MadModder

Gallery, Projects and General => How to's => Topic started by: mexican jon on August 12, 2016, 11:27:16 PM

Title: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: mexican jon on August 12, 2016, 11:27:16 PM
Whilst sorting through the cupboards in the workshop  :scratch: I discovered a lot of loose taps & dies that have been forgotten for a long time  :( Now whilst I probably don't need them as they haven't been used in such a long time it would seem wasteful to just throw them away  :loco: So he's the question whats the best way to clean them up? Some kind of chemical would be the preferred way as I can do them in batches.
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: trevoratxtal on August 13, 2016, 01:49:31 AM
Citric acid (Lemon juice) very cheep on E-bay as crystals.
Works a treat.
Trevor.
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: PekkaNF on August 13, 2016, 03:58:13 AM
Do you guy's have descaler for teakettles/coffeemakers in your stores? A 1/2l litre botle is cheap here and it has a mixture of citric / phosphorous accid. When heated near 70C is prety good in taking aways surface rust. Then little oiling/wax/WD40.

Bottles looks like this, but generic brands cost few euros here:
http://www.buyforhim.co.uk/Action::IFind--ID::B00J1M627I

Often the label describes these incredinets:
Aqua, Phosphoric Acid, Citric Acid, Dimethoxysilyl Ethylenediaminopropyl Dimethicone

Pekka
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: Manxmodder on August 13, 2016, 08:38:56 AM
Agree with Pekka,a warm solution works far quicker than cold.

Also look up info on electrolytic de-rusting tanks. This is also a very effective way to shift the oxide but leave the base metal unscathed.

After you have de-rusted the taps it may be a good idea to hone the cutting edges of the flutes with a profiled hand diamond lapper or india stone......OZ.
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: inthesticks on August 13, 2016, 08:51:07 AM
Been meaning to try one of those ideas with my drawer full of files many of which are starting to build rust. Maybe with handles they will get used more often :lol:.

Cheers
CB
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: Ed ke6bnl on August 13, 2016, 09:14:00 AM
a few month ago I tried the electrolysis method and it worked ok and messy, used an 8 am manual charger. messy and lots of work used sodium carbonate from a pool supply store.
I picked up a large handful of rust actually a bunch of rusty tooling for lathe, this time I put the parts in an old slow cooker my wife gave me and put in evaporust, my first time using it. In about 1 hr. all the rust was gone with a little rubbing. I then washed them and sprayed them with there rust preventer I also purchase. I am impressed with the product.  My next venture I will use vinegar straight and do a comparison. If you have a very large item maybe electrolysis may be the hot ticket. Have yet to get molasses and try it. SO FOR SMALL ITEMS EVAPORUST WILL BE YOUR FRIEND.  it can be returned to the bottle and reused.
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: hermetic on August 14, 2016, 02:22:03 PM
I get amazing results with cider vinegar, but it is actually my home made cider that went wrong, don't go to morrisons, it will cost you a fortune!
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: rogprov on August 14, 2016, 04:47:39 PM
I have a permanently set up electrolysis bath so anything rusty gets put in for a few hours. Works like magic. :)
Title: Re: Cleaning taps & dies that have surface rust
Post by: Arbalist on August 27, 2016, 08:57:36 AM
I have a permanently set up electrolysis bath so anything rusty gets put in for a few hours. Works like magic. :)

Yes, it works very well and doesn't etch the surface of the steel like acid does.  :thumbup: