Advice cleaning up a couple of tools

[Tony Wilkins]

I have a couple of vintage tools off the big auction site. Besides sharpening is there anything I need to do to them? There's a very slight about of rust on each.

jointer plane I got of the bay...
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd316/cadfael_tex/DSCF1340_zps53795815.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/user/cadfael_tex/media/DSCF1340_zps53795815.jpg.html)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd316/cadfael_tex/DSCF1341_zpsb2fab632.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/user/cadfael_tex/media/DSCF1341_zpsb2fab632.jpg.html)

3/8" paring chisel, buck bros...
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd316/cadfael_tex/DSCF1343_zpsda27872c.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/user/cadfael_tex/media/DSCF1343_zpsda27872c.jpg.html)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd316/cadfael_tex/DSCF1345_zps9e4b41b3.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/user/cadfael_tex/media/DSCF1345_zps9e4b41b3.jpg.html)

[Jim Koepke]

My suggestion would be to first try removal by abrasives.

Maybe start with steel wool and a bit of mineral oil or what ever your favorite lubricant happens to be.

Soaking may be a good way to remove a lot of rust but tends to ruin any patina of age.

I like the aged look of old tools.

jtk

[David Weaver]

The longer I use old tools, the more I think the Less is More slogan.

I'd probably just lightly remove the rust with a brass wire wheel, and not necessarily down to the last atomic layer, and then make sure they were relatively oiled. As in, I wouldn't work all of the patina off or leave any more marks than I needed to.

If you aren't in humid environment, they won't change much from that point and they'll look better than they would if you had 95% bright metal and dark former pitted areas.

[Tony Wilkins]

That's kind of what I was thinking.

[Tom Henderson2]

Scotch-brite pad with WD-40 for lube works great for me... if the grocery-store pads aren't aggressive enough, industrial Scotch-brite pads are available at MSC, Aircraft Spruce, etc. I prefer those over sandpaper for rust abatement... but I'm far from an expert.

[Mike Holbrook]

I like Krud Kutter, available at Lowes. It is biodegradable with no petroleum, bleach, solvents or amonia. It melts off organic matter without the harsh chemicals. It is a great grease cutter. I prefer Scotch-brite type pads or wire brushes to sand paper as I find they remove more rust and less metal. I think brushes & pads leave tools cleaner without scratching them up as much too. Like David I like old tools to show their age without being rusty or covered in gunk.

[Dave Parkis]

I also prefer the ScotchBrite pads and WD-40. I get my pads at an autobody supply store. Much more economical than the BORG.

[Jim Matthews]

Scrape off the loose rust, polish the cutting edge, oil for storage.

It's never going to look new, again. You could worry the steel
to the point it won't be sharp, either.