How To Restore Rusty Bolts And Stop Them Rusting Again

[@nigelbarton8350]

Love the oil quenching effect Martin. My only advice would be put the oil in a tin rather than a plastic container. If you drop tHe hot bolt in, it burns clean through and makes a hell of a mess- ask me how I know 😁

[@retrorestore]

Yes Nige I was aware of that but didn't have a tim for the demo.

[@northernowl7087]

@@retrorestore there’s always one that knows better with a name like Nigel he must be a health and safety officer probably married to a KAREN 🤓🤓🤓

[@MrJozza65]

Thanks for showing us the technique. How about leaving those 3 bolts outside for a while and see which ones rust first (If they rust at all) ?

[@sixandtwothrees]

Linseed oil is the one traditionally used for hot quenching. Smells better, too!

[@jasonguiliano2638]

Listed oil left on a cloth for about 3 hours combusts. BEWARE!!!

[@euan2516]

Will give this a go next time, usually just wire wheeled them in the drill press but your results are much better once again thanks for sharing Martin 👍

[@alant5335]

Beware not to get them too hot as it will cause the blacking to flake off and and also may alter the tensile integrity of the screw/bolt.

[@sangeenshahkhan]

That was my question.. so how hot is ok?

[@J27M]

@@sangeenshahkhanexactly… oil quenching can affect the strength.. best to electroplate. His rock tumbler method works amazingly though

[@Sealacamp]

Case hardening. Old metalworking trick. Works great. You can even heat em up a few times and do that more than once to increase the hardened layer thickness.

[@vijayantgovender2045]

Thank you Martin enjoy watching your videos I am watching from South Africa

[@nascarisawesome5018]

Thanks a lot mate. Been working on my bike and couldn't find some new bolts, so I used some your tricks.

[@ssmith9008]

Cheers mart, been looking forward to a video like this, would like to see more vids like this, like repairing threads, how to deal with snapped bolts ect.....all the fun stuff lol

[@alandykes2519]

Nice job Martin thanks for the tip on the preserving the bolts 👍👍👍👍

[@larsfrandsen2501]

Love your channel, mate! Lots of good tips for restoring motorcycles and such. Also love the reviews of stuff from my childhood. Thanks!

[@retrorestore]

Thanks! 👍

[@derbyjohn972]

What a fantastic trick of the trade amazing 👍🏻👍🏻. Looked like a mad scientist with the smoke 😂😂

[@ROLYTHETAXI]

Another brilliant lesson to us all. Thanks Martin x

[@retrorestore]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@martinburgess4814]

Great tip Martin'all the best to you all.keep em rolling rolling

[@bendude6748]

That’s actually a really nice idea I’ll give it a go next time.

[@paulstir]

what a difference Martin great restore job ,great useful video as well full of great information , thanks for sharing , ps my workshop build is coming on nicely exciting times ahead .

[@retrorestore]

nice one Paul.

[@byebier]

Thanks for a good video. What type of rock tumpler must I look foe

[@jamesreeve9037]

Great video Martin nice tip for old machinery restorations...

[@billywhizz98]

Great idea of recycling nuts bolts washers Martin

[@125sm3]

Great demonstration Martin

[@ScottiDaniel]

That really worked a treat, bolts look brand new, glad stickers and keyring arrived 👍

[@retrorestore]

Thanks Scotti👍

[@chasmcl42]

Wow that was good Martin, a must for anyone doing restoring.👍

[@steven907]

Handy tip brilliant Martin

[@gimble447]

Great video, blueing is an excellent technique to use on nuts and bolts, but aswell as carbon and other debris in engine oil its heat that also contributes to turning it black so colour in using even new engine oil will be dependant on how hot the items are. ( i would say anyone saying that their parts are clear have used nowhere near enough heat and wont be long till they corrode again) One last thing to bear in mind that oil hardening steal is the same process but needs more heat than bluing. You could find that you have actually performed that instead if you use too much heat which can inturn make the bolts more likely to snap. Its all a case of consistency and doing it the same everytime when you've found the sweet spot. Anyway like i said great vid and you have gained a new sub 😊

[@125sm3]

Perfect timing Martin,

[@garystone8439]

G,day Martin hope you all good mate ,that was a great vid ,i am doing nuts and bolts on the next resto ,keep up the great work cheers Gary

[@BrewabitRick]

The rock tumbler is incredible 👍

[@Couldntthinkof1gudenuff]

Love these videos Martin 👌🏻

[@larrycroft470]

Martin you are such an interesting chap.!! I always enjoy your videos. Please give my best to your Mrs. Your friend across The Pond. Larry C

[@retrorestore]

Thanks so much Larry, I will bud.

[@weekendminitoystruckcarclu4632]

Great job as always why have i never thought of this method. Lol Great content as always....

[@jasons4745]

Excellent video!

[@garyclifton2180]

Look really good Martin 👍

[@vazza7504]

Great video, again. Deffo on shopping list is a rock tumbler, 👍👍 great results on the hot bolt in oil too. Looking forward to that yamaha resto. Can't wait to hear a good old two stroke running again. ❤️❤️❤️ This channel. 👍👍👍

[@Bioruss]

If I am not mistaken the oil quenching process is called blueing. There is a cold chemical method but personally back when I was restoring motorcycles I used the heating and oil method. I thought it looked better and lasted for forever practically.

[@mikekotarba5828]

Thank you for the video

[@neilwalsh4058]

Great work on the bolts Martin and you're right good quality fixings aren't cheap if you need to replace. Your method is supposed to work on a chimnea too. Ideally when you've used it and it's still red hot, coat it in used oil. Good way of getting rid of any guests who've outstayed their welcome too I guess 😂

[@tracklizard4018]

also how we treated ovens and stoves back in the day

[@restorationconstantines7731]

Very well👍

[@leeroberts5496]

Great video Martin.

[@retrorestore]

Thanks 👍

[@alberthidding6244]

That was really helpful.

[@paulmoody1859]

Does the rock tumbler take the edge off or flatten the threads?

[@VictorMartinsPT]

Thank you ❤🙏❤

[@21jlom]

❤ thank you for sharring

[@Shadowmosesarea51]

Does heating them to cherry red weaken the bolt

[@retrorestore]

Not when you quench them

[@jaguarxjsocd]

Marvelous video. What liquid do you add to the ceramic media in the rock tumbler?

[@kevinmccarley2674]

Good job! What does the heat do for the grade of hardness to the bolts? As a safty factor. I've read the oil be heated. Ironically. On line, they tell you different stories on the temperature to heat the oil. Room temperature, 150° to 170°, 370°, ect. Just an enquiring mind. I really liked the bolt treatment. I was wondering what temperatures to keep the different hardness?

[@Alandixon88]

Great video. Money saver that is

[@johnhiggin7424]

Hi Martin, I'm new to the channel, love it. As regards to the heating and quenching process I believe it's called Parkarising,I could be wrong and it definitely won't be spelt right but I did a bit of it in my engineering apprenticeship. P.s. it works they won't go rusty!

[@retrorestore]

Hi John, I have left the bolts outside to see if they rust and i'll be sharing that soon.

[@johnhiggin7424]

@@retrorestore Cheers for the reply. To my knowledge (40 years ago) it always goes black and won't rust, once it's at the right temperature and quenched the oil penetrates the surface. Like I said this is something I did once or twice a long time ago so I'm no expert!!!!

[@Mr._Restore_UK]

Top video Martin

[@STTC]

Cool video Martin,,, Micks stickers are cheap so they fall off 🤣🤣🤣 interesting experiment that

[@DiecastPowderCoating]

Great Tip Martin. I've got trouble with my nuts at the moment. I like to rub ACF50 on them. Certainly worth trying your idea. Take care, Jeff

[@moonshinepz]

ACF 50 is great stuff

[@grandad8753]

I wouldn't rub acf50 on your nuts might have a allergic reaction 😩 try baby oil Jeff it's safe and smells better 👍 ps glad you went with cream

[@DiecastPowderCoating]

@@grandad8753 No gran dad, I won't do that again, but I heard it's great on stopping metal rusting. Take care, Jeff

[@AJPsWorkshop]

Wow there like new Martin great job

[@retrorestore]

Thanks Ash👍

[@Titanykus]

Awesome, I wished I knew this growing up. This should be tough in elementary school. Why not? are they not teaching about crap they should be learning? while a rust proofed bolt can last a lifetime.

[@foggymtnbreakdown]

Here's an alternative. After heating the bolt or nut, quench it in a tub of molybdenum disulfide brake grease. One of the reasons molybdenum disulfide is used in brake grease is because it is very insoluble in water and won't wash off when you drive in the rain. Molybdenum disulfide is black as coal. Engine oil is not. That black grease gets in the cracks of the skin on your fingers and takes forever to come out. Motor oil comes off easy with some soap and water. Cool some hot bolts in black molybdenum disulfide brake grease. They will be less likely to rust when exposed to the elements.

[@endo9913]

Thanks for this excellent video. I’ve never heard of this device or process before! I was going to get an ultrasonic cleaner but Iwont be able to afford a professional one. Don you have any opinion on how they compare?

[@georgestewart1325]

Enjoyed that Martin.. Will you consider doing a plating video..

[@retrorestore]

I did one George at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqfKi2ZnoNGAjNE

[@georgestewart1325]

@@retrorestore Thank mate I will go watch it now..

[@spiritmusic4322]

Great info, thanks. Question: Will the tumbler / polisher work with torx bolts? Asking as I have an older BMW motorcycle and looking to restore the rusted bolts which are mostly torx types.

[@retrorestore]

It should

[@khancross]

Not sure if the extreme heat is weaking the material

[@aeromech8563]

Just fand ya now subscribed mate nice one 🤟😎

[@retrorestore]

Thanks for subbing

[@cbrider726]

Hi mate I have sent you an email . Fanatsic result from the tumbler. 👍👍👍👍

[@moonshinepz]

Petrol on the side of the bench with the blowtorch going 😁 Death or glory this KZbin game some days. 🤣

[@Domythingnow]

A question, once the bolt is ready to be reassembled due you apply any sort of lubricant or grease? To help prevent it seizing when trying to undo it in the future!

[@robertpotter2515]

Does that weaken the bolts? Or would that harden them?

[@robertpotter2515]

@Apocalyptic Workshop ahh ok good to know. Thank you

[@RANDEEP685]

Hello matting where did you get the machine from?

[@retrorestore]

Amazon

[@andywalker4143]

Great idea, but when you come to tighten them with a spanner, won't it damage the coating? 🤔

[@retrorestore]

Not at all

[@andywalker4143]

@@retrorestore that's great, I'm going to give this a go! Excellent video 👍

[@donlipsky2696]

This might be a Harley thing, but have you ever done Parkerizing?

[@fuerteventuramobilityscoot6530]

Rock gravel. How often do you have to change it..

[@retrorestore]

Its ceramic so doesn't really need changing for ages

[@ASKPrint]

Martin what type of torch do you use to heat up bolts?

[@retrorestore]

Mapp gas Walter

[@Farm_fab]

HMartin, here in the States, I'm able to shop at scrap yards without registering, so I frequently purchase new fasteners that have been scrapped. I put them in storage bins, and they are very nice to have around. It amazes me the things that are scrapped. I often find good brand tools that get thrown aside.

[@retrorestore]

Yes, I love scrap yards, Amazing what gets thrown away.

[@balicrimechannel8143]

Great vid, but just be careful with the waste left in the rock tumbler. Zinc plating uses carcinogenic substances (particularly the gold, rainbow-effect stuff). The carcinogenic is called Hexavalent Chromate. Great idea to add the fluid to keep the dust down, just be careful when handling/ disposing of the waste fluid. Also need to be careful with used engine oil as it also contains carcinogens.

[@rexybundy]

The only thing I don't like about this is it takes that new polished look away. I've just wired wheel brush my bolts and then polished them and I want to keep them that polished look. Would a high heat engine enamel clear coat work? Or would they tarnish over time?

[@retrorestore]

Yes, that should work.

[@tipatlittle2602]

I tried it with new engine oil and start rusting 1 month after being installed on the car Any thoughts ?

[@brucecookieboyz233]

Wow!🔥🔥🔥🫵🫵

[@outlawflyer7868]

Hello from the future. lol. I jsut tried this technique. did them a few weeks ago. we had rain for a few days and I just noticed that the heads of the bolts started to rust so I have no idea why that happened. Had no choice but to throw a coat of paint on them. What I did was no different from you did. So send the Mystery wagon.

[@retrorestore]

Don't know, Mine were fine.

[@mr1pearl]

Is that ceramic media you using in the vibe tub ? Really awesome results and I like the results of the heat and lube , I'm going to try that 👍

[@retrorestore]

Yes, it is

[@lambese4-]

Thinking of doing my wheel nuts like this if it doesn't weaken them too much.

[@TechVauxhallDiagnostics]

Hi Martin how much would you charge me to powder coat my rear brake discs.? Kind Regards. Dan.

[@retrorestore]

Sorry bud, I don't do private jobs.

[@grandad8753]

😳

[@TheDivergentDrummer]

Great stuff, thanks man! I know it's off topic, but are you Dye sub printing those signs? My wife and I have been contemplating a Dye sub setup for a few years now. Just an ask to see how you find it, was it worth your investment kinda thing? New Sub!

[@retrorestore]

We did it for years and I did training videos on another channel I have. kzbin.info/aero/PLO265WIIFik6VyYW-gsudEVNKJ80b2S6E

[@TheDivergentDrummer]

@@retrorestore Sweet, thanks!. I just happened on the reply, coming back for pointers on the rusty bolts, like a month later lol. Thanks again!

[@tommoso55]

Well done Martin, can you tell me where you got your rock tumbler from as can’t see any on eBay? Have to say the Topdon stuff is very good as I have bought all the ones you recommend.

[@retrorestore]

There's a link for a similar tumbler below the video in the description.

[@stephenwhite3832]

How are the threads Martin on the bolts? Looked at these a few times but had a feeling it would mess the threads on smaller bolts, I’ve spent years with a wire wheel on grinder and I mean years 😂😂

[@kon_trast]

Where did you get the pyramid media in europe?

[@retrorestore]

From Ebay

[@kon_trast]

Thanks, do you maybe have a link or the specs? I tried several media but none looks as good as your results @@retrorestore

[@terryatkinson899]

Bees wax does the same job without blackening them I believe.

[@herbiehusker1889]

What's white spirit? Is that just British for white vinegar? Just looked it up, mineral spirits.

[@pablocortando1]

Great channel,my father is restoring a vintage motorbike,can you suggest the best way to clean rust off the chrome wheels rim so he can decide what to do next?,thanks.

[@doosanengineer7659]

Soap infused wire wool pads work well. Asda sell them.

[@retrorestore]

As Doosan Engineer suggested.

[@pablocortando1]

Thanks.

[@JS-ri2rx]

Have you considered buying a laser. You could clean the bolts or anything in potentially seconds. Or larger frames and objects in minutes.

[@retrorestore]

I would think they are expensive.

[@Peter-gi3re]

I just watch another video doing basically the same heat and oil treatment……. Except other gentleman said not to get them cherry red. Says if they are that red it is about 800 degrees and this will effect strength of bolt. Other guy says 400 degrees is sufficient to treat against rust. So he only got bolt to a bluish color and then he dipped it in oil a couple of times. Each time he dipped in the oil he held the bolt over the flame again briefly to burn the oil off. Just let the flame ignite the oil and then hold away from the torch. He did it 3 or 4 times and then says let the bolt cool naturally…… don’t cool it by dipping in water. Bolt ends up looking blackened just like in this video. So basically you achieve same result as Martin ….. just don’t heat the bolt until it’s glowing red to avoid making it too brittle.

[@thedirtyworkshop]

Those bolts still have zinc on them...

[@retrorestore]

Yes, I believe they do but probably some of it has failed hense the rusty bits.

[@cw2126]

👍👍👍

[@mark-kf3md]

This will likely change the original temper and therefore strength of the bolts. The resulting strength of the new temper will be unknown. Seems unadvisable for bolts which are fastening critical components like brakes, engine mounts etc..

[@NigelWoods-u6v]

Heating bolts cherry red will change the temper of them.

[@rhemyis]

I used this method with flaxseed oil, they will rust again.

[@rtheprizeisright7323]

When you pull out of the rock tumbler. It's better to use, like a WD-40, or penetrant, to clean them off than "old Petrol", as the UK calls it. Sorry, I mean no disrespect, as Great Britain is our oldest ally, and normal folks appreciate them for it. As, I think for this video, your trying to prolong the life, maintain strength, and protect the bolt overall. The gas degrades and eats the bolt away. As to where the wd-40, or a similar product, helps the bolt and the metal stay rust free. Just my opinion, your the expert. Also, I know I was thinking before, I watched a couple videos saying don't grease your bolts, when you use them, on your car after fixing something. But what about a liquid grease instead, would this protect and prolong the bolts life? I don't like the heating method, as the heat may mess with the bolts strength, on the molecular level. But, I hate watching car/truck repair videos, where they put this shiny new part on the vehicle, and then this 2000 year old, rusted bolt back on the car. But great video thanks, from your friends across the pond, the USA.

[@retrorestore]

Thanks bud

[@jacostemmet7802]

They will still rust . I've done it before is will work for 3months or so .

[@SamTyler-zu7lc]

Hi would you consider maybe doing a small box of my engine bolts for me if I obviously give you money for it. Trying to restore and clean up my engine bolts and there's alot to clean up obviously and if your close enough and will consider it rather give to you to do lol. If you could get back to me that'll be great. 👍

[@retrorestore]

Sorry, I don't do private jobs.

[@setdetnet5001]

Mate, just leave them in 2L of coke cola, dry and dip in ACF50 , voila

[@spencerbeckingham1076]

Careful not to pierce the oil with the hot bolt. Or you'll spill oil all over your work surface. Trust me I'm talking from experience.

[@sangeenshahkhan]

Hey stop blowing that dirty smoke at me…:) A quick question.. does the heat treatment and quenching in oil not change the bolts hardness? Will they not become more brittle ?

[@retrorestore]

I wouldn't do this on critical bolts, these are about 15ft lbs