How to Care for a Rusted Handsaw
The first rule of caring for a rusted handsaw is don't let your handsaw get rusty. But sometimes we break the first rule and have to make things right. Whether you left your saw in the rain for a season or found the perfect fixer-upper saw at a garage sale, you can turn it back into a well-oiled simple machine. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Steel wool
- Penetrating oil
- Paper towel
- Safety gloves
- Mineral oil
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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Assess the Saw
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1
Poke and prod the handsaw blade with your screwdriver. If pieces of the blade come loose, it may be a lost cause.
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2
Put a few drops of penetrating oil on one small section of the saw, half an inch square. Scrub with the steel wool until you reach unrusted metal. If it's too far down--or you can't reach it--the saw may be too far gone.
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3
Decide whether the saw is worth trying to save. If the metal is unstable, or the handle seems unsafe, it's probably wise to get a new saw.
Scrub the Blade
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4
Lay the blade of the saw flat on your work surface.
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5
Spray the blade with a coating of penetrating oil. Wait five minutes.
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6
Wearing safety gloves, scrub a section of the blade until the bare metal shows again.
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7
Continue scrubbing this side of the blade. Use small, circular motions for the flat parts of the blade. Scrub the teeth in straight lines, always moving from the flat of the blade down toward the points of the teeth.
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8
Flip the blade over and scrub the other side as you did the first.
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9
Use a paper towel to wipe the blade clean of penetrating oil. Use a second paper towel to wipe a thin coat of mineral oil over the blade. If you live in a humid climate, you may need to do this after each time you use the saw.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If the blade extends into the handle of your saw, use a screwdriver to remove the handle before you scrub. That way you can scrub down and treat the metal tang inside the handle.
Saws are sharp. Wear safety gloves at all times when handling the blade. If you cut yourself on the rusty saw, check with your doctor about whether you'll need a tetanus shot.
