How to Remove Rust From Tools
Updated: Jan. 22, 2024
Here’s a much easier way to rusty tools than scraping and sanding them. Pour white vinegar into a can and put a rusty wood plane in the vinegar to soak.
How to Clean Tools: Clean Rusty Tools With Vinegar
Catherine Miller found a much easier way to clean rusty tools than scraping and sanding them. She poured white vinegar into a tin can (we used glass) and put a rusty wood chisel in the vinegar to soak overnight. The next day, with the help of a Scotch-Brite pad, all the rust came off with little effort. The blade still needed sharpening, but the chisel was almost as good as new. Catherine wraps larger tools in a vinegar-soaked rag, covers the rag with a plastic bag or plastic wrap and then leaves it for 24 hours. After cleaning off the rust, you just rinse the tool in the clear water and wipe it dry.
