Restoration Bench Gear Guide
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The products we actually link in our guides, grouped by job. Notes are short and honest: what each is good for and where it falls short. Always read the label and safety data sheet.
Rust removal
Soak small parts in a chelating bath; use brushes and wheels for heavy scale. Full how-to: How to Remove Rust from Tools.
- Evapo-Rust ER012 (1 gallon) Near-neutral chelating soak, reusable, won't attack sound steel. Slow: hours to overnight. Check price on Amazon
- WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover Soak (1 gallon) Similar non-acid soak; good for bolts and small tools. Needs full immersion. Check price on Amazon
- Metal Rescue Rust Remover Bath (1 gallon) Another non-acid bath; handy alternative if Evapo-Rust is out of stock. Check price on Amazon
- Wire wheel set for drill Fast on heavy scale but removes some metal; wear a face shield. Check price on Amazon
- Brass wire brush set Gentler than steel for detail work and softer metals. Check price on Amazon
- Flap disc assortment Grinder discs for heavy rust and scale on big, sturdy parts. Aggressive. Check price on Amazon
Sharpening
For garden and edge tools after the rust is off. Full how-to: How to Restore Rusty Garden Tools.
- AccuSharp garden tool sharpener Quick carbide sharpener for shovels, hoes, loppers and mower blades. Fast, not refined. Check price on Amazon
- Felco 903 diamond sharpening tool Small diamond file sized for pruner and lopper blades. Check price on Amazon
- Corona AC 8300 carbide blade sharpener Pocket carbide file for straight garden blades; light-duty. Check price on Amazon
Paint stripping
Test for lead before you strip anything painted before 1978. Full how-to: Laser vs. Sandblasting vs. Chemical Stripping.
- 3M LeadCheck instant lead test swabs (8-pack) Quick screening test; a lab test is more definitive. Check price on Amazon
- Citristrip paint stripping gel Lower-odor gel stripper; slow, so cover it and be patient. Check price on Amazon
- Masonry paint stripper (poultice/paste) For paint on brick; test a small area first. Check price on Amazon
- Benchtop sandblasting cabinet Contains media for small parts; needs an adequate compressor. Check price on Amazon
- Walnut shell blasting media Softer media for delicate surfaces. Check price on Amazon
- Aluminum oxide blasting media Aggressive, reusable media for steel. Check price on Amazon
- Half-face respirator with P100 filters Minimum lung protection for stripping and blasting dust. Check price on Amazon
- Sandblasting hood Face and head protection when blasting outside a cabinet. Check price on Amazon
Lead paint warning: Paint applied before 1978 may contain lead. Sanding, blasting, heat-gunning or laser-ablating it creates hazardous dust or fumes. Test first (EPA-recognized test kits or a lab), and for pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities, hired contractors must be EPA RRP-certified.
Cast iron
Strip rust, then re-season or coat depending on whether it touches food. Full how-to: Restoring Cast Iron.
- Wire cup brush for angle grinder Removes heavy rust from skillets and garden pieces quickly; wear a face shield. Check price on Amazon
- Cast iron seasoning oil For cookware after de-rusting. Check price on Amazon
- Rust-Oleum High Heat spray, Bar-B-Que Black For outdoor fireplaces and grills only, never cooking surfaces. Check price on Amazon
Pressure washing
Use the least pressure that gets the job done. Full how-to: Pressure Washer PSI by Surface.
- Pressure washer surface cleaner attachment Even, streak-free cleaning on flat concrete; pricier than nozzles. Check price on Amazon
- Pressure washer nozzle tip set Swap tips to match the surface; avoid the 0-degree tip on wood and siding. Check price on Amazon
- Safety glasses Debris and spray protection; cheap insurance. Check price on Amazon
- Graffiti remover gel for masonry Dwell-and-rinse for paint on brick and concrete. Check price on Amazon
Protection and coatings
Bare steel flash-rusts within hours; coat it the same day. Full how-to: Rust Converters Compared.
- Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Rust Reformer spray Converts light remaining rust into a paintable surface; not for heavy scale. Check price on Amazon
- Corroseal water-based rust converter & primer (1 gallon) Converter-primer for larger areas; needs a topcoat outdoors. Check price on Amazon
- Rust-Oleum Automotive Self Etching Primer For clean bare metal before paint. Check price on Amazon
- Epoxy primer Tougher primer for parts that see weather. Check price on Amazon
- Wax and grease remover Degrease before any primer. Check price on Amazon
- Fluid Film corrosion inhibitor, 11.75 oz aerosol Lanolin coating that stays soft; good for storage, messy to handle. Check price on Amazon
- Sunnyside boiled linseed oil, quart Finish for wooden handles; oily rags can self-ignite, so dry them flat outdoors. Check price on Amazon
- Anti-graffiti coating Sacrificial or permanent coating for masonry that gets tagged. Check price on Amazon
Laser cleaning safety
If you run a handheld laser, these are non-negotiable. Full how-to: Are Handheld Laser Cleaners Worth It?.
- Laser safety glasses, 1064 nm rated Must match your laser's wavelength and OD; check the manual. Check price on Amazon
- Fume extractor Ablation fumes need extraction. Check price on Amazon