Taps and dies rust removal

[Memmeddu]

Hi everyone
I've recently got a little lot of taps and dies along with dies stocks and tap wrenches.
They have rust spots which I'd like to remove prior corrosion gets too deep making them useless.
About stocks and wrenches it's not a big deal as I can get rid of rust enough easily but taps and dies require a different approach to prevent dulling and honestly it would be a shame ruin them because they are all HSS or HSSE from good quality manufactures.
I've already attempted to soak them in diesel fuel for a few days and brush them out using a small brass wire brush having no success.
Problem is that there's no access to the relief throats and or the cutting teeth.
I've seen that someone used vinegar or electrolysis but I'm afraid those would change the sizes of threads ruining them out.
On the other hand vinegar is common for sharpening dull files but someone comply about the fact that they might be not flat anymore.
is there a safe and easy way or something you have done to remove rust from taps and dies in the specific that didn't affect the usability of them?
Thanks in advance

 

[Turbo]

Hot citric acid is good for surface rust. I use an old deep fat fryer to warm the mixture.
You will need to thoroughly degrease them first.

Don't use electrolysis as there is a danger of hydrogen embrittlement.

 

[MattF]

Electrolysis, brass brush, bottle/barrel type brush & a pick. Those combined will sort them.

 

[MattF]

Don't use electrolysis as there is a danger of hydrogen embrittlement.

There isn't. Keep current low, it's fine.

 

[Turbo]

There isn't. Keep current low, it's fine.

I beg to differ, I've had a couple of things made from spring steel crumble due to embrittlement after electrolysis.

 

[Kram]

If its surface rust, purely cosmetic and willl have no difference to their function. Hot citric is a good option.

More useful would be get a suitable fine stone and sharpen the flutes of the die and taps , just enough to get them sharp.

 

[MattF]

I beg to differ, I've had a couple of things made from spring steel crumble due to embrittlement after electrolysis.

I've derusted shedloads of stuff & never had issues in that regard.

What amount of current were you running the setup at? Slow & steady is always the best way with electrolysis.

 

[ahebron]

Put them in Evaporust in an ultrasonic cleaner left running for 4 to 5 hours.
I have been using it to derust motorbike bolts lately.
Or if no ultrasonic cleaner then just leave them soaking for a few days.
And rinse afterwards then spray with a solution to stop rusting again.

 

[Onoff]

Citric acid. I just follow the Deox-C instructions attached here and use citric acid instead of Deox -C powder:


My home made rig:

https://flic.kr/p/2h2szn2

https://flic.kr/p/2mhBeJj

The results

https://flic.kr/p/2mhCvU5

Be very, very wary of using on things like plane blades which have I think high carbon edges. I found it thinned them very quickly:

https://flic.kr/p/2h2sMDw

 

[Misterg]

[...] taps and dies [...] They have rust spots which I'd like to remove prior corrosion gets too deep making them useless.

Just oil them and use them.

I wouldn't put anything with a cutting edge in an acid / electrolysis bath and expect the edge to survive.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

If they are smal patches of rust, then a Bench grinder wire brush will sort them.
Same with a light rust coating on the whole tap.
For dies I use a hand held power wire brush to clean them.

 

[Memmeddu]

I'll upload a picture of some of them to better understand the conditions.
They have been poorly stored before I bought them and some have Havana tape on them too
The tape almost gone after the diesel bath, rust persisted.
I should be able clean the cutting edges running the dies on a bolt but I have not all the thread pitch screws I need.
Rust is similar to the corrosion due to leftovers cutting fluid on the tools with chips or rust from the job done

 

[Turbo]

Some rust converter might be enough and would be less likely to harm the cutting edges.

 

[Memmeddu]

 

[Onoff]

View attachment 482655View attachment 482656

I'd be using those as is and giving a coating with some oil for storage.

If you want to make them pretty, rub the faces on some oiled wet 'n dry paper on a flat surface.

 

[brightspark]

clean any oil of em and spray with cillit bang it will remove rust no probs i bead blast all my rusty stuff. comes up like new

 

[Cobbler]

@Memmeddu, you quoted Havana tape, never heard of it, what is it please?

 

[ukracer]

Put them in Evaporust in an ultrasonic cleaner left running for 4 to 5 hours.
I have been using it to derust motorbike bolts lately.
Or if no ultrasonic cleaner then just leave them soaking for a few days.
And rinse afterwards then spray with a solution to stop rusting again.

Won't they go black? Everything I have done in evaporated has gone black.

 

[ukracer]

Just oil them and use them.

I wouldn't put anything with a cutting edge in an acid / electrolysis bath and expect the edge to survive.

What about an ultrasonic machine?

 

[Memmeddu]

@Memmeddu, you quoted Havana tape, never heard of it, what is it please?

Regular brown package tape