Hi everyone.
My partner and I have inherited a pile of old tongs. Nearly all of them are rusted stiff.
What is the best way or best penetrating lube to use to get them moving again? :confused:
I'm looking for effective but not over expensive (money's tight all around) and a material I can find in Ontario rather than having to pay for shipping to bring something in from the States.

Sam
I love old tools - especially FREE old tools :D

You could always try heating the joint up and getting them moving that way. Otherwise, soaking in some good penetrating oil or I've heard of diesel or kerosene. Just don't use around any sparks or open flames. May not get them moving again but you could also do a search on here on electric rust removal using a battery charger and water with an elctrolyte of sorts. That would get the surface rust off and possibly some of the joint rust too.

Edited April 26, 200917 yr by easilyconfused

I am with Easily Confused. Heat them up to cherry red, wire brush and quench in oil or water. Should remove most of the surface rust and free up the joint. Then you can have fun re-working the jaws to suit your needs. I love old tongs.

Tom

Heat and water quench should get them moving. Then heat to dry and oil soak.

Frosty

Place the rivet over the hardy hole of your anvil. Hit the rivet with a hammer until the tongs free up. If the tongs are too free then place the rivet on the face of your anvil and hammer until tight.

Thanks guys, I'll try these ideas.

Heat and Beat ... now those are instructions I can understand

I'll try a soak in WD40 afterwards as well.

I can always rely on IFI

Sam

DO NOT QUENCH THE TONGS FROM RED HOT. They may be medium carbon tongs and could break. I once modified a pair of tongs and without thinking quenched them, while using them with a link on the reins they snapped. When thy snapped they happened to catch one of my fingers between the reins. The finger burst on the end and I lost the nail.

I would heat the tongs up open and close them and just let them cool on the floor.

Thanks J. Good to know.
I was going to soak the tongs in WD40 after they had cooled anyway, but I may have quenched them in water without thinking if you hadn't posted.
Thanks again.
Sam

Aeneas, you gonna be needing all those tongs? im new to backsmithing but im eager to get my hands dirty banging some metal, im in the market for a forge/blower and some tongs, ill pay a fair price if you looking to sell a set or two.
cheers

scratch that im going to make my own as a first project!

Electrolytic de-rusting is a cheap and easy method of cleaning things like that up and will clean the entire thing.