Rusty buckles help...

[Hunkyfunkster]

Hi guys.

Today I took delivery of an order from Military Mart. Got some really nice bits too. I wanted a nice wee day pack for dog walkies and stuff, so i ordered a Yugoslavian 20l pack. It's in pretty good nick overall, but all the buckles are rather rusty.

Can I soak the buckles in something that'll remove the rust without damaging the webbing, or will I have to pick them off and sew them back on after? If this is the case, I'll replace them with new ones. If I can avoid this that'd be great

Thanks in advance



Alex

 

[nunzionuk]

soaking them in vinegar is the way to go, but that will soak into the webbing.

I guess you could try putting the vinegar on with cotton balls or something? But personally, I'd pick the threads and resew them after cleaned up.

 

[stone monkey]

+1 on vinegar, or try using coke

 

[Hunkyfunkster]

I was thinking vinegar, but wasn't sure how it would affect the straps.

I'll give it a try if I can find some white vinegar, only got malt in the house

Thanks



Alex

 

[Mesquite]

What about using citric acid?

Tombear of this parish swears by it and seeing the things he's restored it's pretty good stuff

 

[Fraxinus]

White vinegar can be found in most supermarket chains, still got some asda branded in the cupboard from a mammoth pickling and rusty tool cleaning episode last year.
Adding bicarbonate of soda to it on the tool cleaning bit seemed to help too.
Another method of cleaning off rust on tools for me has been WD40 or turps with some wire wool and elbow grease, might be a bit easier to control cleaning area this way.
Rob.

 

[Hunkyfunkster]

Where would one acquire citric acid?


As for white vinegar, my asda sells malt vinegar and "non-brewed condiment". I'm not sure what non brewed condiment even is...





Alex

 

[Mesquite]

Where would one acquire citric acid?

Not sure where Tombear gets his but I'm sure if you drop him a PM he'll advise you.

Failing that there's loads for sale on Ebay

 

[Samon]

Citric acid.. lemons maybe? lol not as pure as the bottled stuff, but still the same but with water and sugar.

I'd not bother with any acid soak mate, just use sand paper to get off the loose rust and oil them after. It's alot of hassel soaking attached bits and even more the remove them, soak them and put them back on. A simple sand and oil.

Or.. dremel tool and a little wire wheel to flick off all the rust then oil.

 

[Fraxinus]

Where would one acquire citric acid?


As for white vinegar, my asda sells malt vinegar and "non-brewed condiment". I'm not sure what non brewed condiment even is...

Alex

Just looked at the label and it states " distilled malt vinegar" which is clear not the brown looking malt.
http://groceries.asda.com/product/malt-vinegars/asda-distilled-malt-vinegar/19241

 

[Hunkyfunkster]

Ah, I must've looked right past that. Excellent. White vinegar is good for so many things I may stock up.

The dremel also sounds like a good plan. Might try that tomorrow when the weans are awake

Just looked at the label and it states " distilled malt vinegar" which is clear not the brown looking malt.
http://groceries.asda.com/product/malt-vinegars/asda-distilled-malt-vinegar/19241

 

[Blundstoned Love]

I had the same problem with the same pack.

So I masked off all the metalwork with masking tape. Then I knocked back all the rust with sandpaper and wire wool. Then painted with black enamel paint - the sort used for Airfix. The end result's pretty good.

 

[Adze]

Youngs U Brew citric acid, your local homebrew/health food shoppe or somewhere like this online:

http://www.home-brew-online.com/ingredients-c45/youngs-youngs-citric-acid-100g-p520