A couple of great questions came in these past few days, and one last week that I hadn’t had a chance to answer yet. If you have any advice or information that can help further answer these questions, please chime in with a comment!
What’s a Good Rust Remover?
Rick wrote in:
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Do you have a preferred rust removal from old rusty tools? It needs to be mild enough not to remove the tool’s finish though.
When I think rust removal, two products come to mind – Evapo-Rust and Naval Jelly. These and other rust-removal chemicals can be purchased online or locally.
Evapo-Rust ($11 via Amazon) is a non-toxic liquid that works reasonably well and *shouldn’t* damage tools’ original finishes. But, if there’s rust, then a steel tool’s original finish is probably already compromised.
Naval Jelly ($8+ via Amazon) is a gloppier gel-like rust remover that works better on heavier/thicker rust. It might be harsher on the tools and is certainly less friendly to the human body so more care must be taken when using this or similar products. It’s advertised as being able to take tools down to the bare metal.
Help ID This Mystery Tool!
Jesse wrote:
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Came across this tool recently and can’t figure out what it is: any ideas? It has a blade and I’m guessing it is a wire stripping tool.
This looks like maybe it’s used with rope, as a tensioner or a maybe a holder with the stripper-like tool being a clamping or cutting blade. Maybe wrap the rope around the base and then use this to toss the end of a rope where it needs to go?
Does anyone know what this really is? Or what do you think this is?
Where to Buy a Split-Bladed Knife?
You know what, I’ve been there. But split-blade and collectible/replica knives are completely foreign territory for me. This is a bit off-topic, but something a ToolGuyd reader might have answer to.
Dan asked:
After watching the movie ” The Expendables 2.” I’ve wanted one of those split bladed knives. I don’t know why, I guess because I think they are sharp looking. (play on words here) I’ve looked them up and most of them I’ve found are the Dungeons and Dragons style and are made in China. I just want one that has a six inch blade or an overall length of 11 or 12.” I did actually find the guy that makes the knives in the movie but he charges $2500 a pop for them. I’m willing to spend up to $200 for one. Appreciate the help. The include picture has the blade I like but the handle I don’t like.
Any ideas?
What Happened to Triangle Tools?
Tom remembers our Triangle Tools ratchet review, and was hoping to buy a set, but it doesn’t look like they’re available in the USA anymore.
Hi, Triangle Tools appear to be gone from the Sears site and their own website no longer offers a way to buy them. I was thinking about buying a nano ratchet set. They always looked great, but I just never got around to ordering them up.
Do you know if the company still exists? It might be an interesting followup piece for your website. Thanks!
Sears heavily discounted their Triangle Tools sets and ratchets, and it appears they didn’t restock them. As far as I am aware, Sears was Triangle Tools’ only USA distributor. I know that Triangle Tools was trying to arrange for additional USA branding partners, but don’t know what became of their efforts. Right now, I don’t think these tools are available in the USA under Triangle Tools or any other branding.
It used to be that you could order tools from the company directly, but that’s no longer an option on their website.
It looks like they have a USA customer service agent, who *might* be able to arrange for sales, but that seems doubtful.
Update: Dave pointed out that Triangle Tools does still maintain an online store.
Jerry
The mystery tool looks to me like a shock tool, for harvesting wheat and oats long ago. The original McCormic reapers would lay the grain on a platform, and a farmer would rake it off, every so often, and tie it into bundles. One side of the tool would be used to tension the twine as the bundle was tied. The bundles were then hauled to the threshing machine, and the knife blade would be used to cut the twine, so they could feed the grain in evenly. I have not seen one quite like this, so I’m not positive, but it looks similar enough, that a shock or bundle tool would be my best guess.
Mac
Some other rust removal options:
Brew really strong tea (you’re making a weak acid) and leave your tools in it. Check periodically. Disclaimer: stollen from an old tool guy, and it does work.
Use brass wool or a brass wire wheel. I can vouch for both.
I’ve heard good things about Boeshield T9, I think it’s available at walmart now, but I’ve not used it.
Naval jelly’s rust killer is phosphoric acid I believe, and does expose fresh metal.
Immediately coat your tools to help prevent/delay future rust.
The odd tool is pretty interesting. Hope someone knows someone who knows what it is.
Dave L.
Boeshield is like a rustPROOFING agent-sprays out liquid, congeals to a waxy coating. Works well but ain’t cheap-like $12/can. Sprayon makes a product called P.D.R.P. that costs less, as do some other companies. I use it to spray into electrical connectors that are exposed to moisture (like trailer lights).
Walty
Boeshield has a 2 part kit. One part is the “Rust free” and the other is the “T9”. The rust free removes rust and the T9 is a surface protector. I bought the kit from Sears awhile back. It was around $20 I think. Worked pretty good. The rust free removes surface rust pretty well, but not so great on surface or heavy rust. I sealed it with T9 and it seams to keep the rust away on my table saw.
Andy from Workshopshed
Working in a wooden shed I do have a bit of a pre-occupation with rust. I’ve had a lot of success with HG Rust Remover which is mostly strong phosphoric acid with a few other bits and pieces. I used it on a small anvil, some files and a hammer head and it replaces the rust with a lovely black oxide. You can dilute it for use and put your tools in a plastic tub to soak.
http://www.workshopshed.com/2012/10/more-rust-removal.html
here’s a link to some very old rust removal techniques
http://www.workshopshed.com/2012/10/rust-removal.html
RX9
I can’t find any updates on Triangle tools either, but I did manage to score a 1/4 nano ratchet on clearance from Sears a good while ago. I was very impressed with the build quality on the set. Everything was machined to exact tolerances and finished to the highest standards.
The primary selling point of the ratchet was its super fine 144 tooth ratcheting mechanism, which permitted an impressive 2.5 degree throw angle.
Although Triangle seems to be gone, there is another 144 tooth ratchet out on the market, made by VIM Tools, called the Roto-Lock ratchet.
This design, available in 1/4″ and 3/8″, has the added bonus of being a locking swivel-head, with 15 locking positions.
http://www.vehicleservicepros.com/product/10628437/durston-mfg-co-vim-tools-reversible-roto-lock-ratchets
These can be found on amazon and ebay.
Keep in mind that for small clearances you can also go with a rotator ratchet, where you turn the handle to move the ratchet (essentially a zero-degree throw angle). These pop up on the market from a number of manufacturers, including Facom, Kobalt, and Black and Decker (Stanley).
As for Triangle tools, their website lists 58 international patents, so if the company has indeed gone belly up, we might see the innovations they created in the future product lines of whichever other manufacturers buy out their patents.
Visbert
The mystery tool is a tensioner for plastic strapping. See McMaster-Carr product #1966T1.
Mahalo
^Correct!
Kimber Janney
Mystery tool: I still have a couple of these tools on hand; we used to use them working with straw bales to tighten the plastic strapping around the bales and cut it.
Dave MCDaniel
Ran a simple add-to-cart test and the Triangle Store Website seems to work as well as it did in December when I ordered some sockets and a 3/8″ drive set: http://store.triangletools.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=29&Itemid=119
Tools got here when the Triangle rep said they would. Shipping is not that much.
Apparently Sears finally sold all their remaining Triangle stock. I think Sears never properly promoted Triangle, but then Sears has competing brands, their own as well as others.
Stuart
Thanks!
I was looking at their main site for the ratchet, after not seeing the link to the store on their homepage. Looks like they are still maintaining an international online store.
Brian
Vinegar will remove rust.
Joshua Latham
Yeah, thats what i just did. I soaked some old wood chisels and hand plane parts in vinegar. After a couple days rust came right off with a brush and some scotch brite. Then I rinsed them with a water/baking soda rinse to neutralize. Tools look great.
Dave L.
Another rust removal option:
http://www.por15.com/POR-15-Metal-Prep_p_15.html
These two companies have about every kind of knife you’d ever want:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/main_front.jsp
http://www.budk.com/
George Michener
agree on the por15 metal ready,the marine clean used with it will prep up rusty metal for paint. POR15 paints-I cant recommend them enuff. I used rust-mort exclusively years ago on restos- don’t know if its still around. Almost positive they are both phosphoric acid based. If you have more time or lighter rust(tools, stains etc)go with distilled white vinegar. I always have a couple of gallons around-it does everything -cheap too!
Dave L.
Rust Mort:
http://www.semproducts.com/rust-mort/
While I have never had great luck with rust converters, it may have been poor prep on my part.
Electricguy
I never understood knife collecting. Especially ones as useless in the picture. If it’s just going to sit on the shelf might as well be cheap and made in China. If you really wanted to stab someone, whatever is in the kitchen drawer would do a better job and is good for other things like cooking.
Stuart
I’ve never understood why people collect diecast John Deere figurines, or wind chimes, record albums, or thimbles. I myself collect minerals, crystals, and fossils, which some people don’t understand. I really saw nothing wrong with Dan wanting a good quality replica of the split blade knife from the movie.
Dan
Thanks so much for posting my split knife request Stuart. Just hope someoone out there provides some valuable information. No I’m not looking for a knife to stab someone with. In my opinion the split bladed knives would be highly inefficient for that purpose. I can hold one in my hand and pretend I’m cool and tough like Sly Stallone. Just kidding….
Toolfreak
Amazon has both the 2011 re-issue of Gil Hibben’s “double shadow” for just $33:
http://www.amazon.com/United-Cutlery-GH0453-Gil-Hibben/dp/B001JKYA42/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396780399&sr=8-2&keywords=split+blade+knife
And some smaller pairs of 6.5″ split blades for $9.99:
http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Split-Blade-6-5-Ov/dp/B0061G5FW0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396780399&sr=8-1&keywords=split+blade+knife
The double shadow is 420HC, and the smaller knives say they are AUS-6.
Even if you don’t like the handle on the double shadow, it might not be expensive to just buy one or more of those and either swap out the handle with another knife or have one custom made.
CB
I been recently using EvapoRust & Naval jelly quite a bit.
The Evaporust does work but it really works best with chromed items. Evaporust will heavily darken raw steel so just be aware of this, it’s removable with some steel wool or especially with Klingspor abrasive pads (they’re awesome) as long as you can reach it but it does remove rust. It works best after soaking for a day or two.
Naval jelly is old school (toxic) and works but don’t get it near paint, it will quickly destroy it. I found using a small brush with it works really well
Blair
For rust removal you might want to look into electrolysis. Although a little tricky to set up, once you have the materials, and power supply .right it seems to produce good results, without much damage to the metal itself. there are tutorials online from such places as instructables, etc.
Dave
+1 on electrolysis for rust removal. It not only removes rust, it actually restores metal on a molecular level. It’s only safe on ferrous (iron) metal though, and stay away from stainless as it will leave chromium behind, which is a heavy metal.
Blair
here is one site I found through another article, it seems to be fairly
comprehensive:http://users.eastlink.ca/~pspencer/nsaeta/electrolysis.html
I haven’t done this myself, but I am always interested in fighting rust, so I may give it a go this year when we have some down time.
Bruce
That’s definitely a Hibben knife (Double Shadow). Odds are they merely customized up a handle to put on it. It looks like he was the blade guy for the movie.
https://www.hibbenknives.com/Expendables2.htm
Looks like you can get it with the handle from the movie. Hibben’s stuff isn’t bad, I like his throwing knives and I’ve had a Silver Shadow since I was a kid. Usually 420 stainless with a thick spine, durable.
Nick Marques
On rust, I’ve always liked Iron Out products, although the powder form does have nasty fumes.
The mystery tool is a poly strapping tensioner and cutter. It can be found in this kit from Uline:
http://www.uline.com/BL_2752/Poly-Strapping-Kits?desc=Poly+Strapping+Kits
John E
For rust, this does the trick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWXmnyS11z0
Duane
The mystery tool is a Fiberglas strap tightener/cutter for strapping boxes to wooden pallets. The tool tightens the strap enough to put on a metal clip that keeps the strap tight and in place.