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Old nuts and bolts

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 10:31 pm
by Herbert
I have nearly a bucket full of nuts, bolts screws washers and anything made if steel of pig iron. Where can I either sell it or get rid of it?

Re: Old nuts and bolts

Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2024 10:10 am
by olddave
Split them into lots and advertise them on the forum. I'm still using stuff from a collection I started 60 years ago :|

Re: Old nuts and bolts

Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2024 1:07 pm
by woodypup59
It's worth sorting them out into scrap and useable. An ideal job for this afternoon while listening to the kings speech ! :D

Derust the good ones with your choice of fluid. Chase the threads or wire brush and then heat them and drop into oil to preserve.
Plain steel nuts and bolts are preferable for a pukka restoration. Modern plated types are too bright.

Totally scrap items can be taken to your local tidy tip for recycling.

Re: Old nuts and bolts

Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 1:43 pm
by CooperTune
I have been keeping used hardware most of my life. I have the large coffee cans full. I also have a large tub type rock polisher. I dump cans into polisher with a little water some AJax and media. I try to run it while I need to be at the other end of shop. After a reasonable amount of time I empty into large colander rinse, dry on a beach towel then spray with WD40. I also collect old cast cookware. My junkman brings them to me rusty, I soak in my molasses tub after cleaning up I fill the 14-inch ones, nuts in one, bolts another and washers a third. If I ever have the time, I'd sort but this is better than dumping jars out and refilling. I do buy a lot of new hardware, the quality stuff has gotten expensive the cheap stuff not worth messing with. Steve (CTR)

Re: Old nuts and bolts

Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 5:52 pm
by woodypup59
Molasses works well as a derusting agent. 5 litres for £8 at the local farm and pet shop.

Re: Old nuts and bolts

Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 10:39 pm
by Spider
I tend to only keep the special and odd ball ones, the reset go to scrap these days. I did once used to clean them and have them re-plated, but that's just no longer worth my while.

Re: Old nuts and bolts

Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2024 10:42 am
by goff
woodypup59 wrote: Thu Dec 26, 2024 5:52 pm Molasses works well as a derusting agent. 5 litres for £8 at the local farm and pet shop.
I'll second that with Molasses , been using it for years , 5 gallon of water to 1 gallen of molaases , at the moment i have builders tub full with a 16in 3 stud wheel , one of four i am doing , leave for about a week then pressure wash , if still rusty put back for another week , alot cheaper than shot blasting , BUT DON'T put ALLOY parts in , cos they will dissolve :o .