Cleaning Up Dials

[CJ5Dave]

I want to clean up/derust the degree dials on my mill. The nod, tilt and rotate rings on the head that are bare steel and have degree markings on them. Derusto helped a lot but did not do it all. What can I do more that is more aggressive but won't take the numbers and marks off? I thought about 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper.

 

[SLK001]

Try a brass bristle brush.

 

[GeneT45]

If it's rust, then you can push some evaporust in contact (wet paper towels, a bit of saran wrap, then tape) and that will go a long ways. If it's mostly grime Zep "Fast 505 degreaser" works great.. For finish work (getting the detail around your markings) a white pencil eraser sometimes works miracles.

GsT

 

[Nutfarmer]

Steel wool after soaking in evaporust for small parts or naval jelley for larger parts.

 

[CJ5Dave]

Thanks for the ideas. I scrubbed them with a bronze brush and Evaporust,, cleaned off with brake cleaner, and shined it with steel wool. Looks much better.

 

[derf]

Scotch brite pad works wonders.