I just discovered that an application of vinegar to rusty tools will make it heaps easier to get rid of said rust. There are quite a few you tubes about this, but it has worked a treat on a small project for me. Paint on vinegar, leave a few minutes and sand off with wet and dry paper initially, then wire brush if required. If you re apply to stubborn spots, be careful of " flash rust " on cleaned areas. One idea was to coat or dip in bi carb soda to neutralize acid vinegar.
I have used vinegar for rust removal for a raw years now. Soak the items in a bath of vinegar for a day or two if the rust is more than light surface rust. Works a treat.
I was recently given some old lathe and mill tooling that had been left in damp conditions and the rust had become quite bad. Not to the point of scale but fairly heavy surface rust. A 2 day bath in vinegar brought them back to life and they are now worthwhile additions to my workshop.
I once de-rusted a whole Wood Stove Top when I lived up the Cape, using diluted Mollasses. Wondered if anyone was going to include that tip here. It really works well.
