How to Easily Clean Fasteners

Video tutorial on how to easy clean rusty or painted fasteners. This is a cheap at home method which will remove any rust, paint, and even thread locker from the fasteners. A large amount of fasteners can be cleaned at once and using any other methods can be fairly time consuming. Unfortunately I do not have access to a tumbler either.

Tools/Supplies Needed:

• container
• fasteners
• wire brush, wire wheel, abrasive pad
• paint
• white vinegar
• water

Have a large enough container, preferably something with a lid which will hold all the fasteners. Place the fasteners in the container, no need to clean them first. Submerge them in white vinegar and close the lid on the container, then allow them to soak for one or two days.

As you can see the vinegar is quite discoloured from the rust and other contaminants that were removed from the bolts. Place them in a bucket, use soap if desired and wash the fasteners to remove the vinegar residue, along with any impurities.

Use a heat gun if desired to remove any moisture from the surface. Then finally clean up using a wire brush. A wire brush attachment can also be used on a bench grinder, drill press, or hand held drill. This will remove the black oxide coating from the vinegar.

Finally you'll be left with perfectly clean bolts, free of any coatings, rust, and paint. Apply a finish if your choice.