. The acid transforms the iron oxide rust into ferric phosphate.
Molasses contains phosphoric acid, so a similar result to the video with the cold chisels is what you can expect if you clean off the black ferric phosphate coating
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:viking: Bump
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Thanks for referring me to this thread Sparky! I think the rusty viniger gunk, used as a stain is genius! What better way to pay homage to the patina than use it to re stain your handles, haha. As far as vinegar goes, does the kind of vinegar make any difference? I had tried apple cider vinegar soak for rust, referred by you tube university. Supposedly works better than white vinegar? :think:
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I have always used the very cheapest vinegar that I can find :shrug:
I think that you should use try wire brush on your axe first, if you don't like that finish you can then try the vinegar
you can't get the old finish back after using the vinegar