Removing rust from a chain
- Thread starter Hawk
- Start date
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Oxalic Acid (wood bleach) in a plastic container diluted as required. Just remember it is poisonous and will go through your skin, wear gloves. It is cheap but takes a couple of days soaking. Lots of instructions on YouTube.
Dusty Bannister
Well-Known Member
If you have a riding lawn mower, just drag it around the yard for a while, then swap ends and go some more.
Ian
Notorious member
The best advice is probably to throw it away and buy another, unless you're going to cut it up and use it for hanging steel targets. Rusty chains kill people when they break.
However....you can boil it for an hour in plain water, card the orange rust off with a wire brush, soak it in a bucket of kerosene or diesel fuel for a couple days, and have a nice blued (but pitted) chain that will have considerably less than test strength remaining.
However....you can boil it for an hour in plain water, card the orange rust off with a wire brush, soak it in a bucket of kerosene or diesel fuel for a couple days, and have a nice blued (but pitted) chain that will have considerably less than test strength remaining.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Without seeing it in person, cannot advise. At only 10', I might be inclined to simply replace it.
If the rust is severe, it's time to relegate it to a non-critical role, like hanging steel plates.
Chains are useful tools but not all chains are equal, even when the links appear to be the same size. There are chains made with high strength steel and there are cheap chains that appear to be identical at first glance. When they're old and discolored, they pretty much all look the same. Knowing the original quality is important.
For emergency recovery I keep a nylon tow strap in my truck. They are lighter than chains, they don't rust and store easily. In terms of weight verses strength, they are far better. Keep them out of direct sunlight and they last a long time.
If the rust is severe, it's time to relegate it to a non-critical role, like hanging steel plates.
Chains are useful tools but not all chains are equal, even when the links appear to be the same size. There are chains made with high strength steel and there are cheap chains that appear to be identical at first glance. When they're old and discolored, they pretty much all look the same. Knowing the original quality is important.
For emergency recovery I keep a nylon tow strap in my truck. They are lighter than chains, they don't rust and store easily. In terms of weight verses strength, they are far better. Keep them out of direct sunlight and they last a long time.
Chuck Norris would use the whole chain.
waco
Springfield, Oregon
Chuck Norris would chew up the old chain and spit out a new one.
Dusty Bannister
Well-Known Member
I think you made a typo and did not mean "spit".
waco
Springfield, Oregon
No typo
waco
Springfield, Oregon
I guess I’m too dense to get the joke..,I saw what you did there Dusty.
