Chains NEW (to me) Chains! Cleaning and rust prevention

[jmgeorge]

Hi all,


What do I use to clean them and what do i use to keep them rust free and looking good??

I just bought some new chains yesterday on craigslist. They are the skidded style "paw" chain with lugs on the big rings. Before I install them I wanted to clean them and rust proof them.

I have done some serious research on painting, enamel, epoxy, dr x cleaners, nordbak loctite stuff, rustoleum farm implement paint etc, muriatic acid, the list goes on...

so step 1: I bought some muriatic acid and was going to wash them in that to bring back the bare metal?
step 2: paint epoxy enamel rust proof?

Chains come in all colors so there must be "paint" for them

This is purely for aesthetic reasons, the chains are structurally perfect. Although they are old.. ( do chains weaken much with age?)

Thank you!

 

[oosik]

Probably one of the easiest ways to clean them - use them. I don't think there is any product that will remain on the chains if you use them. When I had tractor chains - I hung them on a large spike off the wall of the carport and didn't worry about any rust. I guess - once you get them clean - spray them with the cheapest spray paint you can find - it will help them stay rust free as long as you don't use them.

 

[jmgeorge]

That is what I figured, USE them and the abrasions will keep them clean and when finished for the year clean and spray them for storage.

Any Ideas on cleaning them back to bare metal look besides muriatic acid? Ive heard good and bad about using the acid. Sand blast would be way too tedious.

 

[jeff9366]

Throw chains in a bucket with some diesel or used motor oil; stir. After minimally coated, hang on the wall.

 

[RickB]

Throw chains in a bucket with some diesel or used motor oil; stir.

No thanks. I'll let mine get a coat of surface rust. I have a pair of double ring chains that are 30 years old. They will never rust out. Hanging in a dry barn they don't get much rust at all.

 

[oosik]

I guess if I wanted to initially get the chains clean. I have an electric cement mixer - couple buckets of sand, some gravel, a little water and the chains. That should bring them back to bright/shiny.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I guess I'm in the "I don't understand why crowd". Throw them on the tires and run them, when spring comes, either spray them down with wd-40 or the cheapest paint possible. I have chains that get surface rust, and after one time cleaning the driveway, they are 70% shiny!

 

[CADplans]

The US Army did not like chains with rust,, so they built a solution,,

I bought it for $50, thinking about using it as a big wood stove.
I ended up keeping it as a rust removal tumbler,,,

The tumbler is a great place to set parts getting painted,

after tumbling,

chains getting painted,

Bring the chains to Virginia, and visit for 2 hours,, the chains will be rust-free.
The neighbors do not like when I am removing rust,,, :laughing:

 

[BAP]

I'm in the crowd of why are you worried about the rust? I have never known a set of chains to break because of surface rust. Now if you left them laying on the ground for years they might get enough rust to ruin them, but surface rust over the summer won't hurt them. If you haven't ever used that type of chain before, you will quickly find out how rough of a ride they are.

 

[rekees4300]

Tire chains don't need much TLC. Remove bulk of dirt by dropping on concrete surface a few times, spray with Fluid Film, store in cardboard box in dry location.