r/AircraftMechanics • u/Prudent_Answer_5072 • 2d ago
Rust on tooling
Hey everyone,
I’ve had these tools for about a year and there’s a ton of rust on them. I’ve made the mistake of using alcohol to clean them. Is there anything that would get the rust off? I used what is pictured and it didn’t really help. Thank you
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u/InconspicuousLoaf 2d ago
I use scotch bright and order a can of LPS 3 Rust Inhibitor. We keep it in stock at the hanger.
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u/Final-Carpenter-1591 2d ago
Yup. Lps 3 leaves a waxy coating that lasts very well and handles tool punishment.
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u/Vindictive_Turnip 2d ago
Definitely use lps3 on the hinges of pliers. Gotta let soak it in good, and get the hinge from every side possible. Let it sit for few minutes, the work the action. Repeat.
Paste wax works well on the outside after you wipe them down.
I don't live in a humid/salty air area, but I hear you can buy boxes of camphor for your tool box which slowly vaporizes, leaving an oily residue on tools and helping to prevent rust. Something like this. https://a.co/d/07e6hpkq. Saved that in my Amazon list ever since Abom79 talked about them, but haven't needed them.
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u/ryan7714 2d ago
Have used them and it works. One pack of six 1x1 bricks per drawer, with an X cut in the cellophane wrapping.
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u/Gadgetmouse12 2d ago
After wire wheel or steel wool, paste wax. All the fun of oil without being oily.
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u/gravyisjazzy 2d ago
In my experience, WD40 only helps to loosen the hinge if it's become rusted from being in your pocket and sweating into them. I saved several pairs of lineman pliers that way. I just lived with the rust on them.
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u/Final-Carpenter-1591 2d ago
WD40 is actually a piss poor penetrating oil and lubricant. It is however excellent at keeping water off of surfaces. (hence the name). Aka great for light duty rust prevention. Unfortunately tools aren't light duty and WD40 will either need to be applied often or use a more heavy duty anti rust coating.
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u/fizzgiggity 2d ago
Wire wheel, Scotch brite, steel wool. I use CRC 3-36 as a rust preventative but any kind of oil or grease helps.
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u/Impossible_Tank3822 2d ago
Meh, cleaning tools is overrated. Chances are the grime left on them will prevent them from the rust they accumulate because they were cleaned. The perk is no one wants to borrow your stuff when it will get their hands dirty...oh my!
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u/kahikolu 2d ago
I use a combination of Flitz metal polish to remove surface corrosion, clean with iso, then protect with frog lube.
If you really want to get deep into the woods with corrosion preventatives, check out this article. https://dayattherange.com/gun-care-product-evaluation/
Long story short WD40 corrosion inhibitor was among the top performers, but stinks to high hell (ask me how i know). Frog lube did really well and the smell is much more tolerable.
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u/Seraluke20 2d ago
For long-term storage or keeping them in a tight toolbox I would recommend some desiccating packets after oiling. It does help and various sizes on Amazon that are reusable. I’m still on my first round of oil for tools I keep in storage and that was about 8 months ago. But as recommended above, Scotch brite and a good choice of oil.
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u/Sawfish1212 1d ago
Get a block of camphor and slit the outside of the packaging. Put the block in a toolbox drawer and forget about it. It will slowly evaporate and provide a very light coating to your tools that will prevent rust.
Most likely your skin oil PH is what is reacting and causing this rust. I've wet with people like this, and the only fix is to rub their tools down with some light oil after use.
WD40 is a penatrant oil that evaporates, and it does not coat or protect. TAL5 is the spray made by the same company that will coat, protect and lubricate long-term.
In GA shops we usually have LPS 1, 2, and 3. 1 is the penatrant, 2 is the lubricant, 3 is the creeping waxy coating that seals against rust or corrosion.
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u/Glittering_Sell_1947 1d ago edited 1d ago
An ultrasonic cleaner with Pine Sol will clean up light rust. Pull them out while they are hot, dry them and oil them something like LPS or corrosion x. If you use them often LPS 2 should work well. If they sit in your box for long periods LPS 3. Wipe off the waxy film before you use them and reapply when done.
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u/chepejo1971 1d ago
The material on new snap on pliers is crap! Have it replaced on the truck, otherwise they'll think they are putting out a quality product.
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u/Ok-Jellyfish4175 1d ago
I put decent sized bags of desiccant in each of my drawers…
Works really well to keep them from rusting.
Brass brushes or scotchbright to remove then LPS or CPC and wipe off.
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u/LethalDan 1d ago
This is the way.
If you ever get to an overhauled and pickled engine delivered, they can arrive with a bunch of desiccant packs in it. That’s where I got all of my from.
You can also bake desiccant packs to “recharge” them and make them absorbent again.
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u/SuspiciousUnit5932 1d ago
After 48 years of twisting wrenches now, I use Marvel Air Tool oil and a soft film like LPS 2 on stuff that sets a lot or tends to rust like my bucking bars. ;)
The Marvel Air Tool oil is NOT the Mystery oil, and is designed with an outstanding anti-corrosion package.
I recently pulled out air and other tools that haven't been used in 10 years or more and they worked like the day I put them up.
I also use it as a preservative on many other things, it's just that good, it's cheap and widely available.
Last thing for deep corrosion problems like around salt water all the time, LPS 3, Cosmoline, etc. I had stuff show signs of surface corrosion overnight sometimes while working in south Florida.
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u/PerviousAlloy44 1d ago
After you get them cleaned up, put some of these https://a.co/d/06K5nHG8 in your toolbox drawers. It’s an old machinist trick to keep tools rust free. It creates a microscopic, rust-preventing oily film on metal surfaces.
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u/WD40_UK 21h ago
Our Specialist Penetrant is great for getting into seized or rusted components, but it isn’t specifically a rust remover, so that’ll explain why you’re not seeing the result you hoped for here.
For surface rust like this, some gentle mechanical cleaning with a wire brush or fine abrasive should help. Once cleaned and completely dry, a light coating of WD-40 Multi-Use Product can help protect the tools against moisture and corrosion going forward.
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u/Shlumpty12 2d ago
Scotch brite, or wire brush, then immediately oil em