Cleaning Door Latches

[Michael A.]

[Joe R.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

Mike,

Usually clean in carb cleaner first, glass bead and have plated. Here's some that were done this way. As you can see some came out better than the others but all of them are nice and usable latches.

JR

[Ian G.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

I used chelating fluid for all my small and mid side parts like this. Worked very well.

[Michael A.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

I used chelating fluid for all my small and mid side parts like this. Worked very well.

Hi Ian,
I'm not familiar with the term "chelating fluid" and my google search didn't help much! Could you give me some examples of what you use for chelating fluid.

Thanks

[Jim D.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

I soak them in my solvent tank for a day or two and then spray them with carb. cleaner. They usually come out looking like new.

[Gary B.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

Hi Ian,
I'm not familiar with the term "chelating fluid" and my google search didn't help much! Could you give me some examples of what you use for chelating fluid.

Thanks

[James W.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

I have uses Safest Rust Remover with great success to clean C2 headlight motor cases. The solution along with a soft brass brush does wornders. See attached pictures. I've also used it on side window channels and side window roll-up mechanisms and they come out looking great.


Regards,

James

[Richard G.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

Is the Chelating agent you are using EVAPO-RUST?
I am getting close to working on the latches also.
The old grease is hard and dirty. Needs to go.

[Harry S.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

I put them in a gallon of carb. cleaner for a few hours, then washed them with soap and water then blew them dry. Greased them with a non-lithium grease and they are like new.

[Jim D.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

Is the Chelating agent you are using EVAPO-RUST?
I am getting close to working on the latches also.
The old grease is hard and dirty. Needs to go.

EVAPO-Rust works on one thing and one thing only - rust. It does nothing to dirt, grease, oil etc.

[Gary B.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

EVAPO-Rust works on one thing and one thing only - rust. It does nothing to dirt, grease, oil etc.

Jim,

True enough. But if what you have is parts with surface rust, Evapo-Rust is damn good.

Gary

[Jim D.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

I agree Gary, it's an awesome rust eater. I have a 5 gal. bucket of it in my shop. I didn't want Richard to think it would remove the hardened grease.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

I have used kerosene to soak heavily grease encrusted metal parts and it does a great job. Not long ago I restored a 1922 Victrola to perfect working order that had 95 year old hardened grease on the main clocksprings. It was hard as a rock and after 24 hours of soaking, it washed off clean. Since that experience, it is my "go to" cleaner of choice for really encrusted parts. I also have been using EvapoRust for several years but the part must be cleaned of grease, etc. before de-rusting can be effective.
Jeff

[Ian G.]

Re: Cleaning Door Latches

You can find it at www.rustdepot.com
It is called Esprit Performance. There are different brands. This one is in concentrate and makes 10 gallons for $82 shipped. It's a good deal.

I was buying a gallon at a time at Home Depot of some other similar stuff for $20 a gallon and you go through it pretty fast if you need to derust a bucket full of bolts and brackets. I looked at Evaporust and it is the same. Chelating fluid turns black when it is used up. It turns rust to a carbon that brushes off. Very easy. if the metal is high in carbon though, it will eventually eat it up like acid, so you should not forget it and leave it in for a week. I could be wrong on that though, as far as what type of metal needs to be monitored closer. Basically, if you got a bolt that turns black faster than the others don't leave longer than necessary to get the rust off...