Caring For Handcuffs

Since this is a new forum, I have always wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to remove tarnish or rust from vintage handcuffs, besides coca cola. Thanks!

uh how about a S.O.S. pad or i beleive there is a metal polish cream called Flitz both are supposed to remove rust but i'm not sure how it will work on handcuffs. Don,

Since this is a new forum, I have always wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to remove tarnish or rust from vintage handcuffs, besides coca cola. Thanks!

Hello,

usually I soak handcuffs with surface rust spots in WD-40. This is very good for the looking menchanism, too - not only, if it is frozen. If the rust is deeper, I use a German rust converter. And to make spotty handcuffs shiny again, I have made good experiences with a German product called "Stahl fix"

Regards,
Atame

Since this is a new forum, I have always wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to remove tarnish or rust from vintage handcuffs, besides coca cola. Thanks!

Hi there,

there are different ways of cleaning up handcuffs. It depends on the age and overall condition of the item to clean...
Here are my favorite cleaning methods, their advantages (+) and disadvantages (-) beginning from the most severe to the slightest method:

1. Dremel (or any other rotary tool) fitted with drum sandpaper kit:
+ removes everything including deep rust;
+ brings up the raw metal surface;
- revomes chrome plating and patina;
- surface gets scratched texture;
- produces lost of dust.

2. Dremel or electric drill fitted with a steel wire wheel:
+ removes dust, rust and tarnish;
+ in most cases chrome plating friendly;
+ polishing of raw metal surfaces results in shiny gloss (very close to chrome plating);
- in some cases chrome plating is removed or scratched;
- removes patina;
- eye-protection is strongly recommended.

3. Steel polish (could be used manually or with polishing kit for a rotary tool):
+ chrome surface gets shiny;
+ gentle tarnish removal;
- manual application could be very time consuming (but that's what a hobby is intended to be...);
- polish is hard to remove from gaps, teeth, keyholes;
- removes patina.

4. Rust remover spray:
+ easy to use;
+ removes surface rust gently;
+ leaves patina;
+ lubricates locking mechanism;
- does not remove deep rust;
- smell of rust remover may stay on handcuff.

5. Methylated spirits:
+ easy to use;
+ removes dirt;
+ kills bacteria;
+ leaves patina;
- no effect on rust, tarnish...

Since this is a new forum, I have always wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to remove tarnish or rust from vintage handcuffs, besides coca cola. Thanks!

HI,
I've had success cleaning handcuffs that were so rusty
they were literally one solid piece. I've brought them backto nice working restraints. I soak them for a day (or more) in a product called Liquid Wrench. This not only loosens rust but eats it away. It loosens stuck parts. After soaking remove the handcuffs and let them drain and dry them with a cloth. Work the sticky parts (clevis, bows, hinges, key in lock, ...) Works great. WD-40 will work great to oil parts after that but before this you may try buffing the cuff. There are different buffing compounds that will remove varying amounts of material, from light surface rust to more coarse gritted materials that will remove more material(including the plating and deeper rust). You can buff it to a bright shine if you so desire. Add these as a few more suggestions to the several fine ideas already posted by others.

Since this is a new forum, I have always wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to remove tarnish or rust from vintage handcuffs, besides coca cola. Thanks!

i usally use coke to loosen up rusted parts. but have not done it on handcuffs yet. Don,

Since this is a new forum, I have always wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to remove tarnish or rust from vintage handcuffs, besides coca cola. Thanks!

Hello all,
I am new here but have been collecting off and on for years. I have read some good suggestions about dealing with very rusty locks. One that a friend passed on to me is ammoninum citrate that is good for removing surface rust down to the bare metal. Just soak it and change it when the solution gets to dark. What I would like to know is what is the best method for dealing with locks such as the Marlin Daley Bottle neck cuffs made of steel/iron and were not plated. I have tried method of the ammoninum citrate, and other rust removers but nothing gets inside the lock and breaks it down. I have even heated the solution and used an ultra sonic cleaner to agitate the solution and hopes to shake some of the rust loose and away.

-Dorson