How To Safely Remove Rust from Handcuffs

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

If it is truly light rust, you might try a soft cloth, oil, and rubbing. I sue gun cleaning patches and gun oil, but any really light oil will do.

If they are old and patinated, I'd be leery of any stronger treatment.

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

Dennis it does seem to be some lite surface rust. i'm hoping that is all that it is and not on the springs inside the handcuffs.

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

Several months ago I came across this method of rust removal using washing soda and a battery charger. I have had good success with it so far, even on heavy rust. You can't rush this process and to some degree, you can reverse some of the new rust forming.

-Dorson

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=el ... gle+Search

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

Hello,
i have remove heavier rust with HEDP-60. Google will find it and also an instruction as PDF. But be careful: do not sink handcuffs totally inside it because springs can loosen and falling out of lock later.

This happend to a pair of Bean Prison. Flat springs are inserted in slits and after jears rust goes also in slits, but springs are always hold in place. But if you remove all rust with HEDP-60, you remove also rust in slits and springs are loose. But i had luck: my Bean Prison has changed to an excellent gimmicked pair of handcuffs, you can show it opening by key, releasing latches (Spring for release knobs remained in place) and closing handcuffs - and it is locked. But you can free yourself without key and tools in a few seconds...

For next project i have wrapped handcuffs into tissue or toilet paper and soaked paper with HEDP-60. So rust will be removed just outside. I have made it with a a heavy rusted Mattatuck with full success.

But you can put a Darby style handcuff totally in HEDP-60, because there is just a round spring inserted, not fastened in a slit. So spring cannot become loose.

But with HEDP-60 you are removing all patina, so you should use it when a lot of rust has to be removed.

Regards
Andy-58

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

While searching out the clues provided by others, I ran across this stuff:

http://www.evaporust.com/evaporust.html

They claim it is recommended by the NRA Gunsmithing school, and a boatload of others. It's a non hazardous aquaeous solution that sounds pretty food at $21.00 a gallon.

I may try it.

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

Hi Don:

Without seeing the cuffs, I can't be sure. However, if they are an old set of Hiatt darbys made from wrought iron (prior to 1900 or so), then don't get too worried about the oxidation on them. Oddly enough, it's actually a good thing.

Due to the lower heat used to smelt wrought iron (as opposed to modern steel) the older iron objects contained a significant amount of silicate and other trace impurities, sometimes referred to as "slag." The patina you see on wrought iron objects is not just rust (i.e. iron oxide) but also an oxidation of the slag content, which actually provides a level of rust protection similar to the bluing on a firearm.

The best example of this is the Iron Pillar of Delhi, India. Despite being exposed to the elements for over 1600 years, it remains virtually uncorroded. The reason is that the phosporous in the slag resulted in a coating of misawite on the pillar; the coating is a whole whopping 1/20 millimeter thick, but has preserved this ancient artifact remarkably well.

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=12824
for more details.

There are some purists out there who claim you shouldn't try to clean up antique iron objects, just leave them all rusty and grungy as they're found. To me, if you take this line of logic to its conclusion, it also means you should never take a bath or wash your clothes.

To me, the goal is to clean the object and help the patina along, but not damage the protective slag oxidation. So, stay away from chemicals, acids, electrolosis and the like since they'l eat away all the oxididation, including the protective slag oxidation (the patina).

Just completely immerse the cuffs in a container of kerosene or diesel fuel for a day or so to loosen up the excess oxidation. There are other solvents you can use that don't smell as bad, but they're a lot more expensive. After they've soaked for a while, just using your fingers and a toothbrush (or any non-metalic bristle brush), scrub the things down. Also, work the key around in the lock mechanism to get all the crud out of there as well. If you have an air hose handy, you can also blow out more junk. When you're done, depending upon how dirty the things were, you'll find the kerosene has turned the color of coffee. Oh, and don't wear nice clothes when doing this; it's smelly and messy, and if you get any of the stuff on your clothes, it's there for good.

If you need to get a little more aggressive with a rough area, you can use a Scotch Brite pad, just don't get carried away. Stay away from steel wool since it will remove the patina down to the bare metal.

Dry the things off with a soft towel and then buff them with a shoe brush, just like you're polishing your shoes. This will help the patina along quite a bit.

Because the slag composition and content of wrought iron varies from object to object, you'll find the color of the patina ranging from medium brown to almost black.

It's really rather fun to do. I've done this with numerous sets of shackles and irons dating back to Roman times and the results are always good. And, if you do this out on the front porch on a Saturday afternoon, all the neighbors will think you're nuts and maybe offer you a beer.

There is a fine line between conservation/preservation and alteration (such as grinding the things with an electric wire wheel to make the metal all bright and shiny again) and it's impossible to define, but you know it when you see it. In speaking with museum curators over the years, none of them saw this approach as harmful to the historic value of the item. Just remember: you can't turn a wrinkled up 98-year-old great grandfather into an Esquire fashion model. Any pitting of the metal is there for good, but restoring the patina over such areas will prevent further damage.

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

FWIW, Lately I have been restoring a set of darby handcuffs and leg irons. I have been using the electrolytic process and was having some trouble and had this blueish green junk on the anode. I had some sort of broken key broken off on the thread and had real fun removing. On the edge of the broken key there is brazing. Since that piece was removed the process has been working much better.

anyone have any ideas as How to Safely Remove Rust. from a set of Handcuffs the rust looks very lite. but i would like to remove it so the cuffs would look nicer. the cuffs in question are a old set of Hiatts Darby style any Ideas ?

Don; Dennis has given you the 'Holy Grail" of Rust Removal! this is a consumer version/packaged, industrial strength Rust Remover. It is a safe, easy to use version of the industrial product, available under different names, that Auto Body shops use to remove surface rust and prep bare metal before priming, generally known as metal/body prep. It attacks Ferrous Oxide (RUST), does not damage "Good" Plating and leaves a dull grey phosphation coating that temporarily protects the cleaned surfaces from further rusting. It comes in a selection of different sized plastic bottles, to suit your needs. Bonus, if you choose to soak your rusted items (recommended) The solution is almost odourless, stable and reusable. Finally a good use for the old Tupperware ! Dennis has posted the "link" to the Evaporust web site. Take a couple of minutes to watch their presentation. And for minor surface rusting..Diet, Coke, Pepsi or any Diet Soda with Phosphoric Acid listed as an ingredient. Soak yor rusted item for a day or so, rinse well, oil, and polish with a soft cloth. Ian Murray