Rusty Tools? No Problem!

I love this tip - mainly because my jewelry/glass/enamel studio is a little shed in the backyard. And, although it has some amenities (you can't live without AC in Houston in the summertime!), it can get a little humid in there sometimes - even with the kilns running. And, although all of my tools and beloved hammers are in boxes or drawers, I've found a few with the beginning of some rust on them.

So,when I found this tip from Fusion Beads, I knew I just had to try it.

They recommend you spray rusty areas of your tools with a lubricant like WD40. Let the lubricant soak in for a few minutes and then wipe away with a clean cloth. If the rust doesn't come right off, add more lubricant and scrub away stubborn spots with a kitchen scouring pad. Don’t be tempted to use sandpaper or a file! Harsh abrasives like these can permanently scratch the surface of a tool and the rough spots they create may mar your future jewelry projects.

If you prefer more natural cleaners, then it’s time to raid the kitchen! Pour a tablespoon of lemon juice into a bowl or cup and start mixing in pinches of baking soda until it’s the consistency of toothpaste. The lemon juice and baking soda will get excited and fizzy, so keep and eye on it to make sure your mixture doesn't overflow. Apply your paste to the rusty areas of your tools and let sit for a few minutes. Give those spots a hard scrub with a clean, dry cloth. If you have really stubborn rust, let your tool soak in lemon juice for 30-60 minutes and you’ll see the acid in the lemon juice lift off the rust! Give the tool a quick rinse to get off any remaining residue and dry it thoroughly before returning it to your tool kit.

The only thing I would add is that if you go the natural way and use lemon juice, after drying the tool I would give it a light spray of WD40 and wipe it down.

Now go bead something!