Restoring rusty chains

[cranetruck]

The original coating is disappearing from these chains and I'm wondering what the board thinks about re-coating/painting chains.
Is there a dip or a "converter" that can be used?

 

[BillIdaho]

I learned a trick a few years ago on how to clean and shine up a rusty chain.......Get your 4 wheeler or dirt bike out, get a rope or another chain hooked up the rear of the rig, attach the rusty one to that, and drive around for awhile on a gravel or better yet--sandy road. (Dirt roads will work, but it takes a lot longer. If you don't have such vehicles, go to the local dirt bike area, and give a kid 5 bucks to drag it around.

 

[Travis89xj]

Thats what my dad always use to do just put it behind our atv's and if its locked up you can put it in a bucket of diesel (well that was when it was super cheap)

 

[BFR]

I have kept the chain on my front mounted winch painted with the same paint as the truck. I don't know if it is "correct", but the areas that rub keep themselves clean and the paint protects the rest.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Bjorn, electrolysis might be an option. I would think that a light sanding and a good rust converter should do the job. Chains are a pain to keep in good condition.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Dragging chains on my sandy street are usual business here. As a matter of fact, it works pretty good on rusty oxygen bottles too!

 

[BFR]

If you had a truck like mine you could store them on a pallet underneath and the slow, but steady stream of petrochemicals landing on them would prevent any rust issues.

 

[Recovry4x4]

If you had a truck like mine you could store them on a pallet underneath and the slow, but steady stream of petrochemicals landing on them would prevent any rust issues.

That resembles my truck. If I have a weed problem on my gravel driveway, I park the M108 there.

 

[timntrucks]

one quick way is to dip them in muratic acid . in a few minets they look like you sand blasted them. you will have to use a neurtralizer afterwards and then immedialy drop them in oil as they will rust before you eyes...

 

[Chinookpilot77]

Get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, insert chain and cover with sand...roll it around for a while.

This is the same way a person would have polished chain mail 500 years ago. Works like a charm.

 

[maddawg308]

Another option is soaking them in Coca-Cola. No joke. Works great for taking rust off metal.

 

[swbradley1]

I drag mine behind my big mower when I do the big fields. Cleans 'em right up.

I like the idea of sand in a bucket. You could actually take a barrel and place it on rollers tilted at an angle and have a motor drive the barrel like a tumbler like a cement truck.

 

[alphadeltaromeo]

You could get a wire brush......ok, there are already some good options

 

[davesgmc]

Get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, insert chain and cover with sand...roll it around for a while.

This is the same way a person would have polished chain mail 500 years ago. Works like a charm.

they had 5 gallon plastic buckets with lids 500 years ago? wow that is old technology!

 

[M543A2]

Bjorn: Hello!
Can you find a zinc plating facility in your area? They can clean the rust off the chains in a bath, then plate them with zinc plating for you. They might recommend "barrel" plating them instead of rack plating them to get better coverage. The zinc plating will keep them looking nice for several years.
Regards Marti

 

[swbradley1]

they had 5 gallon plastic buckets with lids 500 years ago? wow that is old technology!

The least you could do is warn someone before you post something like that. I could have spit soda all over the place from laughing.

 

[wideload]

I have found the easiest way is to put the chains in a cement mixer with a bag of sand for a couple of hours, they come out like brand new without any localided damage which blast or acid cleaner may create.

 

[Chinookpilot77]

they had 5 gallon plastic buckets with lids 500 years ago? wow that is old technology!

Unsure if you're making a joke at my expense or just plain being a smart ass...but nowhere in my post did I say "plastic" They absolutely had these little contraptions called "wine barrels" made of a very old technology called "wood".

 

[cranetruck]

Thanks for your replies....I'm trying Duplicolor Rust-fix on part of it. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[oilcan]

The gravel road approach is certainly tried and true. I've done it myself several times, but it's best to keep your noggin screwed on straight when you try it. Also, some local LEO's could frown on the practice. I don't know if it'd be better to ask permission or forgiveness for something like this.






Sidebar... I'm glad to see a few people still have a sense of humor.