# Removing rust from tools **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628 "2003-05-30T21:21:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/1 "2003-05-30T21:21:33Z")
I left a lot of my tools outside in the rain (well, I thought that their cases would keep the water out…so much for that). So, what is the best way to remove rust from a bunch of tools, like C-clamps, driver bits, sockets, etc.? I figure if there’s some magic potion, one of you dopers will have it. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/2 "2003-05-30T21:28:11Z")
Naval Jelly is excellent for that. Of course, you can also use a wad of aluminum foil as an abrasive, but soaking it in the pretty pink stuff is an excellent way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/3 "2003-05-30T21:43:16Z")
If you elect to go the old-fashioned scrub-and-rub way, do yourself a favor and skip the WD-40. Instead, try to find some spray lubes like Rost Off of CRC 5-56. They’ll cut your cleaning time in half. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/4 "2003-05-30T21:49:35Z")
[Vinegar.](http://www.tipking.com/Tips/publish/tip_208.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/5 "2003-05-30T22:00:46Z")
I just chuck a rotary wire brush in my electric drill and go to town on it. When you’re done, a light coat of WD-40 will keep it rust free. ---
**Author:** ![ElectroSunDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@ElectroSunDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElectroSunDog)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/6 "2003-05-30T23:38:30Z")
rub a lemon half on it. ---
**Author:** ![stevephillips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@stevephillips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stevephillips)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/7 "2003-05-31T00:56:30Z")
Electrolysis [http://www.davidbradley.net/ERR.html](http://www.davidbradley.net/ERR.html) [http://www.owwm.com/FAQ/electrolysis.asp](http://www.owwm.com/FAQ/electrolysis.asp) This has the advantage it doesn’t remove any metal, other than the rust. ---
**Author:** ![ronbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@ronbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ronbo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/8 "2003-05-31T01:08:29Z")
Try a cola. The phosphoric acid in the cola is the active ingredient of naval jelly. It also does a great job of dissolving teeth!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/9 "2003-05-31T01:57:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ronbo \* > \*\*Try a cola. The phosphoric acid in the cola is the active ingredient of naval jelly. > > It also does a great job of dissolving teeth!🙂 \*\* No not really, this has been pretty thoroughly debunked as a (group of) urban legend(s). If you use a coke to clean up your rusty tools, you’re most likely to end up with rusty tools that are sticky as well. See this link for more details: > **[Cokelore](https://www.snopes.com/collections/cokelore/)** > > A case of classic Coke legends that never seem to go flat. I like a wire brush and a little WD-40 for garden tools. For knives or bladed tools that you want cleaner, a little steel wool usually cleans them up nicely. ---
**Author:** ![a\_bird\_on\_the\_wire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@a\_bird\_on\_the\_wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_bird_on_the_wire)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/10 "2003-05-31T17:59:51Z")
As **CC** said…Naval Jelly. Course if you spill any it’ll eat it’s way to the center of the earth. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/11 "2003-05-31T19:20:21Z")
I’ve had to remove rust from bucket loads of door and window hardware from this [old house that I’m restoring](http://home.austin.rr.com/hammondhouse/). Naval Jelly does the trick pretty well, but I prefer to attach a wire brush wheel to my bench grinder, spray WD-40 all over the piece and brush away. ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/12 "2003-05-31T22:06:22Z")
Rust becomes soluble at low pH levels, i.e. in acids. So the suggestions for vinegar, lemon juice, coke etc. may help to shift it. I find strong hydrochloric acid very effective for removing rust stains from lab glassware. However, acids will also further corrode your tools, so if you try coke or similar, don’t soak them overnight - clean them as fast as you can. Then rinse them with a LOT of water, rinse the water off with a solvent such as acetone, meths, turpentine etc. dry them, and oil them. Alternatively, acid-based rust removers usually contain an inhibitor that prevents the acid from attacking the metal itself. Probably a more sensible approach altogether. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/13 "2003-06-01T13:44:48Z")
Thanks all! Sounds like naval jelly is a leader here, although > [@](#): > > Course if you spill any it’ll eat it’s way to the center of the earth. scares the bejeezus out of me 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-rust-from-tools/178628/14 "2003-06-01T13:48:20Z")
Yeah, but it’s OK, because the center of the Earth is iron. And I’m sure after 4.5 billion years it’s a bit rusty by now, anyway.