Removing rust

If you get old handcuffs, you have a showdown with rust for sure.
I got the problem with my Mattatuck handcuffs and searched for solutions. Be removing rust on handcuffs, it's important that no (or at least less) rust remover will get into the lock.
There are wispy springs inside, which can be rusted this much, that they dissolve with the rust... It's a rare phenomenon, but I know cases were it was happend.
For this reason, you should be careful with removing rust.
Also, you must keep in mind, that removing deep rust, which has already attacked deeper in the metal will leave behind kind of holes.



So, what did I use for my cuffs?
After some research, I decided to use vinegar essence. It's cheap to get in your local supermarket and I already had it.

A few points you should know:
-- Vinegar essence and rust generate oxyhydrogen
-- Vinegar essence is caustic so you should wear disposable gloves while working with it
-- Because of the caustic effect and the oxyhydrogen, only use it outside or with an open window
-- Don't work with it on rainy days, because of the humidity which can make your cuffs rust

I use soaked paper towels I wrap around the cuffs.



The keyholes laying down, so no vinegar essence can flow into the lock.
They should rest a few hours in those wraps. I do mostly sessions of 4-8 hours, but you can do it even longer.
After this time, unwrap the cuffs and use the paper to carefully rub the loosly rust from the cuff. You also can use another paper towel with vinegar essence to clean it more, but be careful to not rub away the coating!
Repeat this whole process so many times until you get the result you wanted!
If you have removed the rust as far as you wanted, you need to oil the cuffs. That's because the pieces which are free now, don't have a protective coating anymore. If you don't oil it, it will be rusted again very quickly.



I am using Ballistol for oiling my cuffs, but every oil which is good to protect steel will work fine.