Barbell Advice Sought: Care and Feeding of a Rusty Barbell

[Steve Freides]

We have a bar here that we haven't used in a while, a standard Olympic bar, whose loading area is pretty rusty. It came to us that way and we've never cleaned it up.

Yesterday, we tried to put one set of plates on it that must be a little smaller than some of our others, and had trouble getting the plates on due to rust on the loading area. No work needed on the grip area, just the loading part.

This is bar my wife wants to use, and a specific set of plates my wife also wants to use, so we're not just going to use other plates or another bar. It looks like a pretty good bar, too - not as nasty a knurling as some of my personal favorite bars, but still enough to help with grip, and it's not the kind with bearings you need to tighten periodically.

Poking around, we found a piece of "emery cloth, medium J-WT", and made enough progress to get the plates on. You can see we cleaned it up somewhat towards the collars, since that's where the plates were getting stuck.



I'd like is opinions on what to do to restore this bar to most of its former glory.

I'm imagining that the piece of emory/sandpaper we happened to find might not be ideal, perhaps a wire brush is a better tool, perhaps a certain grade of steel wool? Perhaps we should wipe some WD-40 on the loading area to help with loosening the rust?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

-S-

 

[JeffC]

Loctite Naval Jelly works well. It’s powerful stuff.

After cleaned a light coat of 3-in1 oil brushed in and excess wiped off will help keep rust away.

 

[Steve Freides]

Thank you, @Jeff C. How to apply the Naval Jelly? Just a rag to apply and a clean rag to wipe off? A wire brush to get into the crevices, both to apply and to remove the Naval Jelly? Anything to ask for in a wire brush at the local hardware store?

Thanks again.

-S-

 

[Erik Hournou]

How about soaking in cocacola overnight? that stuff melts rust right off, then you can go with the steel brush lightly.

 

[John K]

@Steve Freides - I read this the other day. Consider that some good timing. (Don't Let It) Rust in Peace: How to Restore a Rusty Barbell | Barbell Logic

 

[Anna C]

@Steve Freides - I read this the other day. Consider that some good timing. (Don't Let It) Rust in Peace: How to Restore a Rusty Barbell | Barbell Logic

Ah, I knew I had seen an article on that recently, but I forgot where to look.

I have met the author of that article, and worked with him at two separate seminars. I had the honor of coaching him for a top working set of deadlifts, 500 lbs x 5 reps. He's strong, smart, and a nice guy.

 

[JeffC]

Thank you, @Jeff C. How to apply the Naval Jelly? Just a rag to apply and a clean rag to wipe off? A wire brush to get into the crevices, both to apply and to remove the Naval Jelly? Anything to ask for in a wire brush at the local hardware store?

Thanks again.

-S-

Use a small paint brush to apply. Cheap dollar store brush, you dont need a quality brush. Let it sit for 15-30min. Brush in with a wire brush, like a welding brush, stainless steel preferably.

Wipe excess and nutralize with lime, baking sofa, or another caustic. Rinse with water and brush in some light oil, and wipe excess. Something like WD-40 also works.

The tutorial above is very good, but be careful with those arbour mounted wire brushes. The wires break off a travel far and fast.

Vinegar works in a few days, naval jelly works in the 30min. Depends on your time and level of risk.