77 yo here, learned something new today !

Tip for everyone if you heat the metal aka Pliers or fishing knives hot enough to melt wax on to the metal then wipe the excess off they will never rust again , the wax gets into the pores of the metal and seals it from the water I’ve got knives and fishing pliers forty years old sitting in my tackle box and they won’t rust because I treated them with paraffin wax in this way .

Ive been telling people for years. You dont even have to put it in a huge bath of it, you can soak papertowels, wrap the area and put it in sealed up environment. Ziploc bag, whatever. Tap the rust with a bit of wood every day, seal it up. Works in no time. You can do this with a great many things, just make sure it stays air tight as you can get it.

I bought an '82 Goldwing Aspencade motorcycle that had been sitting for years and the interior of the gas tank had lots of surface rust. The fuel line that is built into the tank also had rust on it and inside the tube. At the advice of others I filled the 5 gallon tank with 80% White vinegar and 20% water. Let is set for 2 days. When I emptied and then rinsed it a few times with plain water the tank and tube looked like new. I've put 10,000 miles on her since and not one problem with the tank or fuel line or fuel filter.

That was a great video! A couple of suggestions- use some baking soda in water to neutralize the vinegar acid left on the tools, otherwise they'll rust even faster; and I use steel wool & oil to finish them up, so that they'll stay rust-free (at least until the next trip at the bottom of the kayak!)

One more tip. Always oil your tools with handles with the handles up. If oil gets in between the metal and rubber/plastic it will make your handles come off

As others have said, using steel wool on the tool after the vinegar works wonders. Takes the remaining rust right off. Great video.

I learned this trick back in the late '70s. Totally forget how I learned it. At one point, I had a 5-gallon bucket of vinegar for derusting stuff. Any acid will work. There's free hydrogen ions in the acid that chemically debond the oxygen atoms from the metal atoms in the rust. Vinegar is just a nice, inexpensive acid to work with. At least, that's my take on it. After derusting and rinsing, I would give it a wipe down with WD-40 and Johnson's paste wax. That seems to provide a decent coating that provides reasonable prevention of future rust.

Great job...might want to add a little vinegar to the swimming pool!

Great post. We just bought a house that was built in 1950 and rummaging through the barn, I found two really old tools that are worse looking than those pliers. Now I have a mission for the weekend...

As Denis Wauchope mentioned it is important to stop the acidic vinegar with neutralisation at about pH 8, otherwise the iron/ steel breaks down. bicarbonate is one way, but anything with a pH above 7 would do fine. The vinegar 'trick' work well, but you do need to remember that you are removing metal from the item, so fine engravings or measurement lines of a scale or similar, may be lost in the process. For pliers, fine and absolutely no issues.

started building an outside shed, and a lot of my tools were rusty but your video and some of the comments made my life a lot easier. doing gods work

I tried this on some cast iron bbq grill grates that went rusty over the winter, worked really well! At the same time I had an electrolysis bath set up to do smaller and rustier things, a pan and smaller tools. The grates were too big for my bath basin I had set up, so tried vinegar in a shallow pan. Have to say the vinegar worked about 80-90% as well as the electrolysis bath, with way less mess and trouble, rigging the bath and all the connections is quite a PITA, ill be doing vinegar the next time for sure. Also, jug your used vinegar and save it for next time, the sample you have there is probably still potent enough to do its work.

I've been using the same method for a few weeks, but only just seen this. If you can leave the tools 3-4 days the results are exponentially better. Seriously, just leave it a while longer and you don't even need to wire brush, the rust just wipes away.

Just put a wrench in vinegar and then looked up your video to see how long to leave them in it. Yay! I am famous for forgetting a tool outside and I am changing my ways. I look forward to getting this old item back in shape. Thanks so much!

At last a straight forward how to video using what most of us have in the home. Also made a note of the follow up comments about baking soda or other neutralising additives added to the water! Excellent, thanks from across the pond!

I wanted to add ,, after seeing your post this,, as I said below ,, I did this to several tools I had ,, one small pair of pliers I have ,, a nice pair I got from my dad years ago ,, came out looking brand new ,, I now use them when I tie my crappie jigs ,, if a lead head jig I am wanting to tie a crappie jig to has a keeper hook on it ,, I use the pliers to help remove that keeper hook ,, new life for a pair of pliers that means a lot to me ,,

Nice, cheap fix! I've got some rusty tools that I'll immediately experiment on myself. Thanks for the tip.

I'm so glad I continued to scroll for ways to remove rust & stopped at yours ! I have hard to find older floor registers and mine are really..years old & full of rust. I had to stop the video mid ways & go sink one of the registers into the remaining gallon of vinegar....plus added the same needle nose pliers (just as locked up & rusty as yours "WERE"...I continued watching & am now anxiously awaiting the 24 hours !! Thanks bunches!!

Thank you so much for this. My husband passed away last year and left a ton of tools. He loved to tinker and fix things. This will be so helpful. I use vinegar for many things so I always have a gallon or 2 around . And it is so cheap . Annie

Nice, just ended up with a tool box full rusty tools for free. Going to do this see how many I can save. THANK YOU FOR THE INFO.

I just watched your video...12:20 am, told my wife I was going out to the shed to get something, what the hell for ? Hmmm, she didn't seem very impressed, my old rusty needle nose pliers I found years ago are know enjoying a lovely "soak" in a shallow tray. Can't wait !!!!!! Thanks !!

Also since vinegar is getting used in a lot of homemade weed killing formulas you can derust tools and then use the used vinegar to make the weed killer thus getting double the bang for your buck. :)

I acquired my father-in-laws tools when he moved to an asst' living and a LOT of them look like your pliers, so I'm gonna try this and hopefully it works for me like it worked for you. I'll let ya know!! Thanks for sharing this GREAT tip!!

I totally have a bunch of sockets that got left in a bucket that got leaked in. This is going to really save me stress. I've been putting it off for a few months and just dragging my big case around. Thanks a bunch 🙂

Just a warning to gun re-finishers. Vinegar removes bluing(A form of rust) also.

Thank you for a great video. I'm grabbing my tools and vinegar right now! So excited to try this and recover tools, seeing so many positive comments makes me even more eager to use this method.

thank you for posting your video, my father served in the navy for 25 years, 1955-1980, 4 tours in vietnam, one in korean war, he was mechanic and had a lot of snap on tools ( part numbers had the V in it) , chrome, impact, sockets, wrenches, etc.. the navy had to have the best tools, well i did not know what i had until i got older but by then they were almost garbage, i did the vinegar and am proud to say i know why the government pays for the old saying, " why does the govt pay 200$ for a hammer when i can get one for only 10 $ its a waste of taxpayers money !!" ?well its because the military has to have tools that wont break down or break. the military issue snap on tools are now being used by me , i have to take my wratchet to the snap on tools truck that visits our city dealership ( ford ) and he will repair it free, lifetime warranty, the snap on guy tells me my tools are very expensive, i am grateful for this tip, i was sanding and grinding a couple of items but noticed i was removing metal not just rust and the rust would return since it was never removed, thanks again sir, cheers

I did this with a few tools in my box ,, worked really well ,, some took several re dips & wire brushings ,, they went from the trash can to re useable and back into my tool box :)

That’s amazing!! I’m crying now thinking about how many fishing pliers I’ve thrown away!! Thanks for the tips!

I have been cleaning rusty tools the last few days after watching this video. They look great. Thank you!

I’m going to try this on an old rusted cast iron skillet lid I found. Vinegar treatment, wire brush, and re-seasoning should do the trick. I thank you & my formerly lidless #10 cast iron skillet thanks you.👍🏼

I recently found out that vinegar will also clean corrosion caused from battery leakage as well and it does it really quickly. I had a pair of rusted pliers that got left out accidently, so I just put them in white vinegar for a day to try it for myself. Ok, so I gave it not one, but 3 days time to soak and it's amazing. A wire brush took everything off down to the bare metal. A little rinse, followed by some WD-40 and finally oil and they'll good to go.

I’ve always used muriatic acid but it’s nice to know vinegar works too. I also find an ammonia rinse helps prevent future rusting.

Oh this video just saved me $25.50 for rust remover and rust stopper on Amazon. Have 2 rusted but expensive multitools that cleaned up beautifully after their vinegar soak, etc. Oiled afterwards and now they look like new--Thanks Very Much!! 😃

Holy cow! I am so excited. This is great. I was just about to order new hedge trimmers to replace my rusty ones. Thank you.

I used this technique a bunch of years ago on bicycle parts and it worked incredibly well. I forgot got long to leave the metal in the vinegar so looked it up again and came across your video. I'm cleaning up some weights that were in kind of bad shape I got for free so I can build a home gym. This was excellent, thank you!

Thanks from me in the UK. Didn’t know of that trick. I will sure try it.

Dude, you are awesome! I'm bringing a sewing machine back rom the dead, Nevr-Dull wasn't getting all the rust off of a spinning part that holds the two belts on the machine. I could buy a spare, replacing it is beyond my knowledge at this point. I used some vinegar on a toothbrush, wasn't good enough. So, I tried the vinegar on a scrubby sponge, got it right off. I coated the metal with sewing machine oil, and now to fix the next thing! Thanks so much

I had the same problem and did something extra: Removed from solution, wired brushed and sandpapered, water wash, alcohol cleaning, sprayed with professional black can spray paint. The rust originated from being in a plastic tool box in my car trunk because the inside of the tool box was full of moisture. The cause was the warmth in the pm and later the drop in temperature at night as this happened over several weeks, as I thought I had a leak in my car trunk. Never happened again after the paint job.

It works super well! Saved many needle nose with this method past few years. It'll break up the rust in just a few minutes

That’s an awesome tip, I will be sure to try it on my rusty tools. It is expensive to be replacing them all the time. Tight lines 🎣👍

Thanks. Will add it to my household tips file, share it with my husband, and try it on our metal dish drainer. Awesome tip. :)

Thank You so much for the video. The vinigar is available in the kitchen, on a Sunday afternoon, and it works. Five Stars !

Thank you for this video and for all your other helpful suggestions. I bought some flower gardening snippers like three weeks ago and I forget them outside, we've had some beautiful rain and guess what happened???? Yep they got hella rusty. So gonna try this trick. You all have a great day and God Bless!

Thanks Cuz! I’ve got a 1965 Bedford housetruck that needs some vinegar. Jobs on.

WOooowWW 😳😳😳 That was amazingly easy and simple!!! Thanks Dude!!!

Thanks for the great instructional video! I just cleaned all my tools and they're looking like new. ✅

Thanks for posting this. I have a pair of pliers I left in my kayak after my last trip and need to do this!

Hello sir Giovanni from Philly wow tomorrow I'm gonna try this with my rusted tools thanks again

Simmer the rusty tool in vinegar on the stove top (lowest setting; just simmer, no need to boil) and you'll speed up the results to about an hour. I rehabilitated an ancient rusty bench vise this way, and the parts came out practically clean. Little wire brushing to remove residual bits of rust and paint, and a good wash to remove the vinegar (the comment elsewhere in this thread about a baking soda dip is a good idea), and they were ready for primer.

Works really really well. I soaked some rusty gears in it for 24 hours andthe rust was completely gone. I did shake the container after about 12 hours and a couple other times right before I took them out.

Man that was freaking awesome! Thanks 🙏

Love he Newk’s cup! One of my favorite places .

Great job. The old fashioned way works best. This avoids waste. Very efficient. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you so much for your video, saving me from foolishly purchasing a product I didn't need. I always research it first and consider all factors for 3 days. Thank you.

I used white vinegar, scrubbed with wire brush and good as new.

That’s awesome! Thanks for the tip!

THANK YOU! I am going to go to the tool shed and use this info!

You can clean that vinegar in the glass by using a coffee filter, a tall soda fountain cup and clothespins (the kind with a spring) to keep the filter from sliding into the cup. The save it is a spare container for future use. I would never use the vinegar for any kind of food consumption. But you might want to use it again as a solvent. That's how I make my vinegar last longer.

That's a great tip, surgical pliers are always opened up for sterilization. That might help get those areas that are hidden while closed.

Great go to video, right to the point, sir! Thanks for your validations!

I found this while searching how to remove rust from metal screw top lids, like on glass pantry jars. Thanks for the info. I now know what to do!

Great video👋 My advice for tool purchases: Chromium-vanadium tools do not have rust problems.🛠

I’m a 70 year old woman, I clean my tools by using the brush on the grinder. A lot faster and I actually enjoy doing it. Been doing this for years.

There are numerous videos of metal restoration (tools, machines, garden tools) on KZfaq. The three biggest rust removers are vinegar, Evaporust, or electrolysis using a battery charger. Depending on the amount of decay and rust, some will use one or a combination of methods. I’ve used all three and while vinegar works; for badly rusted items I use Evaporust or electrolysis.

Nice one! Got a rusty antique plane that needs cleaning off. Going shopping today, so must remember to get some vinegar! Cheers for the tip.

Just shared your video on my Facebook page! Thanks for the great info!

Great!! It also gets rid of bathroom mould when sprayed on neat (tons cheaper than branded sprays).

Yes brilliant! I've cleaned up tools. Nails, screws, fishing hooks, reels and rod rings. Works a treat. Not only cheap but very little work. I buy old tools for pennies and clean them to perfect working order.😁😁

Got a pair just like that, so now I know what to do. Thank you for a very helpful video.

This was one of the best youtube hacks I've seen. It works. And if you leave it in too long - no harm done. The second I took it out of the vinegar, I hit it with WD40 to displace the water, then wiped it off.

It would be best to lightly sandpaper them with W-D40 then oil the whole thing let sit overnight with as much oil that will stay on them wipe off next day oil the joint again. Thanks for the vid!

The left over solution makes a great ebonizing dye for wood with a high tannic acid content like cherry, red oak, mahogany..

That's awesome that there is a cheap alternative to remove rust! In Diesel mechanics school we dropped parts in Carb Cleaner over night and they came out looking like new, but Carb Cleaner is extremely expensive.

Thank you sir. Great video. I have some cutlery I wanted to clean and saw you video. Thanks again.

Very impressive.

Thanks. I’ve been throwing my rusted tools away. I have a habit of leaving them in the yard. Plus we live near the ocean so they get rusted shut

Thanks for posting this dude. Timeless helpfulness.

I found one our hammers that was left out in the weather over the winter. I am placing the head of it in vinegar tonight and will let you know the results. Your wire cutters look amazing after the vinegar treatment. Can’t wait! Will let you know. ❤

I would use a bit of Isopropyl alcohol (70 or 90%) to dry the water off the tool before oiling, the IPA/water will quickly evaporate off... It works for chemical glassware in the lab.

If you want to make larger amounts, substitute granulated citric acid. it works the same as vinegar and is practical to make larger amounts. The surface brushes to a grey sheen that can be oiled for protection.

That brush look like a military issued cleaning kit brush and break free. Awesome work. Wishing nothing but good for you.

Recently saw an ad of Naval Jelly rust remover, but glad I came here to your helpful video,why buy the naval jelly when Distilled white vinegar is cheaper, eco-friendly and more easily accessed! Thanks for sharing, 👍 and wishing ya a great rest of the week! 😄

That's some good stuff that white vinegar is. It also works on invisalign braces 2 parts water 1 part viniger. It's way better than the (cleaning crystals) it comes with. Also is a good weed killer. Probably 1000 uses. Good video!

if you use a sonic cleaner and isolate the vinegar in a separate container so you don't need to fill the entire tank up with Vinegar it speeds up the process to about a hours time, I live near the coast and am constantly fighting the rust monster.

Duuuuuuude!! TYVM from Melbourne 🇦🇺. You taught me something new today that's going to help me greatly 👌🏻🤩

Vinegar is useful in so many ways, it’s almost a "miracle liquid." Thanks for the video! Now I’ll impress someone else with this knowledge!

Trying this now on my rusty trimmer blade

I had no idea. Thank you for sharing!

Ahh this is Great,Thank you! I have a serious rusty underplate from a 1950s L&R Watch Cleaning Machine That I need to take care of for a customer, so this is Perfect!👍😉🇨🇦

This could save a lot of money by repairing tools, rather than replacing. Thank you !!

Wow man I didn't know vinegar could do all that. That was awesome how I took that rust off. Man I throw away $100 worth of tools i use to work on the truck 🚛 because of it being released. I'm going to have to start doing this for now on. Thank you man I appreciate this. This will help me save some of them tools for my truck 🚛 when I work on it.

Just an FYI if you do this, remember vinegar is acetic acid (which is reacting with the rust) and water which will start your tool rusting all over again if you leave it in there too long and all the acetic acid gets used up. If you wanted to do it 2 days...I'd just change out the vinegar to make sure there is enough to where you don't start creating more rust.

Thank you! Gonna clean my rusty tools tomorrow.

Wow what a great tip! I will be using this for sure, thx for sharing 👍🏽

As many posted , l have done this for years with tools l have picked up at yard sales and flea markets.1) instead of a tooth bush use a wire brush. Get a 3 pack at Harbor Freight for $1. 2) To neutralize the acidic reaction of the vinegar, mixed a box of baking soda in a gallon of water and soak the tool in that for 30 minutes to neutralize the acid. 3) spray the tools down with WD40 and rub a light coat of machine oil on the tool.

Nice video except that when I brushed my teeth the following morning my mouth tasted a little rusty. Thanks.

Good one. I am a great fan of vinegar.Recently restored an old pair of garden clippers and by using steel wool gave them a nice patina. Also vinigar is mild and dose not effect plastics. Cheers from Australia.

Thanks for this info. I've been using CLR and that sometimes works