Cleaning and painting bolts?

[Drew3]

For cleaning bolts would you use a tumbler or electrolysis? Also did you have all your bolts painted body color or different?
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[custom10nut]

When I disassembled my truck, I kept the bolts, washers, and spacers in labeled plastic bowls. Then filled them with rust dissolver. Leave them over night, clean them up, and repaint them the way they were. After they're dry put them in labeled baggys. Doing it this way prevents memory loss. Another tip that helps is taking pictures, LOTS of pictures.

[Drew3]

Already keeping every thing labeled and bagged. 😄
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[LockDoc]

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Here is how I clean all of the small to medium size stuff. A little sand and an hour or two cleans just about anything. Some I paint, some I leave in sealed cans and jars until I need them then paint..... Usually flat black.

LockDoc

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by Drew3

Also did you have all your bolts painted body color or different?
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If I recall correctly, the only bolts painted body color were the door hinge bolts, the bolts that hold the bed panels together, the tailgate hardware bolts along with the hardware (that may vary by year though) and the phillips head screw that holds the jack hardware in the cab corner. Most others were black phosphate. The phillips head screws in the door that hold the window components in place had what appear to be a cadmium finish.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

If I recall correctly, the only bolts painted body color were the door hinge bolts, the bolts that hold the bed panels together, the tailgate hardware bolts along with the hardware (that may vary by year though) and the phillips head screw that holds the jack hardware in the cab corner. Most others were black phosphate. The phillips head screws in the door that hold the window components in place had what appear to be a cadmium finish.

I considered sending all my bolts off to a local plater---he suggested cadmium. I haven't done that though.

I cleaned some of mine on the wire wheel but I soaked all in Evaporust to dissolve the rust then I sprayed with NAPA Rust Treatment.

I don't think that was the best move though.......the Rust Treatment really amounts to primer and one bolt has developed some flash rust on its threads.

[Tom Vogel]

On the stuff I couldn't replace with new, I used the Eastwood blackening bolt product. It works very well and looks just like the original bolt finish.

[hewittca]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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Here is how I clean all of the small to medium size stuff. A little sand and an hour or two cleans just about anything. Some I paint, some I leave in sealed cans and jars until I need them then paint..... Usually flat black.

LockDoc

That's a good idea! I have that same mixer and never even thought of using it for anything other than concrete.

[Jason Banks]

I use the Harbor Freight 5lb Tumbler
https://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-m...ler-67617.html
With this Media:
https://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-r...dia-60542.html
and a splash of 'Purple Power'

The Purple Power is mildly acidic and cuts the grease and softens paint, so the media can do it's job. Some things I leave for as little as an hour.

[YBNORML]

I'm lucky. I have a buddy who's mostly retired and works at metal cleaning place to keep active. He cleaned my bolts for for shop beer.

Then I took them all in for cadmium plating. It's was fairly inexpensive. About $50 for an ice cream pail half filled.