The odds are pretty good that when you get an old tool, it's going to be rusty. Let me walk through the different options for getting rust off.

​

1. Evaporust is my go-to first step. I'd skip getting 1 gallon and go straight to the 3.5 gallon bucket that comes with a handy strainer. It's a non-toxic, non-acidic rust remover that only removes rust and nothing else. Disclaimer - I don't soak anything with a handle on it (don't soak the wood). It technically doesn't hurt it, but water swells the wood fiber until it bursts and when it dries, it shrinks. The cool thing with it is you can leave steel in the bucket for weeks, months, years with no ill effect. You don't have to keep the lid on the container for it to work and it works best in warm 80-90 degree temps.

​

2. Reverse Electrolysis works well for large or stubborn pieces, but there's an element of danger when using it. It puts off hydrogen, so you need to have it set up somewhere well ventiated. You can't set it and forget it like Evaporust. It requires having an old-school battery charger (that doesn't have an automatic shut off), a chunk (or chunks) of steel for the rust to move to, and super washing soda. (They sell it at the grocery store, but the odds are you've never bought it before)

​

.3. A Wirewheel If you have a bench grinder (even a little guy) a wire wheel works really well. If you only have an angle grinder, they make wire wheels for those, too. I prefer a bench grinder. I'd say 3/4hp is the max power a normal human would want. I have a 1hp grinder and it's scary.

​

4. Vinegar. Please don't. Even though your grandpa's uncle's cousin's sister's roommate's babysitter said that vinegar works to remove rust, it does, but it also removes the tool's soul. Nah, I don't really care if you use it, but it's an acid, it technically eats away at the metal and it needs to be nutralized after you take it out (with simple green or baking soda and water). "It's cheap", but you get what you pay for.

​

What do I personally do?

Evaporust for 24 hours or more + Wirewheeling, basically always.

​

​