Best way to clean nuts and bolts

[kiwiokie]

I am trying to clean up various screws, nuts and bolts on my SC. The usual accumulation of a little corrosion, over spray and road grime. I initially had great success with a product called "CLR" that I bought at the hardware store but then I realized it stripped the cadmium plating off within minutes. Can anyone recommend a better method other than buying all new fasteners? Cheers, John

[DUK]

I've used a vibrating tumbler. I beleive it was from harbor freight or northern tool.

[mca]

Brake cleaner and a rag.

[David]

I use the gallon can of Berryman's carb cleaner. It's not the same stuff as the spray can.

[Wavey]

Brake cleaner and an assortment of small, stiff, non-metallic brushes.

[Dave Nordhoff]

Laquer thinner in a coffee can, works for me.

[al lkosmal]

I like re-plating....they get very clean.

[WoodSport]

In case anyone is thinking about ultrasonic cleaners: they will remove plating and will even erode the steel if the parts are left in long enough. I learned that one the hard way.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

I use the gallon can of Berryman's carb cleaner. It's not the same stuff as the spray can.

thats what i use too. it WILL take the paint off anything you leave in there too long.

[berettafan]

i use a brass wire wheel. nice clean threads.

[DanielDudley]

Get a little strainer, and a can that it will fit into. Use the solvent of your choice, and jiggle the strainer. Self draining, but dump into a rag or paper towel.

I too am a fan of a wire wheel on a grinder for cleaning up threads and surface rust.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Al, who did your plating? In what condition did you send your parts?

Originally Posted by al lkosmal

I like re-plating....they get very clean.

[sancho]

brake cleaner as well, works great

[al lkosmal]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Al, who did your plating? In what condition did you send your parts?

Electrofinishing Inc: Plating Anodizing & Electropolishing
22630 88th Avenue South, Kent, WA
(253) 850-0540‎

I used the company listed above. Several of us, in the PNW, have gone to Electrofinishing Inc. and are pleased with the results. I brought my hardware down there in all forms......some clean, some oily, greasy, etc. They will charge accordingly. As long as you don't have "long" parts that will hang up on their plating equipment, they will plate your parts in a batch. Fairly economical for nuts, bolts, small sheet metal parts like I've shown in my pix, but the price goes up quite a bit for larger parts.

Regards,

Al

[javadog]

John,

Call Rennsport and ask if Brian has a batch of bolts needing to be replated anytime soon. He does a batch every so often. If so, maybe you can throw yours in with his...

JR

[Superman]

I use Mequiars degreaser, which is available in gallon jugs in auto paint stores. It is red. It does not seem to attack cadmium plating. Everything else does attack the cadmium. The Meguiars is good stuff. In a coffee can or peanut butter jar.

[Roc Doc]

Originally Posted by Superman

I use Mequiars degreaser, which is available in gallon jugs in auto paint stores. It is red. It does not seem to attack cadmium plating. Everything else does attack the cadmium. The Meguiars is good stuff. In a coffee can or peanut butter jar.

This is good stuff. I also have a single burner propane camp stove and an old pot in which I boil the fasteners first. It doesn't take long, and it often gets off all the muck without resorting to chemicals, or at least softens it up enough that a brass brush will clean them up.

[RSTarga]

Let them soak in kerosene

[vwbobd]

my nuts are dirty too

[yelcab1]

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