Hey fella, I just picked up a beater and it needs a little TLC. Whats the best way to clean up rusty bolt heads? I thought maybe some Brillo and elbow grease, but I imagine they would just re-rust that way....any good tips?

Go to Auto Zone and Pick up a Quart of Evaporust.Soak them in that It is Non Toxic and Works great.

Nice! That easy huh? It just eats the rust away? No scrubing or anything? I'll give it a try 

Electric drill clamped in a vise with a rotary wire brush in the chuck. Its easier to offer the bolt to the drill rather than the other way around. Wear goggles and watch your fingertips. This method will remove any rust or paint in seconds but if your bolts/bolts have rusted, the plating will have faded off and the rust will return.

How rusty are they?  I am rebuilding an 86' Ford f-150.  I just soaked the rusty bolts in my carb cleaner can, then hit them with a small wire brush, one by one.

I then stuck then in a piece of cardboard and spray painted them.

easy as pie.

Quote from: Slater1601 on March 19, 2007, 08:23:34 AM
Nice! That easy huh? It just eats the rust away? No scrubing or anything? I'll give it a try 

It will leave a Black layer where the Rust Was.you may have to touch them up with some Scotch brite but it does eat the rust and nothing Else.I Like it so well I try to use it everyday.


Oh Yeah it's reuseable too.Just dump it in a Pan or Jar Soak and Pour it back into the Container.I just Dump it intoa Mason Jar and use a Lid to Keep it closed when I'm Soaking or Not Using.It will wear out after a While but The first Quart I bought I cleaned a Tank with it,Soaked some tools that were Rustin ETC. and it got so Nasty I tossed it.It was still working though.I found a set of Safty Wire Pliers that were Completely and Udderly Rusted Closed and Had Rust Flakes falling off of them.After 24 Hrs I took them out rinsed them off and they worked Perfectly.

Sounds good. I think I shall give it a try.

Only problem with spray painting them is the paint will just chip/peel whenever you go to torque the bolt back down.

If you want to paint them look into some High Heat Header Paintfor Exhausts.I don't think it would come off too easy after it's Cured.Just Paint and Heat with a Torch for a Few seconds.Plasticote Makes some really good Header Paint.I used it on and Expansion Chamber I was working on for a Fellow last Week.Since My Bike wasn't running and I couldn't cure it that way I hung it up and Got the BIG Propane torch out.Before Curing the Paint just Wiped off.After it seemed Like it had Stuck Very well.It woun't have a Nice Shiney Finish but a Black Oxide Flat Finish.If you really want to get Picky Caswell Plating Has Plug and Plate Kits.

Quote from: Jughead on March 19, 2007, 09:12:40 AM

Quote from: Slater1601 on March 19, 2007, 08:23:34 AM
Nice! That easy huh? It just eats the rust away? No scrubing or anything? I'll give it a try 

Oh Yeah it's reuseable too.Just dump it in a Pan or Jar Soak and Pour it back into the Container.I just Dump it intoa Mason Jar and use a Lid to Keep it closed when I'm Soaking or Not Using.It will wear out after a While but The first Quart I bought I cleaned a Tank with it,Soaked some tools that were Rustin ETC. and it got so Nasty I tossed it.It was still working though.I found a set of Safty Wire Pliers that were Completely and Udderly Rusted Closed and Had Rust Flakes falling off of them.After 24 Hrs I took them out rinsed them off and they worked Perfectly.

jughaid you should think about a career in infomercials. seriously. with shaZam! like this I am ready to buy a gallon even though I dont have a use for it. it would just make my life better and be hella useful. 

oh yeah i also bought simple green due to u and so far so good. I'm happy with it and will be a repeat crustomer.

http://www.evaporust.com/

Quote from: nightrider on March 19, 2007, 11:05:10 AM

Quote from: Jughead on March 19, 2007, 09:12:40 AM

Quote from: Slater1601 on March 19, 2007, 08:23:34 AM
Nice! That easy huh? It just eats the rust away? No scrubing or anything? I'll give it a try 

Oh Yeah it's reuseable too.Just dump it in a Pan or Jar Soak and Pour it back into the Container.I just Dump it intoa Mason Jar and use a Lid to Keep it closed when I'm Soaking or Not Using.It will wear out after a While but The first Quart I bought I cleaned a Tank with it,Soaked some tools that were Rustin ETC. and it got so Nasty I tossed it.It was still working though.I found a set of Safty Wire Pliers that were Completely and Udderly Rusted Closed and Had Rust Flakes falling off of them.After 24 Hrs I took them out rinsed them off and they worked Perfectly.

jughaid you should think about a career in infomercials. seriously. with shaZam! like this I am ready to buy a gallon even though I dont have a use for it. it would just make my life better and be hella useful. 

oh yeah i also bought simple green due to u and so far so good. I'm happy with it and will be a repeat crustomer.

Awww You Kinda Tend to Learn this stuff After a While.What you Don't Learn from the Older Guys you Kinda Pick up on Experimentation.

The stock bolts are a REALLY CHEAP chrome that flakes and rusts easilly. If you hit them with steel wool or scotchbrite it will take the rust off but it'll also take off most of the chrome too, so you'll have to paint them, and the paint will chip easilly. You can use the rust converter stuff like the evapo rust, but it'll only turn the rust black, it's probally the most durrable option but probally  not the most attractive.
Stainless steel wont rust and you can polish it to look better than chrome, but stainlless is expensive.

Actually if the Case Screws are all your After and Hex Heads Woudn't Matter Look on EbayI'm sure there is a Seller on there Selling them within Reason.Just remember if you go with Stainless make sure you use Anti Seize.