Need rust removal ideas new project.

B

BOB K.

Well-known member
So over the weekend while clearing a over grown area I came across the old Worthington gang mowers I grow up with cutting our yard pulling with the cub. Now I knew they were there and have not been used in almost 30 years. No longer have the property to use them but want to try restoring them. They are rusty but complete. I can have the frame sand blasted but am looking for other ideas for the mowers. They are all steel. Is the some type of solution to use in some type of tub and let them soak to remove the rust? Sand blasting them would get sand in all the bearings, and other moving parts. Here is what they look like but rusty now. The family think I lost my mind wanting to do this and said let them rot. It is part of my childhood. :D images.jpgThanks for any ideas.
 
I have never done that, is it fairly east to do and can it be done one a lkarge tank at home? I will have to look on how to do it and what materials to get. Is it a slow process? Thanks
 
High pressure wash to remove as much as possible, then spray/brush/etc with a rust inhibitor like OSPHO (brand name). It reacts with the rust to form a paint surface. I've been using it for many years. JMHO Stan
 
Unless those can come apart to fit in a 50 gallon n drum or a tote you won't easily be able to do the electrolysis method. But other than a plastic tank a sacrificial annode of say an old lawnmower blade. All you need is a bax of washing soda and an old school battery charger and time.bits a simple method. Just suspend the annode in the solution of washing soda and water and suspend the part your trying to remove rust from.
 
I can remove the 3 mowers from the frame. Get a plastic tub and set one in it on bricks. From what I have read I would need a 24 volt charger, is that right? What about a tub of Muriatic Acid and water?
 
You only need a 12 V battery. A couple of cups of washing soda in water in a tub or vessel of some sort. I usually lay 2 rebars across the top of the tub and use fence or tie wire to connect the parts to the rebar (fully submerged). then I dangle a hunk of metal (lawn blades work or scrap iron) from the other rebar. Jumpers from each rebar to their battery post and you will start to see the swirling and bubbles. Sometimes I will leave a charger hooked up to the battery as well. Leave over night.
 
I used those as well when I was a kid. We could pull 3, 5 or 7.

Electrolysis is great but I would not use electrolysis on these mowers. It will need a big tank and the problem of getting a lot of weight in and out. Plus you are submersing the gearboxes underwater.

I would use one of these power washer sandblasters https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Alex-Sand ... B0856QHK8H This is heavy steel and steel castings. It will take a sandblast.

See if you can find someone that will sharpen the reels and the bed plates. I think that is a bigger issue than painting and will have a big impact on the cut quality.
 
Unless you disassemble the mowers, I would not submerge them in anything. I think if you are truly restoring, you’ll disassemble them completely, otherwise, you’re just giving it a paint job. Once they’re apart, you’ll have lots of options.
 
One more option with hydro blasting is to use an abrasive other than sand. There is a process that uses ground up corncobs for this if you can find someone that does it. That way you eliminate the chance of sand getting into the bearings, etc.
 
They are way to heavy to hang from rebar in a plastic tub. I could get a metal one for animals water. As far as restoring, I am not looking to make them for show but so they are clean and to be used. I will change to oil in it grease everything. I know a guy at the local golf course that will sharpen then when I get to that point. The hydro blasting may be my second chose after trying the electrolysis.
 
I don't think there is any need to "suspend" them. If you are worried about treating the section of wheel in contact with the plastic tub just rotate it once or twice a day. If they will fit in a plastic tub I would do that. I don't know if the baking soda solution would etch the bearings or not, but don't think so. Lots of YT videos on how to do the procedure also.
 
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