I have inherited a few generations of hand tools, some rusty, some like new.
I am attempting to find what the general feeling is about restoring these. The rusty ones have a light coating of red rust; the braces and bits are heavily rusted, but not pitted (and the hand saws and planes are beautiful and sharp!).
The questionable ones date from the late 1800s to the 1950s and include: Assorted diemaker's tools (stuff the size of dentist's instruments) Braces and bits Awls / punches ? Hammers of many (most?) types and sizes Assorted hatchets Assorted wrenches Nail pullers (had to look it up, had never seen one. Bridgeport Hardware Mfg Co. Model 56) And a few that I haven't figured out yet.
The dozens of screwdrivers and chisels were wiped off and put on the pegboard for immediate use. For the rest, my options appear to be-
-ignore them
-give them a wipedown with oil
-steel wool
-phosphoric acid to convert the rust to iron phoshate (Ospho)
-whatever else the group suggests
The hammer handles are unfinished but most appear smooth from use.
I won't be selling them, and most I will probably never use. I just don't want them to deteriorate any more.
What should I do?