Saving Rusting Sockets
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 310
Likes: 19
From: SoCal
Saving Rusting Sockets
I've been buying some used tools on eBay to fill out my collection. For decades I've gotten by with an SK 3/8" standard socket set and a motley collection of Craftsman, very little of it bought in sets.
Some of the used sockets I'm getting have rust, and I want to deal with that. So far it seems to come in four flavors:
1. Inside the hex (gripping) part of the socket. Most come this way.
2. Inside the square (drive) part of the socket. A few come this way.
3. Outside the socket, sometimes with flaking chrome and sometimes with bubbled chrome (not sure if there is a better word for it).
4. On the ratchet, on the socket retaining ball bearing (on one side of the square drive).
At the moment, I've got my latest acquisitions soaking up WD-40. What is the next step? Do you folks oil your chrome sockets or wrenches?
Mostly these are used for weekend tinkering.
Thanks in advance for any experiences you can share.
Some of the used sockets I'm getting have rust, and I want to deal with that. So far it seems to come in four flavors:
1. Inside the hex (gripping) part of the socket. Most come this way.
2. Inside the square (drive) part of the socket. A few come this way.
3. Outside the socket, sometimes with flaking chrome and sometimes with bubbled chrome (not sure if there is a better word for it).
4. On the ratchet, on the socket retaining ball bearing (on one side of the square drive).
At the moment, I've got my latest acquisitions soaking up WD-40. What is the next step? Do you folks oil your chrome sockets or wrenches?
Mostly these are used for weekend tinkering.
Thanks in advance for any experiences you can share.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: State of Misery (Missouri
An old machinists trick I was taught, was to go to your local Pharmacist, and order Camphor blocks to put in your toolbox. This was after you get them clean (evaporust, wd40, whatever method).
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster County PA
If you are (or know a) reloader of brass cartridges, you can throw sockets into a vibratory case cleaner.
Probably want to use something a little more agressive than crush walnut media.
Some clean sand would do the trick.
But maybe try it with crushed nut media first to see how it does. Throw them in overnight and see how well they clean up with nut media. If not to your staisfaction, try sand, but do that on a Saturday so you can check them every hour or so. I imagine a long enough time in sand might take the chrome right off eventually.
But, too, and as said before, if they are Craftsman, just go get new ones and save yourself a bunch of time.
Probably want to use something a little more agressive than crush walnut media.
Some clean sand would do the trick.
But maybe try it with crushed nut media first to see how it does. Throw them in overnight and see how well they clean up with nut media. If not to your staisfaction, try sand, but do that on a Saturday so you can check them every hour or so. I imagine a long enough time in sand might take the chrome right off eventually.
But, too, and as said before, if they are Craftsman, just go get new ones and save yourself a bunch of time.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 14
From: cape may county NJ
You can always get some Oxalic acid to soak them in overnight the chrome will shine like new and the rust will be gone,you can find it at Ebay in small amounts(1LB) it is also sold as wood bleach.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
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From: New Jersey
I have a coffee can full of "ospho" in the garage somewhere, and every once in a while I put all my old sockets into the can in this metal strainer thing I bought at a garage sale for $2. I'm not sure what the strainer went to but it's about 1/4" diameter smaller than a full size metal coffee can and about an inch shorter. I load it up, place it in for a while then wipe them all clean. Ospho is a rust-converter that converts rust to primer, and while that might sound like an odd thing to do it does stop the rust. Most of my sockets are husky, kobalt and mostly craftsman and while I could exchange them for new ones the issue is I can't be bothered sorting between brands.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 379
From: Southern California
After you get em clean, the camphor works well in bad weather conditions but I always clean my tools (wipe down) with a little kerosene or if I use brake-kleen or similar product, I will take either kerosene, wd40 or to wipe them down to avoid rusting.
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 310
Likes: 19
From: SoCal
Evapo-Rust -- Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread!
Following some of the advice above, I ordered some Evapo-Rust. I was skeptical, but now I'm impressed! I used it on an ancient Vlchek universal socket and it got the middle (joint) clean -- not shiny, that part never was, but matte gray steel. I ran across an old nail set I'd left outside for a couple of years, fully rust-covered, and the Evapo-rust really cleaned it up.
A couple of things I learned from this. First, keep the parts you are soaking off the bottom of the container -- the wire basket is a good idea. Second, clean up the parts well before you start to remove any old oil -- that impedes the process.
This is a great forum.
Cheers,
A couple of things I learned from this. First, keep the parts you are soaking off the bottom of the container -- the wire basket is a good idea. Second, clean up the parts well before you start to remove any old oil -- that impedes the process.
This is a great forum.
Cheers,
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