All of us will use an oily rag at some time, but it is often a very good way to keep steel parts from rusting, particularly if you have spent some time getting rid of rust and crud and making the steel shiny again. I use a clean piece of cotton cloth about 12” square (an old handkerchief works well) and fold it and put it in one of those clear plastic bags with a sliding seal at the top. I then put in a small amount of clean oil such as 3-in-1 or a similar light oil and move the cloth around inside so that it soaks up the oil. You do not need much oil, a teaspoon or two should be sufficient. The cloth can then be used to wipe clean steel to leave a thin oily film on to prevent rust. I use it on my tools as well and any metal parts not protected by paint or other coating. The sealed bag sits next to my tools so is readily available when needed.
I also keep a larger piece of cloth which I use to wipe off trunnions, rear axle and gearbox with and anything else which is really dirty and oily and usually pretty filthy, before being worked on. This is know as the ‘Dirty [Don't swear or you will be banned - Admin]’ and is reserved for the worse bits of crud and kept separate from all the other rags!
Oily rag
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- svenedin
- Minor Legend
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- Location: Surrey
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Re: Oily rag
Yes. Old bedsheets are also a good source of high quality rags. Tools are traditionally protected from rust by wiping down with an oily rag and it works on car parts too. It is not always possible or desirable for something to be painted. I have experimented with acyclic clear coats to protect parts that are steel but not normally painted but they have still gone rusty so I am going to have to rethink that. An example being the top plate of a Lucas DR3a wiper motor which is steel, the body is alloy. Another example is the top plate of a Smiths PCV valve which is steel, while the body is aluminium alloy.
The best example of oil being a good protectant against rust is the underside of my car. Decades of engine leaks, gearbox leaks and differential leaks have embalmed it!
Stephen
The best example of oil being a good protectant against rust is the underside of my car. Decades of engine leaks, gearbox leaks and differential leaks have embalmed it!
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
- Mr Spigot
- Minor Fan
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Re: Oily rag
I have used boiled linseed oil with some success. Blacksmiths used to use it to protect steel. It only needs a very thin coat and takes days to dry, but leaves a clear protective coat that seems to last years. Not sure it would work on the underside of the car though! Oil leaks take care of most of that!
1960 2 door 'Mostyn' - 1275 Midget engine - WOI 577 - owned since 1990
1952 MM convertible 'Mawdie' - 918 SV engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
1952 MM convertible 'Mawdie' - 918 SV engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
- svenedin
- Minor Legend
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- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
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Re: Oily rag
Thank I think I'll try that. I am also a collector of antiques including clocks. For protecting metals the very best thing I have found is Renaissance Wax. This is terribly expensive but works extremely well. I believe it was developed to protect such things as Medieval swords and armour in museums. Of course it is far too expensive to use on a car but it shows that keeping air and water from having contact with metals stops them corroding so we can use oils, greases and waxes to good effect. It shows why the grubby old stuff we find at Autojumbles is often in good condition under the oily grime. Once the parts are cleaned up and free of grease they are vulnerable to corrosion.Mr Spigot wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:00 am I have used boiled linseed oil with some success. Blacksmiths used to use it to protect steel. It only needs a very thin coat and takes days to dry, but leaves a clear protective coat that seems to last years. Not sure it would work on the underside of the car though! Oil leaks take care of most of that!
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: Oily rag
Where i worked, years ago, there was a sand blasting chamber amongst other facilities, which of course was very useful to all ‘homeworkers’ ! Now to the point, there was a clear liquid the consistency of water that when a recently blasted piece of metal was dipped in it, prevented rust until one wished to paint said item. I had 5 Minor wheel dipped after blasting, the bare wheels were painted approximately 4 years later ! Not a sign of rust. I can’t remember what the stuff was called, I keep thinking it was something like Jenfoss but I don’t know.