Cleaning old nuts & bolts.

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Mustang_Cougar

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I've got a bunch of old fasteners that are grimy and have some rust on the threads. I'm quite sure I could just wipe them off a bit and reinstall them later, but I was wondering if there is a solvent or cleaner solution that might clean these things up a bit better. Mind you, I'm not looking to get a wire brush or angle grinder out and shine these things to concours; just trying to free things up a bit so that they'll go on easier than they came off.

A neighbor recommended Evapo-Rust (Autozone), but it's a bit pricey. Any other recommendations?

M_C
 
Can you soak them in vinegar water?

I think you want one part vinegar to four parts water and soak overnight.
 
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I got some free Aerokroil with a recent order of Kreen. Cleans off rust, corrosion, leaves bolts with a nice lube. Aerokroil and Kroil is on the shelves if you can find it. If not it can be bought online. Remarkable product.
 
Originally Posted By: hardcore302
I could have my wife talk to them with her abrasive personality.

roflmao.gif
 
Hit them with a penetrating solution. Then some type of rust inhibitor. Since these won't be in an engine I'm thinking some type of silicone spray would work.

I use Kroil by Kano Labs, the same people who make Kreen, on the fasteners on my car when I pull them off. The stuff dissolves rust, and it saves me time as I don't break off small screws and other fasteners, that are difficult to find replacements for, and I am able to reuse them.

I've also used PB blaster, but it doesn't dissolve rust like Kroil.

Regardless of what you use the trick is to soak it, leave it for 5-10 minutes, and come back it to get the crud off and break it free.

Depending on the size of the fasteners I'm not sure I would bother cleaning them real well before they went in one of my sort bins. I'd just spray them down and throw them in there.
 
Make sure the portion under the head is clean as well as the contact point for your socket. Im kinda weird when it comes to bolts and like them as clean as possible.
 
Old school was to get a coffee tin can and put gasoline or kerosene in it. Soak them over night and wipe them off with a shop rag. Don't smoke when you did this. Warning! Don't do this for obvious reasons. Bad in many ways, but it was a good solvent. Enough history. Cut a plastic container like a two liter Coke bottle in half. Leave the top and neck on the 'half' you are going to use. Put the bolts and nuts in the bottom half bottle and use CRC Brake Cleaner to spray them. Any excess will be captured in the bottom of the half bottle. Let soak a while and spray again if necessary. Use a shop rag to wipe off the hardware. Let dry completely before reassembly. You them pour any residue by unscrewing the top of the bottle and pouring it into a container for safe disposal.
 
They say you can soak them in molasses. You can get farm animal grade stuff cheap.
 
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I got some free Aerokroil with a recent order of Kreen. Cleans off rust, corrosion, leaves bolts with a nice lube. Aerokroil and Kroil is on the shelves if you can find it. If not it can be bought online. Remarkable product.


The Aerokroil, can I spray it on a cast iron saw table. I have bought EvapoRust but for that it really needs to soak which is hard for a saw table. Its got a few rusty patches.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
coke will eat the rust off overnite


+1 Regular old Coca-Cola soaked for 7-10 days in a glass jar. Rinse with water, Dry,Soak in ATF in glass jar, allow to drain for 3 days on a towel. Done.
 
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Originally Posted By: hardcore302
I could have my wife talk to them with her abrasive personality.


Now THAT is funny!!!
crackmeup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Jim Spahr
Old school was to get a coffee tin can and put gasoline or kerosene in it. Soak them over night and wipe them off with a shop rag. Don't smoke when you did this. Warning! Don't do this for obvious reasons. Bad in many ways, but it was a good solvent. Enough history. Cut a plastic container like a two liter Coke bottle in half. Leave the top and neck on the 'half' you are going to use. Put the bolts and nuts in the bottom half bottle and use CRC Brake Cleaner to spray them. Any excess will be captured in the bottom of the half bottle. Let soak a while and spray again if necessary. Use a shop rag to wipe off the hardware. Let dry completely before reassembly. You them pour any residue by unscrewing the top of the bottle and pouring it into a container for safe disposal.


This is the ole days i went by back when gasoline and diesel was under a buck a gallon ,,Now you can buy enough brand new nuts and bolts for the price of using gas to clean them,,,But yeah those were the good ole days !
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
coke will eat the rust off overnite


Originally Posted By: spasm3
Phosphoric acid.

...which is a major ingredient in coke.
just add sugar, Carmel color,caffeine, and carbonated water to your phosphoric acid ,in the right proportions, you'd be pretty close to coke.
 
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