Easiest Way to Restore Rusty Garden Tools

Be honest, you leave your garden tools out too, right? :)

At least 40 years ago, my grandfather taught me how to care for tools. His tools were probably 40 years old then. I am still using them today. When he was done for the day hoeing, he would wipe the hoe down, Then oil it with an oil saturated rag he kept for that purpose. This was one example, this was how he treated ALL his tools! He was a full time dairy farmer and in his spare time, grew a large enough garden to feed his family of 10 +.

Put a mail box in your garden to house your tools. Someone gave me their old mail box and I put it in my garden. It comes in handy and protects your tools from the weather. Looks nice as well.

Thank you for posting this. My sister and I both love(d) to garden. She passed away unexpectedly. I later came across her pruning shears completely rusted over. Still have them. To be able to rejuvenate ‘em and use them would be so special. Can’t wait to try this!!!

Totally guilty of letting my tools go too long without proper maintenance, this is exactly what I needed to take the rust off and get them properly sorted. This will be helpful as we finish tidying the garden before winter. Thank you for making such a clear tutorial, Kevin!

You can also fill a 5-gallon bucket half full with clean, dry sand (or buy playground sand from Lowes, etc.) then pour in about a 24 ounce bottle of cooking oil. ( I used olive oil that had went rancid and it seem to work fine.) Mix so all the sand particles are coated. When finished using a tool, knock off any dirt and stab the blade in the sand and wiggle it. The oil coats the blade in an instant without having to rub each tool. I keep the bucket in my tool shed and treat each tool when I am putting them away. Add more oil when sand gets dry.

I may need to do this too everything I own 🤣

nice clear voice with good enunciation that's easy to understand -- easy instructions 👍.

From the thumbnail pic alone I thought this was a video by Odd Tinkering 😂 As a chemist I can safely say that the rate of rust removal will increase as you increase the vinegar concentration. Thank you for emphasising the importance of sealing, lubricating and protecting the tools with some oil afterwards. If you don't protect the tools with some kind of oil, the rust will return worse and much quicker.

This is wonderful! Just inherited some of my father's, grandfather's, and great grandfather's tools. Going to clean the disston saws first, carefully.

Great video Kevin. I like a bucket of sand for tools that dont have working parts, its a great way to remove the attached soil and keep them rust free

You can use the lower acid cheaper vinegar. The 30% is not cheap and comes with warnings because it’s so strong. If you dilute the 30% then just use the cheaper vinegar. We have used vinegar on cast iron pans and lost hoof nippers and other tools and it works well. Great job they all look like new again!

When I worked in conservation, we used boiled linseed oil for wood handles and motor oil for metal surfaces. Now I use linseed on the metal parts too. Easy and less harmful.

That’s great I have some corona clippers probably from the 80’s but great tip on soaking with vinegar salt and water.I never thought of that 👍

Perfect timing! I need to do this to all my tools that I bought at yard sales and then proceeded to neglect them shamefully. Could you do a video on how to sharpen the various kinds of tools?

I retired May 1st with great plans for gardening, then broke my toe. So, while the weeds grow, I'll clean my tools! Going to go look for a sharpening video now. Thanks!

Epic Gardening you just save my plant tools, i am sure i am not alone on this one.

Never really purchased my own tools. Everything was/is my dads and he taught us from a young age to take care of and restore other peoples old stuff. A little care goes such a long way in terms of your tools' longevity :)

This is why I bought 2 gallons of vinegar every time I went to the store when it started disappearing for canners. Pickles, pickled eggs, and pickled beets are done. Now to get to work on the cast iron pans from yard sales.

I appreciate the all around knowledge for the total gardener!!!