Bhg
  • TV
  • Episodes
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • Better Life
  • DIY
  • Travel
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Craft
Bhg
  • TV
  • Episodes
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • Better Life
  • DIY
  • Travel
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Craft
Subscribe
This Kmart fan hacked an old gate to make a Hamptons party table

This Kmart fan hacked an old gate to make a Hamptons party table

{headline}

{headline}

Adam’s Sandpit Digger

Adam’s Sandpit Digger

Adam’s Better Idea - Hammering

Adam’s Better Idea - Hammering

How to get your garden winter ready

How to get your garden winter ready

{headline}

{headline}

The best Ikea fails on Instagram

The best Ikea fails on Instagram

How to make a stunning mirror wall for under $50

How to make a stunning mirror wall for under $50

{headline}

{headline}

How to turn wasted space into the perfect home office

How to turn wasted space into the perfect home office

Show us yours

Show us yours

(Sponsor)

Three ways to keep your bathroom renovation costs down

Three ways to keep your bathroom renovation costs down

Budget bathroom renovations: Three hidden costs

Budget bathroom renovations: Three hidden costs

The one mistake you make when choosing a paint colour

The one mistake you make when choosing a paint colour

  1. Home
  2. DIY
  3. How to bring rusty tools back to life

How to bring rusty tools back to life

Are your hand tools a little rusty, or so blunt they wouldn’t cut butter? If so, don’t waste money on replacements – revitalise your tools instead. - by Better Homes and Gardens
  • 07 Mar 2017
How to bring rusty tools back to life Better Homes and Gardens

All you need to get this job done is to set aside an afternoon and gather a few materials (you may even have many in your shed). The small effort required will help prolong the life of your tools, which is especially important if you have quality tools that have been passed down through the generations. Here’s how to get started on your quest to conquer that dirty four-letter word – rust!

You’ll need…

• WD40 or RP7

• Methylated spirits

• Cutting-tool lubricant

• Graphite powder

• Steel wool

• Wire brush

• Fine-grit sandpaper

• Clean, dry rags

• Foil

• Eye, ear, hand and respiratory protection

Screwdriver reviver

Wondering why you’d bother to clean your screwdriver? Try using a rusty screwdriver, then put your hands straight onto clean paintwork and you’ll soon discover why! To restore your screwdrivers to their hardware-store glory, lightly sand to remove the bulk of the rust, then rub with steel wool. Next, dampen an old rag with WD40 or RP7 and rub over the blade to prevent the rust from returning. Use this process to remove rust from any of your hand tools and drill bits. 

...

Screwdriver reviver

Better Homes and Gardens

Shift the grit

Tools with moving parts, such as an adjustable shifter, will sometimes only need a light sand, a rub with steel wool and a spray of WD40. But, if rust has really taken over and your shifter has seized up, it’s time for a metho bath! First, submerge the shifter in a container of methylated spirits for 24 hours. Remove it from the container, then scrub it with a wire brush. Dry with a soft cloth and, if the mechanism still hasn’t loosened up, tap it on your workbench and try again. Once it’s loosened, rub with steel wool and wipe over with a rag dampened with WD40. Next, apply a little graphite powder to the mechanism.

...

Shift the grit

Better Homes and Gardens

Chisel it (just a little bit)

Rust-free tools are one thing, but it’s also important that your tools are razor sharp, so they’re ready for action. Blunt chisels can lead to a messy result, plus they’re difficult to work with and even dangerous to use. The ideal angle for
a chisel point is 25-30 degrees. So, if you have a chisel that needs sharpening, grind it back using a bench grinder.

Here's how

Step 1 Grind chisel, holding it at 90° to grinding stone, to square it and remove nicks.

...

Step 1

Better Homes and Gardens

Step 2 Adjust grinder platform to 25-30° and grind chisel, working it to a sharp edge. While grinding, regularly dip tip of chisel into a cup of water to prevent it overheating. If you overheat chisel, you’ll notice a dark burn mark appear close to the tip. This means you’ll need to start the whole process again.

Step 3 To refine bevel, apply a small amount of cutting-tool lubricant to an
oil stone. Keep flat side of chisel flat to stone and work back and forth. For bevel side, tilt it up a little beyond angle and work in figure-eight motions to hone chisel to a sharp edge. You’ll know that it’s sharp when there’s
a little burr on tip of chisel.

...

Step 3

Better Homes and Gardens

Step 4 Knock off the burr by dragging the tip against a leather belt (the back of the belt you’re wearing will do).

Let’s twist again

No doubt you frequently use twist bits in your power drill. And, if you’ve ever worked with a blunt bit, you’ll agree it can be a frustrating experience. But, it can be easily fixed – you can resharpen your bit using a bench grinder. The tip of a twist bit is a cone shape so you need to make sure you follow this shape on the grinder, turning the bit gradually as you go. And use the ‘touch and dip’ method: for every couple of seconds on the grinder, dip the drill bit in a nearby cup of water to help prevent the tip from burning or breaking.

...

Let's twist again

Better Homes and Gardens

Snip to it

Here’s an idea that applies to the toolbox as well as stationery and craft supplies – sharpening blunt paper scissors. Just fold a piece of foil to create seven layers. Then cut through the foil 10 times. It sounds too simple to be true, but try it and you’ll notice they’re instantly sharpened.

...

Snip to it

Better Homes and Gardens

FREE $40* Crabtree & Evelyn Voucher

Subscribe to Better Homes and Gardens for ONLY $59

Save 30% Subscribe Now
FREE $40* Crabtree & Evelyn Voucher

Recommended to you

This Kmart fan hacked an old gate to make a Hamptons party table

This Kmart fan hacked an old gate to make a Hamptons party table

{headline}

{headline}

Adam’s Sandpit Digger

Adam’s Sandpit Digger

Adam’s Better Idea - Hammering

Adam’s Better Idea - Hammering

How to get your garden winter ready

How to get your garden winter ready

{headline}

{headline}

The best Ikea fails on Instagram

The best Ikea fails on Instagram

How to make a stunning mirror wall for under $50

How to make a stunning mirror wall for under $50

{headline}

{headline}

How to turn wasted space into the perfect home office

How to turn wasted space into the perfect home office

Show us yours

Show us yours

(Sponsor)

Three ways to keep your bathroom renovation costs down

Three ways to keep your bathroom renovation costs down

Budget bathroom renovations: Three hidden costs

Budget bathroom renovations: Three hidden costs

The one mistake you make when choosing a paint colour

The one mistake you make when choosing a paint colour

Bhg
  • Contact us
  • Partners
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe Today
  • 7Plus
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • Contact us
  • Partners
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe Today
  • 7Plus

Brands

  • BHG Shop
  • Home Beautiful
  • Foodiful
  • All Recipes

Pacific Network

  • marie claire
  • Styled By marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Women's Health
  • Men’s Health
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • Pacific Magazines
© 2017 Pacific Magazines