Sawmill and Timber

Sawmills and Sawing => Bandsaw Mills => Topic started by: Kojba on October 17, 2018, 07:10:43 PM

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Title: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Kojba on October 17, 2018, 07:10:43 PM
After getting my new sharpener, I found myself going through my shed, pulling out a ton of old, rusty bands. Anyone would consider them useless, red/orange in color, certainly beyond anything you could send to a sharpening shop.  My son was with me, and he convinced me to try using Muriatic Acid on them.  I've never used MA on metal to remove rust, but what the hell, it was worth a try.
I went down to Lowe's and picked up a gallon for 10 bucks, and proceeded to brush the blades with the acid.  I was surprised at how quickly and easily the rust came off.  I followed up with a dry cloth, and am going to oil them tomorrow. 
If you decide to use this method, make sure you are outside in the open air; wear a respirator, and of course rubber gloves.  I also had some baking soda nearby in case it got on my hands.  It did make the metal a dull color, but I'm not after pretty blades, just sharp ones.  I have about 20 bands to clean, and hopefully it all works out okay.  Has anyone else tried this before?  Any suggestions?
I'll keep you updated on how it turns out.

Kojba
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Crusarius on October 18, 2018, 07:25:44 AM
I would think first pass through a log would clean them up pretty good. just need to have some logs you don't care about run them all through, then ATF them right after they are clear.

Hopefully waiting overnight they are not all rusty again. its amazing how fast rust forms on clean steel. especially after a rust removal treatment.
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Kojba on October 18, 2018, 02:01:26 PM
Quote from: Crusarius on October 18, 2018, 07:25:44 AM
I would think first pass through a log would clean them up pretty good. just need to have some logs you don't care about run them all through, then ATF them right after they are clear.

Hopefully waiting overnight they are not all rusty again. its amazing how fast rust forms on clean steel. especially after a rust removal treatment.

Bingo!  They were already starting to rust this morning.... Damn, I've got to get this thing right!! ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: bandmiller2 on October 18, 2018, 07:02:06 PM
Muriatic acid will remove rust especially on the old cast iron carbs. You must wash it off and dry and oil the piece to prevent after rust. Its best used by dipping, don't breath the fumes. Do not use it on aluminum or pot metal parts they will disappear. Frank C.
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: furu on October 19, 2018, 06:11:39 AM
I have used MA  to prep welding projects after fabrication and before painting.  Works great at stripping off rust and most mill scale
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Ox on October 19, 2018, 09:58:52 AM
After sharpening/after removal from mill for sharpening, I spray my blades with a 50/50 mix of ATF and kerosene.  It'll mist well from your average spray bottle, covers nicely and prevents rusting.  And it's cheap.  I concentrate on the gullets/tooth points and what mists beyond just kind of settles on the body of the blade.  It only takes a little bit of rust on your newly nicely sharpened blades to make them dull and my blades never go directly from the sharpener to the mill.  Just a thought to maybe help you prevent future rusting/ass-aches. 

Another benefit to using a CBN sharpener would be the oil used for lube/cooling.  It'll leave a film behind to help with rust.  Richard at Cutting Edge has some really good mineral oil he can ship you for this purpose.  High quality and lowest price I've found anywhere.

Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Stevem on October 26, 2018, 10:46:09 AM
Pickling steel:  http://www.wiltonsteelprocessing.com/steel-pickling-oiling
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Ox on October 27, 2018, 10:13:44 AM
Rust - messing up peoples' best intentions since the discovery of metalworking/smelting/forging, etc...
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: mike p on October 29, 2018, 06:56:00 PM
I Have you used electrolysis for rust removal . But not on blades.
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Ox on October 30, 2018, 11:00:23 AM
Electrolysis or ultrasonic cleaning?

How does electrolysis clean rust?  I thought that was for plating metals with other metals using electrical currents through a liquid that allows molecular transfer of the plating metal to the plated metal.
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Crusarius on October 30, 2018, 11:17:04 AM
its pretty much the same thing but the rust is attracted to the electrode. Works great but if you do not oil the steel immediately it will flash rust.
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: Ox on October 31, 2018, 06:06:48 AM
So the rusty part would be the positive and some kind of trash metal would be the negative?  Positive always flows to negative, right?

I realize I could look this up.  Just being lazy I guess because I don't have any immediate plans to try this, but I have  a curiosity that is never quenched.
Title: Re: Cleaning Rusty Band Blades
Post by: mike p on November 03, 2018, 01:49:07 PM
Black on the Bailey. (  planer or good object to be derusted
 )
That's how I remember