Rusty burs

Does anybody out in Orchid-ville have a suggestion for removing rust
from old burs? I have quite a few setting burs and hart burs that
are probably still usable, they’re just all rusty. Thanks .

-BK in AK

Mr. Brent Keeney, try some naval jelly for the rust, its the greatest
thing for removing rust.

Sincerely,
Dick…

    Does anybody out in Orchid-ville have a suggestion for removing
rust from old burs?  I have quite a few setting burs and hart burs
that are probably still usable, they're just all rusty.  Thanks . 

BK in AK In the past I have tried using a steel wire brush in the
flexible drive (available through Rio Grande item no. 338-301) . They
do a good job of cleaning up burrs and files as well. Though they wear
out reasonably quickly when cleaning files. Regards

William Russell in sunny cool North Queensland Australia

Hello Brent,

Try some Hydrochloric acid 10-25% Depending on the rust and acid % 1
to 15 minutes. After they are free of rust dip them in a washing soda
solution to neutralize. And oil them will a thin oil, armament cleaning
oil is perfect.

Martin Niemeijer

If they’re rusted, they won’t cut regardless of what you clean them
with. However, if you dip them in nitric acid, the surface will etch
and basically resharpen them (although I have never done it with
rusted burs). The mm size will change slightly but you’ll get more
life out of them.

J

for rusty olde burrs, how about dropping them into the sonic-cleaner
for a spell and touch them up with a dab of oil,eh? at these days the
costs for burrs are too high to drop them into the garbage can. and
while you are at it, clean your files the same way, its like buying
new ones.

gerry,the cyber-setter

Dip in a solution of 7 water, 3 sulphuric acid and 1 nitric acid
(remember, acid in water and NEVER opposite), afterwards
wash/neutralize in washing soda (sodium carbonate) and you might find
yourself in possession of a brand new burr, (though a bit smaller,
but that way you might make your selection of burs larger, - I do :slight_smile:
grin)

Kind regards
Betty & Niels L�vschal, Jyllinge, Denmark
@L_F8vschal
phone (+45) 46 78 89 94

You don’t want anything that is too acidic as that might compromise
the sharpness of the burrs edges, you just want something that will
take the rust off. If it were me, I’d probably start with quick
going-over with a vinegar-salt mixture, scrubbed on with a toothbrush.
Not too acidic, and should pull off the rust without harming the
metal underneath. If that doesn’t work well enough, then I’d go to a
quick dip into an acid bath, probably muriatic acid since that’s easy
to hand. It won’t take long, a dip in the acid until I see it start
to bubble than into a neutralizer, then a quick scrub with the
aforementioned toothbrush. If that didn’t work, then I’d probably
toss it and buy a new burr or use it as is on unimportant items. Time
is money, after all. Neil