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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Petra on September 28, 2005, 18:19:32

Title: Rusty tools
Post by: Petra on September 28, 2005, 18:19:32
Have just raided my uncle's shed and taken posession of my grandad's rusty old fork, shovel and hoe. Any suggeston as to restore them to their former glory? Have also acquired his old watering can which is a thing of beauty I can tell you!!
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: tim on September 28, 2005, 18:27:34
Just 000 wire wool & then WD40?

My g/f's things have never rusted. That's since a while ago. How standards have changed.
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: jennym on September 29, 2005, 01:24:25
Can't afford WD40. Sharpening stone, wire wool and mutton fat for me.
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: powerspade on September 29, 2005, 06:12:35
I had my Grand Dads old gardening tools left me , the best way to keep them shiney is to use them
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: KevB on September 29, 2005, 08:09:31
Quote from: powerspade on September 29, 2005, 06:12:35
I had my Grand Dads old gardening tools left me , the best way to keep them shiney is to use them
Wirh a name like PowerSpade you've got to be right!! and you are!! the very action of soil on the metal acts as an abrasive and cleans away the oxidation!! just wipe clean after use, and wipe over with a greasy cloth!! Hey Presto!! Kev B
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: wardy on September 29, 2005, 09:05:13
I keep a tin of WD40 in the shed and was glad I did as my lotty neighbour got locked out of his shed as his lock had rusted and he just couldn't get in.  quick squirt and we were in

Also my very old shears were left on the plot shed and were very stiff but soon freed up with a little squirt of WD.  It also cleans the underside of the lawn mower
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: keef on September 29, 2005, 10:24:33
I always wipe over my tools with a rag thats been soaked in oil. A rag will last a year or so before it needs to be soaked again.
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: wardy on September 29, 2005, 12:09:09
I bet cooking oil would do too.  I have some in my shed for when I do a cook out  :)
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: aquilegia on September 29, 2005, 12:13:04
Oh - must get some WD40 then. I have grandad's fork and spade and I love them. They are among my most treasured possessions.

(Tim - I read that "g/f" as girlfriend first of all!)
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: Roy Bham UK on September 29, 2005, 21:24:46
Every house hold should have a tin of WD40, it's magic stuff ;D it's actually Rocket Science, I believe the yanks invented it especially for space missions and I think it was originally called Rocket when it went commercial, it has so many uses.

Here's an intersting link... http://www.wd40.com/AboutUs/our_history.html#
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: supersprout on September 30, 2005, 09:55:23
Thanks Roy, I have forwarded this link to my boffin bro who will love it ;D
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: Merry Tiller on September 30, 2005, 10:46:59
QuoteEvery house hold should have a tin of WD40, it's magic stuff  it's actually Rocket Science, I believe the yanks invented it especially for space missions and I think it was originally called Rocket when it went commercial, it has so many uses.

WD40 has been banned from industrial use now due to it's carcinogenic properties, we had to collect it all up & send it for disposal last year
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: roundtoit on September 30, 2005, 10:49:01
Hi there, fully endorse the wonder working properties of WD40 but a bit of advice from an old Irish navvie who used to work for my dad on building sites. He kept an old (wide mouthed) tin bucket full of sand which was liberally soaked with old sump-oil. At the end of the day the tools - Spade, shovel, mattock etc were pushed into that -up and down a few times! -  kept 'em clean, bright and sharp ready for next time.
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: aquilegia on September 30, 2005, 10:53:16
OK - I change my mind about getting WD40 after what Merry Tiller's said.
Title: Re: Rusty tools
Post by: wardy on October 01, 2005, 17:27:22
I've just had a look at the WD 40 site and they state on their website that WD40 contains no carcinogens.

I suppose at home you'd only use the stuff periodically - it's not like you'd be breathing its fume in constantly.