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Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:46 pm
by JosephS
I've been going through and cleaning up parts for a new build. I now have maybe a coffee cans worth of rc10 imperial screws in various states of cleanliness and surface rust.
Typically I only clean up and add bluing to a few screws at a time, maybe enough for the build I am working on. Does anyone have tips for cleaning up and preventing rust on screws in bulk?
I was thinking about dropping them in my ultra sonic cleaner and then after a dunk in alcohol or acetone. If I did that would I wind up with a can of rusty hardware in a month?
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:17 pm
by Dangeruss
JosephS wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:46 pm
Does anyone have tips for cleaning up and preventing rust on screws in bulk?
Case Tumbler/Vibratory Bowl:
www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Quick-N-EZ-Vibratory-Polishing/dp/B001MYGLJC
Cheapest oil you can find:
www.walmart.com/ip/Pennzoil-Marine-XLF-Extended-Life-Formula-Boat-Engine-Oil-1-Gallon/140425852
And a bucket:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/United-Solutions-Lowe-s-2-Gallon-General-Bucket/1000421393
Into the vibrator until clean, into the bucket and covered with oil to keep them from rusting until they're ready for use. Though the money spent would go a long way towards just buying new hardware.
Word of advice... don't go looking for a vibratory tumbler on Google by searching for "Vibrator" or "Metal Vibrator"
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:21 pm
by jwscab
for steel, originally black oxide screws:
use simple green in your ultrasonic cleaner, rinse and dry.
put into a container with a rust converter of your choice, I have and use the brand Krud Kutter, it's sort of greenish blue and smells terrible. Leave it sit until you achieve a good uniform dark finish, usually within a few hours.
rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.
apply machine oil or even better a low temperature wax to protect the black oxide finish. add enough oil to completely soak the parts, then drain and blot dry with paper towels.
that should bring the screws back to pretty much as purchased. as the oil or wax evaporates you will see the hardware become rusty after a looong time.
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:38 pm
by JosephS
I like the idea of getting a tumbler, but don’t want to deal with a container of oil covered hardware. I did that recently with some out drives and drive shafts and really don’t like digging though the container and then cleaning the parts up to use them.
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:40 pm
by JosephS
jwscab wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:21 pm
for steel, originally black oxide screws:
use simple green in your ultrasonic cleaner, rinse and dry.
put into a container with a rust converter of your choice, I have and use the brand Krud Kutter, it's sort of greenish blue and smells terrible. Leave it sit until you achieve a good uniform dark finish, usually within a few hours.
rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.
apply machine oil or even better a low temperature wax to protect the black oxide finish. add enough oil to completely soak the parts, then drain and blot dry with paper towels.
that should bring the screws back to pretty much as purchased. as the oil or wax evaporates you will see the hardware become rusty after a looong time.
Do you have a recommendation on a wax?
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:39 pm
by juicedcoupe
Once you get them clean, spray them down with Corrosion Block, Corrosion X, or Fluid Film.
I've used all three in marine environments, which is a much rougher environment than your garage.
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 5:01 pm
by MotoObscura
I've used LPS-3 Rust Inhibitor with good results on full scale car parts. I've never used it on RC parts but I'm sure it would still work well.
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 10:39 am
by HS-YZ250
JosephS wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:46 pm
I've been going through and cleaning up parts for a new build. I now have maybe a coffee cans worth of rc10 imperial screws in various states of cleanliness and surface rust.
Typically I only clean up and add bluing to a few screws at a time, maybe enough for the build I am working on. Does anyone have tips for cleaning up and preventing rust on screws in bulk?
I was thinking about dropping them in my ultra sonic cleaner and then after a dunk in alcohol or acetone. If I did that would I wind up with a can of rusty hardware in a month?
If I didn't know it was going to cost over $100 and leave you with a bunch of extras, I'd suggest just buying new replacements. Did that math because I'm about to order a bunch of zinc plated hardware for a future build from here-
https://www.mcmaster.com/
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 2:03 pm
by JosephS
HS-YZ250 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 24, 2025 10:39 am
JosephS wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:46 pm
I've been going through and cleaning up parts for a new build. I now have maybe a coffee cans worth of rc10 imperial screws in various states of cleanliness and surface rust.
Typically I only clean up and add bluing to a few screws at a time, maybe enough for the build I am working on. Does anyone have tips for cleaning up and preventing rust on screws in bulk?
I was thinking about dropping them in my ultra sonic cleaner and then after a dunk in alcohol or acetone. If I did that would I wind up with a can of rusty hardware in a month?
If I didn't know it was going to cost over $100 and leave you with a bunch of extras, I'd suggest just buying new replacements. Did that math because I'm about to order a bunch of zinc plated hardware for a future build from here-
https://www.mcmaster.com/
That's what I had been doing. That's how I ended up with so much leftover bolts and nuts. I can always use more e-clips.
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 2:58 pm
by juicedcoupe
I have a stash of old hardware at my desk.
Every now and then, I will clean a handful of them with a Dremel and wire wheel. The Walmart brand wire wheels are cheap.
Do a handful every few days and they are done before you know it.
Since all my stuff stays inside (repurposed bedroom), I don't have a rust problem. Separate the hardware in small zip lock bags and give them a squirt of WD40 (maybe).
Re: Bulk cleaning and restoring a lot of screws
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 9:28 pm
by Tbird232ci
I haven't done much to restore, or re-black hardware. Once it is too rusty, I usually just replace. But, for lightly rusted hardware, or lightly corroded hardware, I plunk all of the hardware into a small jar and fill it with Seafoam. Seafoam is mostly pale oil, naptha and isopropyl alcohol. I then toss that whole jar into an ultrasonic for an hour or more depending on the amount of hardware. Once it's done, I dump it all out into a strainer, shake it as dry as I can and dump it into a microfiber to let it dry. The oil seems to keep it from rusting and gives it a decent black sheen. It also works with anodized parts, stainless, bare aluminum and chrome parts.