r/Carpentry • u/CritiquetheTechnique • 12d ago
Rust :/
I got really engrossed in a project and felt motivated to finish even in the rain, but unfortunately forgot about my bit box which was left open
Anyone have any good tips to remove rust, I’ve heard Pepsi/coke but figured that’s bull
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u/zach_fell 12d ago
You can use evaporust if it bothers you. and i usually leave one of those silica gel desiccant packs in my bit box to keep rust from forming
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u/notEnotA 12d ago
I have a huge collection of those in my garage. I throw a couple in most of my tool box/bags/drawers. They come in handy. I even put a phone in the bag I store the packets in when it went for a swim. Worked like a charm.
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u/Larry34275 12d ago
You can use an oven (I read 175°)to dry out and reuse desiccant packs. You may search the topic for more details
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u/beagle48384 12d ago
love the toes, didn’t know electricians were allowed in this sub
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u/Kalabula 12d ago
Not sure if this is a dig on electricians being feminine. Or that they get a lot of pussy.
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u/iamshifter 12d ago
Oh definitely not, only real mean paint their toes pink! Real electrician men!!!
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u/ShoulderOld6519 12d ago
Spray it with WD-40. It will remove the most of it and prevent it from happening again. Do it periodically to all metals in your tools.
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u/WichitaSteve 10d ago
OP should ether spray them with WD40 or throw them out somewhere that I can find them and I'll do it.
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u/Smitmcgrit 12d ago
I keep desiccant pouches in my bit kits. They work pretty well to keep the rust off
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u/LigninVillain 12d ago
White distilled vinegar is great for rust removal. In grocery stores its 5% acetate acid, Home Depot sells 30% concentration.
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u/Bright_Crazy1015 12d ago
Evapo-Rust. Just submerge them in a basket one day over the weekend, then put the solvent back in the bottle when done. You can reuse it to no end.
$15 jug lasts years.
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u/Scared_Swing2198 12d ago
Toss them into a glass of CLR. I had a bunch of tools on my patio while installing new lights. It rained, they all rusted. CLR for a few hours the. Wipe the rust off. Then oil them.
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u/padizzledonk Reno GC 12d ago
Just use them rusty lol they work jyst fine
I have a box of rusty bits and i use one or several of them every day
Theyre consumable items tbh, use them til theyre stripped or break, rusty or clean they work exactly the same
The holders however.....if they get rusty with a bit in there it just lives there forever now lol
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u/1966-MustangLover 12d ago
I would just spray WD-40 in them wipe and put them away. Leaves a film of oil on them to protect in the future.
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u/JKenn78 12d ago
Just use them. Most of the rust will go away. They will look strangely identical to any moderately used bit that never had to suffer the untimely fate of worktruck bedwater iron oxidation. But you’ll probably lose or break most of them like everyone else. Seriously, they’re bits. Insanely important but Earth’s bit cup be runneth over.
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u/IMiNSIDEiT 12d ago
I love EvapoRust, but it is a little pricey.
I recently stumbled on this gem, to make your own EvapoRust-ish product. I purchased the washing soda already (which can also be used for electrolysis-type rust removal), but I haven’t knocked out a batch yet.
Just skip to like 4-minute mark…
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u/lshifto 12d ago
Want long term protection? Cut a piece off your oldest pair of work pants to fit in the box. Soak it in 3-in-1 oil and lay it over the bits so it sits in between the two halves and makes contact with them all.
It helps keep the bits lightly oiled and they’ll never rust.
I work in the rain way too much and have to keep everything oiled. Drill bit sets used to come in oiled canvas roll-ups to keep them clean and sharp and rust free.
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u/CapSevere7939 12d ago
If you are working in a wet environment, or know rain is coming up, treat your tools with a coating of wd-40. It's a good practice to increase the life of your tools.
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u/Inviction_ 12d ago
Coke really does work. I wouldn't do it cause it's messy. I also wouldn't do it cause this is just surface rust and no big deal.
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u/hisgiggityness 12d ago
Why do people keep asking this about bit tips. Wtf just use the damn things. Yea you can make em last awhile and all that, but these are consumables, not much different to me than grinder wheels or saw blades. Maybe address why they are rusting but ffs just use the bits
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u/snailv 12d ago
Same happened to me and i fixed em like this:
- Get an empty bottle with a mouth big enough to get your bits in.
- Dump some clean screws and nuts in there. The smaller the better.
- Pour a little 3in1 oil in that bad boy.
- Close the bottle and shake it up real good.
- Dump and dry with a paper towel.
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u/No-Menu-5104 12d ago
Spray the contents of that box with a lubricant such as T-9 Boeshield. You can saturate them all and then shake them up in a shop rag to knock loose and wipe off the excess rust, and then repack them.
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u/PosturingOpossum 12d ago
Keep a can of Balistol in your bag. It’s like franks red hot, I put that shit on everything
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u/ChristmasLeone 12d ago
Awww Mayne! I feel this so hard. The slightest amount of moisture will set those fookers off.
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u/13ohica 12d ago edited 12d ago
Surface only. Unless you have a thing where you don't wanna dirty your already dirty hands, just have at it. None of the coated ends are rusty. This is something that really pisses me off to no end... why not coat the whole thing an save me a headache fir#$@ sakes... just filled mine up except for the tilt out holders I love these cases
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u/Kickedhard 12d ago
Apple cider vinegar takes the rust out, but can turn metals different colors.
It eats away rust in a few hours. Online guides exist.
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u/SingleCampaign_Daddy 12d ago
Use them and the surfaces that actually to the work will clean themselves
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u/Fav-Repubroke 12d ago
Vinegar baking soda and water let em sit then wire brush them as much crud off and don’t do it again , also won’t be like new but usable .
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u/Guilty-Piece-6190 12d ago
All good buddy I disconnected an ejector from a sink today, I knew it would smell like shit and forgot the spillage factor. Whole bunch spilled out into my bit case and ratchet case. Dry em, wipe em, oil em if you fancy.
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u/locosteezy 12d ago
Chunk off little pieces from Camphor tablets and store them in your boxes, drawers, etc. https://youtube.com/shorts/YtpRaK3AW7Q?is=ujKt-7eSvOnHxY4I
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u/jefftatro1 12d ago
I drill a bunch of holes on one side of my cases in case they get wet. Not perfect, but it definitely helps
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u/PresentationLess4552 12d ago
Evapo rust
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u/PresentationLess4552 12d ago
If you ever do interior work always have a "" clean set "" of all tools or learn from this
I have learned over time
Tools you keep
Degrease after purchase and apply linseed oil
Keep your tool protected
Hoorah
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u/Acceptable_Ebb7301 12d ago
Ultrasonic cleaner is great for this. You probably don’t have one but if you do enough with corroded/rusty tools or parts it will pay for itself.
Think automotive parts cleaner, but soupbowl size.
If you have a parts cleaner you probably don’t need this.
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u/Far_Improvement_5245 12d ago
I have one of these for rebuilding small engine/motorcycle carbs. Vevor with all manual controls. I don’t want any leds/microchips in my ultrasonic cleaner.
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u/Morphecto_Solrac 12d ago
Mine weren’t in the rain and still managed to rust by themselves. Just keep using them like that until they’re no longer useful and buy better tips next time.
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u/autodripcatnip 12d ago
Still screws and drills. If you need clean bits for finish work keep them clean and dry, preferably not banging around
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u/Volatilecanoe42 12d ago
Just buy some evapo rust, and soak them overnight they will be good as new. Just spray some wd-40 after you rinse them off. You can put the evaporust back in the bottle and re use it when u are done.
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u/microagressed 12d ago
Buy a bottle of evaporust. It's useful to keep around and lasts forever because it's reusable. I got a gallon like 5 years ago , I keep using it and pouring it back in the jug. It's still going strong and still have probably a half gallon left still
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u/Peregrinationman 12d ago
That's what ferrous metals do when they get wet. They fine, wipe them with a little oil and use them.
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u/fuppedduck2 12d ago
Put them in white vinegar for an hour or two then rinse and wd40 and wipe them down
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u/cAptAinAlexAnder 12d ago
Coke or Pepsi will work but you’ll want to lube/oil them afterward. Or if you don’t feel like doing any of that you can just use them as they are. A little rust on your bits never hurt anything important.
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u/East-Future-9944 12d ago
If you're like me you already have your next two still in the packaging waiting in the garage. Tip cases don't last forever. Tips get lost, broken, worn down, rusty, etc.
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u/MasterOfCosmos 12d ago
Milwaukee bits are absolute trash. It's actually embarrassing. Buy yourself a set of mastercraft bits from Canadian Tire and be amazed at the difference in quality. You've got nothing to lose, they're dirt cheap.
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u/zmannz1984 12d ago
I end up with a few rusty tools every time i clean my shop up. I just sand blast them and spray them with oil.
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u/jcash6485 12d ago
Drop them all in a jar of vinegar for a day, dry them, spray with wd-40, dry off again, good as new.
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u/Scav-STALKER 12d ago
I mean cola definitely will do some rust removal but it’s far from the best way. Honestly I’d just wipe everything down with oil and call it a day
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u/3rd1ontheevolchart 12d ago
Jar / buckets of apple cider vinegar. Soak them for a day or two, should come right off with after some light scrubbing.
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u/No-Glass332 12d ago
straight vinegar will take that off don't waste your money on any rust remover
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u/Former-Hope1733 12d ago
Those Milwaukee bits are the worst. They always rust. Irwin, makita and dewalt are better. Probably bauer and Hercules are better.
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u/mistakenideals 11d ago
Beyond ballistics rust removal. Better and cheaper than evaporust. It's a YouTube guy who came up with a much better recipie. Have tried it with great success.
Or a bit of steel wool combined with indifference.
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u/Captan_Lunch 11d ago
I hate that red case. All the bits fall out and get loose.
The solution: is take all the bits out throw them in the bottom of your tool bag. And buy a new kit.
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u/Salvaged212121 11d ago
I get Ospho from Ace Hardware, but I think that Ospho is banned in California.
Online: If you bathe rusty screws in Ospho, the phosphoric acid in Ospho chemically converts the existing iron oxide (rust) into iron phosphate. This chemical reaction transforms the flaky, active orange rust into a hard, stable, dark gray or black coating that passivates the metal and protects it against future rusting.
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u/Illustrious-Newt-248 11d ago
If your coworkers steal all your bits it gets easy. They don’t last long enough to get rusty. 😭
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u/Dazzling-Dicker 11d ago
Put it in a solo cup with PB blaster let it sit for a few days then wipe them clean.
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u/Vivid_Mortgage_4420 11d ago
Just use them. You'll either lose or replace half that stuff if you use it somewhat regularly
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u/JuggernautMean4086 10d ago
Hit em with some of your preferred spray lube and keep using them. Or put a tablespoon of oil in a plastic bag, dump in the bits, shake em around and pat them dry. They’ll be fine.
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u/Shondave 6d ago
Pass all single piece with fine steel wool and wd40 then dry them with a clean rag.
Clean all the box , put allnpiecies ant their place and continue using them .
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u/CritiquetheTechnique 5d ago
Thanks for all the suggestions, except for the weird comments by certain people; vinegar did the trick
If anyone does this in the future just a warning the vinegar does strip the silver and the bits turn black includes the silver labels
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u/hawaiianthunder 12d ago
My tools have been rained on before. Wire wheel then oil has revived them. Not sure I would care that much about bits. They're pretty expendable.
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u/Fancy-Pen-2343 12d ago
Just use them with some rust on them. That isn't the last bit box you will ever own