Getting rust off screws

[Zenitram]

Any tips for getting rust off pickguard and pickup screws, [b]using general household products[/b]? I don't mind them still looking fairly relic'ed afterwards (in fact that would be ideal), but I want to get most of the crusty rusty crap off.

Answers on an oxidised piece of scrap metal please.

[neepheid]

A bath of diet cola. Cheap supermarket stuff is fine.

I did a bridge - went from this:



to this:



Not perfect, but a hell of a lot better.

Edited August 5, 2013 by neepheid

[Zenitram]

That looks good. How long did you bathe it for?

[KevB]

Did it affect the flavour of the cola though?

[Jono Bolton]

With the cola soak, do you just rinse it off with water afterwards? I've got a Marlin Strat copy I'm supposed to be cleaning up for a mate, most of the hardware could do with cleaning up.

[neepheid]

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1375705401' post='2164461']
That looks good. How long did you bathe it for?
[/quote]

A few hours. I guess if it hasn't cleaned up enough you could keep going for longer, maybe change the coke every hour or so. I have no idea if that makes a difference.

[neepheid]

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1375706114' post='2164475']
With the cola soak, do you just rinse it off with water afterwards? I've got a Marlin Strat copy I'm supposed to be cleaning up for a mate, most of the hardware could do with cleaning up.
[/quote]

Yes, rinse and dry thoroughly. I used diet cola as I didn't think sticky sugar was a good idea.

[neepheid]

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1375705564' post='2164464']
Did it affect the flavour of the cola though?
[/quote]

Made it better

[Cat Burrito]

I can't top the cola trick but for screws I've just given them a gentle rub with a dry green kitchen scourer which has always done the trick

[Zenitram]

I do enjoy a good screw rub with a kitchen scourer. It really hits the spot.

[xgsjx]

Diesel is the best thing for getting rid of rust. I used to use it for rusty tools or rusted bolts. Soak your items overnight & then rub with a scouring pad (or a wire brush for bigger things).

[miles'tone]

WD40, an old toothbrush.

[BobVbass]

White vinegar and baking soda are good too. If there's loads of oil and crud put it in the dishwasher as well on a boil wash - works great for cleaning engine parts if you're restoring a car too. Probably best to do this when the wife is out though

[BigRedX]

Seems like a lot of effort for some screws. What's wrong with just buying some new ones?

[thebrig]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1376031431' post='2168692']
Seems like a lot of effort for some screws. What's wrong with just buying some new ones?
[/quote]
Exactly! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Pickguard-Mounting-Screws-/281126874165?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item417477ac35"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Pickguard-Mounting-Screws-/281126874165?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item417477ac35[/url]

[Dad3353]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1376031431' post='2168692']
Seems like a lot of effort for some screws. What's wrong with just buying some new ones?
[/quote]

...but then you have all the effort of relicing them...

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1376032381' post='2168702']
...but then you have all the effort of relicing them...
[/quote]

[BigRedX]

If you want the relic'd look surely tetanus-inducing rust is good?

[bassmachine2112]

[i]Diesel,cola,brown sauce ,engine oil,wd40 loadsa things.[/i]
[i]Diesel and a green scrubbie is king.[/i]

[Zenitram]

The diet coke didn't do much, so I rubbed the tops of the screws on some sandpaper, which did the trick.

[jaydentaku]

I cleaned some silver in coke when I was a nipper. I put it on a cupboard shelf and forgot about it for 48 hours. The silver went brown.

I felt like Percy in Blackadder on discovery of the purest 'Green'.

[BILL POSTERS]

Jenolite, if you can still get it anyway. soaks the rust off, but will relic whatever you leave soaking in it.

[paul_5]

[URL=http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/paul_510/media/WirebrushDettol_zpsca6bc862.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd471/paul_510/WirebrushDettol_zpsca6bc862.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[dmccombe7]

Would this help clean up my sound ?

[franzbassist]

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1376371874' post='2172852']
Would this help clean up my sound ?
[/quote]

Probably leave you sounding a touch sterile.

Oh, and lighter fuel works well on rust too.