Don't throw out your rusted tools. Refurbish them, and make them better than new
As you know, I am a big fan of garage sales. When I'm not searching for vintage vinyl, I'm looking for cheap tools for my many DIY adventures. All too often, though, the tools that you find are rusted, dirty and seemingly beyond repair. But, if you know the right tricks, you can turn that tool from tragic to like new.
According to Popular Mechanics: "Start by giving your tools a bath in white vinegar. This is a non-toxic and chemical free solution that works surprisingly well in removing surface rust. After the tools have soaked for a few hours, use a wire brush to remove all excess debris.
Next, use a combination of a bench grinder with a wire brush to really clean up all metal surfaces of your hand tools. Remove as much of the dirt and rust coloring as you can with the wire wheel, but be careful not to damage the tool and a little patina never hurt anyone. A belt sander is used to sharpen chisels and put a final shine on any metal tools."
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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