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I noticed a rock tumbler on sale for about twenty dollars, and figured that this might solve the problem of cleaning bolts, screws, nuts, and washers without having to buy something more expensive. I simply put the parts into the rock tumbler:
I used 70 grit aluminum oxide, because it was available and is a bit safer than some abrasives. I then added some biodegradable non-toxic degreaser and tumbled for an hour.
After an hour, the slurry was a bit greasy, so I carefully poured off the cleaner and added fresh degreaser. After another hour, the parts look like this:
Here is a set of bolts, the ones that hold the bumper bracket to the frame, before treatment:
After a couple hours of tumbling in a slurry of 70 grit aluminum oxide and degreaser:
Get all of the grit out of the parts by rinsing. Be careful you don't lose any parts down the drain. Use a colander or something. I actually have a concrete sink, and If I work at the far corner there is little risk. Dry the parts by tumbling with a rag for awhile. Throw them into a container, and spray them with wd-40. I keep small metal containers with see-through lids with related parts as I restore various assemblies on the car.
Experiment with the grit and the time. If I left these parts in longer, they would certainly get cleaner; however, they are clean enough. There are special vibrating contraptions that are specifically meant to do this, and there are also abrasives that are made for this; however, the above procedure works for my needs. I just want the rust, grease, and dirt removed.
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