Cleaning wrenches - Simple method

[Papaw]

As you may know, I have been digging up my old wrenches and trying to sell them. As I find them, I often find a lot of surface rust on them from storing them in my old shop building.
Looking at ways to clean them up, I decided to try the easiest method that won't damage them.
I used a Brillo Pad, water, and a little with a scrub pad found in the kitchen. 5 minutes scrubbing, towel dry, then spray some Kroil, pretty clean.

[lptools]

Hello, Papaw. Thanks for sharing. I will give your method a try. Regards, Lou

[Papaw]

Probably won't do a lot on ones that have years of crud and deep rust on them, but for the surface rust it seems to work well. A little more effort with a small wire brush helps.

[EVILDR235]

Very nice. That reminds me, I need to pick up some more round wire brushes. I use them to clean the inside of sockets and box end wrenches.

EvilDr235

[Papaw]

Look in your tool box. Get the battery brush, it works great !

[EVILDR235]

I have been using brushes for cleaning barrels on firearms both brass and stainless steel. I also use brushes for cleaning the inside of copper pipe before soldering. I never thought about a battery terminal cleaner.

EvilDr235

[amecks]

The flea market tool sellers have a lot of junk, but one thing they sell that's good is long brushes in varying diameters, nylon, brass and stainless wire.  They are about a foot and a half long with about athird of that being the brush length.  They sell for $1 to $1.50 and I will pick up a few every time I see them.  Very handy for all types of shop work.
I also find a tightly packed brass wire brush does a very nice job on light rust.  I didn't know what the brush was until someone posted a picture of Brass Press Tools. http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=23728.0 One of the brushes I use is the one on top left in the picture. It's about 3 or 4 inches long.

[EVILDR235]

Speaking of brass brushes, I see wire wheel brass brushes for sale in all the stores in many different name brands. None that I can find are brass. They are brass coated steel that are priced higher that plain steel brushes. Same brush, different color and higher price.

EvilDr235

[p_toad]

Oh, they're out there, but it takes a bunch of hunting around for real brass.   Most of the ones i found are in the 60-90 $ range which puts them on my "i'd like to have, but..." list.   I found a real brass one with a wood central spoke at the restore and i've been using it.  For some reason i never have my face shield on when the steel or brass wheels start throwing pieces. 

[Lewill2]

Good ole McMaster Carr carries brass ones that will fit your bench grinder.

[EVILDR235]

I always wear a face shield when using my bench grinders. I am blind in my left eye, so gotta be careful. I had a sharp pain in my right thumb the other day after some rust removing. Found a wire bristle under my thumb nail. Had to cut my thumb nail back as far as possible and was able to grab it. No infection thank goodness. I will keep looking at the Habitat  Restore for a brass wheel at a good price. Just picked up two new in box Norton $30.00 six inch eighty git grind stones for $5.95 each plus tax and two boxes of 3M five inch sand paper discs for $4.95 a box plus tax. Each box has a hundred discs. I go to the Habitat store twice a day.

EvilDr235