These Sandflex grit blocks are handy for bringing rusty tools back to life
If you’ve read my “Essential Timber Framing Tools” article, you might be digging through an old relative’s garage or planning a trip to the flea market in search of some antique goodies to build up your tool kit. It’s easy to look past some potential winners based strictly on appearances…. you know what I mean. Rust. Rust is the perpetual enemy of steel tools, now and forever. But don’t despair. Just because a tool is rusty, doesn’t mean it’s beyond repair. I know it’s hard to look past it sometimes, but all it takes is some time and you can turn an old tool right around.
How to Remove Rust From Old Tools
If rust is beyond the surface of the tool, meaning if the rust has transcended a surface blemish and is instead causing pitting and deeper corrosion… well, that’s a problem. But if it looks like the steel is intact and all it really needs is a solid cleaning, you’re in luck. There are a few ways to go about this, but one of my favorite items to keep around are these Sandflex solid grit hand blocks, pictured above. Think of them like ‘rust erasers’.
See the shine? That’s where I cleaned up this square with the Sandflex blocks
These Sandflex sanding blocks are not unlike sandpaper — they’re basically a solid block of grit. They can be used either wet or dry, but I find them to be more effective on heavier rust with a bit of water. There are coarse, medium, and fine blocks, predictably… and using them in sequence brings out a nice shine where there once was ol’ iron oxide.
I like these blocks because, first of all, they’re effective. They’ve got a lot of life in them, too, and they’re easy to toss in the toolbox as they won’t get all crumpled up like sandpaper. You can get the set of three for between $11-16. Sandpaper is a good tool to employ too, especially really coarse grits (60 or 80) for heavier coatings of rust. These blocks may not be the best choice for a deeply tarnished tool — you might wear them out more quickly than you’d like.
Depending on what you’re attempting to clean up, and if the steel is especially rusty, a soak in a heavy vinegar solution (white vinegar mixed with water) also helps quite a bit. If you set something to soak for an hour or so and come back at it with a brush and rag, much of the rust will be easily removed.
Next time you’re out looking for old tools, don’t be afraid to take home a bit of rust with you. You can usually achieve a nice shine with some grit, whether it’s in block or paper form.