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
- Rocaris 6-piece wire wheel and cup brush set for drill Fast on heavy scale but removes some metal; wear a face shield. Check price on Amazon
- Amazon Basics brass wire brushes (3-pack) Gentler than steel for detail work and softer metals. Check price on Amazon
- EZARC 40-grit zirconia flap discs, 4-1/2 in (10-pack) 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
- Monport 1064nm OD7 fiber laser glasses Rated for 1064 nm fiber lasers. Confirm your machine's wavelength first. See it at Monport