OT: Ooops! Now What?

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In fact, it's that black oxidation/staining that eventually gives old iron tools that beautiful patina.

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Which suggests that maybe the solution to the cosmetic problem is to use something like Birchwood Casey gun browning solution... intentionally brown the surface and let regular use burnish the areas that actually get used. ;~)

I kept ihitting it with WD40 and a green scour pad but not much came off. Next day, after a few more applications of WD40 soaked into a paper towel, i used a coarse grit Norton sanding block. All rust gone and no pitting! You can see a very faint outline if you look at it from a low side angle but cannot see it otherwise. Good enough for me. Hit it all over with a little more WD (damn can spout works when it wants and can is at least still 65% full) and tomorrow I will wax it.

Thanks for all the tips. I think I will still look into some of the suggested alternatives for other projects. I enjoy finding the occasional old tool and cleaning it up. I keep hoping to find a good but cheap table belt sander. Maybe this summer.

I can't remember when I bought this WD can, but it's been years. It's a large one and works but only at a low angle and clean spray head. Since I can't find a replacement straw to fit it, I may end up donating it to my mechanic.

Thanks all... 'Casper

"Mike Marlow" wrote in news:kev1ka$nn1$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Forget the spray cans. If you're going to use WD40, buy it in the gallon tin and use a sprayer. Sure, it's not as direct as the spray can, but you don't wind up wasting what's left when the propellant is gone.

Puckdropper

Har! I doubt that anyone here has ever thrown away a full depressurized can of anything. We're an inventive lot and would have found several ways to save and use the contents.

Does anyone here NOT have a church key? (I didn't think not. ;)

-- Newman's First Law: It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down. --Paul Newman

All true but they were building simple furniture..

I hold a rubber tipped blow gun on my air line pressed into the nozzle of the upside down can. Press down(up) the nozzle while releasing air through the blow gun to re pressurize the can. I do not know if my usual 100psi line pressure might blow up the can, so I only give it a quick blast or two. If it's not enough I can always add more later.

I don't use WD40 much, ergo why my can is so old. I use Ballistol...

I have tons of straws around here and not a one will fit this can. I've been through this same conversation with several people, all believing they had a straw to fit, and found out none do. Don't know what the company did with this can, but it sucks.

True.

I barely took off anything and when the rusted area was almost down to the level of the rest of the surface, I sanded the entire surface. I got this unit second hand but it's in great, almost new, shape. I doubt the miniscule amount of metal I sanded off will ever make a difference. Now I just have to remember never to oops again.

I get a lot of this from some people. I wanted to make a custom rest for my lathe for some special projects and was telling my neighbor about it. He kept insisting I would have to have it made in a machine shop due to tight tolerances. I tried to explain to him this is a wood lathe and not a metal lathe but he refused to get the idea until the rest was made and he saw how it worked. He never said another word about tolerances after.

Hmm, that might unsludge a gucked up pickup tube, too, wouldn't it? I'll have to try that some time.

-- Newman's First Law: It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down. --Paul Newman

I've had good luck with Woodcraft's Radnor brand.

Mike M

If there's any significant quantify of product left but no propellant, take a small punch or nail and poke a hole in the can near the bottom, then pour the product into a pump sprayer or oil can.