cleaning up old bolts

[Ford Blitz]

Somewhere i red that if you want to clean up a heap of old bolts you throw them into a cement mixer with coarse sand and run it for a hour or two.
Any one heard of this approach?

[Chazza]

Sounds like a bad move, unless you want to damage the threads.

I put them in a string bag and hang them off a hook in a molasses bath. Fasteners as small as 3/16" have been saved doing this,

Cheers Charlie

[Ford Blitz]

yep makes sense 

[glbest]

try using coke cola to clean up or vinigar

[Ford Blitz]

I have had success with molasses before on rusty parts and used coke to clean radiator but had not thought of that.
Thanks

[Ravvin]

If you try coke, please post up your results, as I'd be very interested in hearing how well it works.
From memory, part of what gives the different Cola type drinks their specific taste is phosphoric acid, in tiny amounts. This could be what does the cleaning.
I know Coca-Cola changed their recipe pack in the late 70's or early 80's, and I've seen tests where people used it for degreasing engine bays and they all found that it had very little effect.
I've read older accounts of it working and being specifically good for cleaning corrosion off battery posts, so maybe it's the new recipe that's the problem?

Down here, the only source of molasses that I could find was stock feed stores. It's generally around $40 for 25kg and it's only classed as animal grade, not for human consumption, but once it's turned into rum, nobody will taste the difference. 
The other issue for us southerners is that we need to keep it warm or its like trying to stir half-set concrete. 

Greg.

[Ford Blitz]

I used coke to clean out radiators 30 yeas ago and it worked quite well. Apart from anything else the cost of the product would preclude it now unless you only needed a small amount to do the job. I will stick to molasses.
The cheapest way to buy it is in the 200 litre drum. You can get a 200l drum stand and it sits the drum elevated on its side,add a gate valve and your in business. I do understand that it might be too much product so if you go to your stock feed store they will usually sell it in 1 or 2 litre containers. dont worry about the stock feed grade you parts wont know the difference. You dilute with 6 to 8 parts of water and drop your rusty part in and check on it a week later. When you pull the part out and hose it down let it dry and get a coat of something over it quickly or it will start to rust again.It really works a treat.
To get past the cold down your way take it inside and let it warm up. Once mixed with the water you should not have a problem. The beauty of molasses is when your finished you can tip it out on the garden and it acts as a fertilizer.

[glbest]

vinegar can be used to remove rust it was shown on one of those restoration shows

[fc101]

I have tried molasses a few times and it never worked and wasted a lot of time - and it stinks to high heaven.

Phosphoric acid works the best on parts.

[Ford Blitz]

I just used molasses to clean a rusty jeep flywheel up and it worked well.