Topic: Spark plug restore - evaporust

[livetoride60]

Playing around with restoring a couple old plugs, and soaked the metal end of a couple in evaporust, then treated the metal with black oxide and finally a light coating of Boeshield.  The result (right most plug) looks good to me.  However I have a concern with Evaporust getting inside the plug.  Any thoughts if this process would damage the functionality of the plug?  It looks pretty sealed, and not real worried about the arc surfaces, which can be cleaned.

Pic L-R:  original, after evaporust, final product

[Bob Gaines]

Playing around with restoring a couple old plugs, and soaked the metal end of a couple in evaporust, then treated the metal with black oxide and finally a light coating of Boeshield.  The result (right most plug) looks good to me.  However I have a concern with Evaporust getting inside the plug.  Any thoughts if this process would damage the functionality of the plug?  It looks pretty sealed, and not real worried about the arc surfaces, which can be cleaned.

Pic L-R:  original, after evaporust, final product

I would be concerned that the evaporrust although good on rust removing would not dissolve the soot deposits on the spark plug electrode. You will have to let me know how that works out . I always bead blast the inside electrode.   

[livetoride60]

Forgot to mention these are NOS plugs, so no soot deposits Bob.  Just some surface rust.

[jwc66k]

I always bead blast the inside electrode.

I've done that since the early 1980's. You need to make sure there is no glass left around the electrode base.

Forgot to mention these are NOS plugs, so no soot deposits Bob.  Just some surface rust.

Depending on where the rust is I would use a cotton swab. If the exposed metal is affected by rust, how do you intend to refinish the dark black surface?
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

I've done that since the early 1980's. You need to make sure there is no glass left around the electrode base. Depending on where the rust is I would use a cotton swab. If the exposed metal is affected by rust, how do you intend to refinish the dark black surface?
Jim

This is what I use and works good. bead blast cabinet works too but this wall mounted unit is faster. http://www.tptools.com/Spark-Plug-Cleaner,447.html?b=s*sparkplug+blaster

[livetoride60]

If the exposed metal is affected by rust, how do you intend to refinish the dark black surface?
Jim

Mentioned in the first post that I treat it with a black oxide solution from Caldwell.  Then put a light coat of Boeshield for protection, and also gives it a slight sheen that I think matches the original finish very well.  See original (1st) and finished (3rd) plugs in the pic.

The middle plug is after soaking in evaporust, which takes the rust but also the black finish.

[s2ms]

For NOS plugs that need restoration I do this which is pretty simple and works great...

1. Wire wheel any surface rust from metal surface.

2. Degrease surface.

3. Apply gun bluing following instructions on the bottle, I apply it with a cotton swab, and rinse with water.

4. Coat lightly with Boeshield

Dave

[Hipo giddyup]

Just giving some feedback to this post. I had a bunch of NOS “star” autolite BF 42 spark plugs that I recently purchased but all had surface rust. I wire brushed them, cleaned them with evaporust, then used a gun blueing solvent to darken them. They turned out pretty good and with a little bit of light oil hopefully they’ll hold up until I get around to using them.

[Bossbill]

For parts that you can't dip in Evaporust, get a blue paper towel (they hold more liquid), soak in Evaporust and wrap the affected area. You can use a rubber band or magnets to hold the towel tight to the item.
If you put the wrapped item in a plastic bag it keeps the towel wet.

[Hipo giddyup]

That’s a great tip! Thanks

[J_Speegle]

For some larger areas I set up a pump I picked up at Harbor Freight. Placed it in a catch basin and set it up to circulate the liquid over the surface for the required time period. Had to do this over a surface where I had a battery leak and it made it into a seam between to panels.  5-6 years later - no rust between the panels has shown up  nor any indication the rust is still present