Working on cleaning up my plow with a wire brush today...

Will Herring · May 13, 2013

Took some advice from on here since I don't have a gravel pit, and got one of those wire brush attachments for a power drill (I got two types -- a cupped one and a wheel one) and spent the past hour or so grinding away at my old 3 bottom plow. It's starting to look better, but I'm not sure I'm making enough headway on it. Any advice? Or just keep at her? It seems to be cleaning off the rust, but the underlying metal isn't shiny... It's dark blackish?

EDIT: No pictures of the work in progress as it got dark. Will try and get some tomorrow though.

Picture of plow though:

old popper · May 13, 2013

It takes a lot of "elbow grease". I used a cup brush on a 4 1/2" grinder to shine one about 12 years ago. You eat a lot of rust before you can plow with it.

Janicholson · May 13, 2013

A soft disk on a 6" angle grinder with 60 grit open coat disk, will be 400 % faster. make the scratch marks in alignment with the dirt flow (soil I mean)
A wire brush will only remove loose flakes. Jim

Mr. Haney · May 13, 2013

The easiest way to do your project is to brush the
rust down till the moldboards feels a little
smoother then get a few cans of cheap spray paint
and paint the crap out of them, the paint will give
you a slick surface to allow the dirt to slide off
the moldboards and as the paint wears off they will
gradually shine up.

Will Herring · May 13, 2013

(quoted from post at 21:19:35 05/13/13) It takes a lot of "elbow grease". I used a cup brush on a 4 1/2" grinder to shine one about 12 years ago. You eat a lot of rust before you can plow with it.

Well they're not "shiny" now, but they are definitely back to a smooth condition for the most part. But definitely are going to need at least one more pass like I did tonight before I even entertain putting it in the ground and trying it.

Greg K · May 13, 2013

In the past someone has mentioned using a 4" grinder with a cut-off wheel and said it worked great. I have not tried it, but think if I did I would be very careful with it. I like the flappy sandpaper disk on a grinder personally.

Mark-Mi · May 13, 2013

Take a brick with you when you head to the field.

Will Herring · May 13, 2013

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to use a cut off disc or grinder... The wire brush was throwing crap everywhere as it was.

(quoted from post at 22:33:48 05/13/13) Take a brick with you when you head to the field.

What's the brick for?

Someone did tell me that when trying to scour it to make sure to clean it out every pass.

gene bender · May 13, 2013

If they are black and smooth try it in the ground but dont go deep. Old timere told me that long ago. Cultivator shovels will scour when black as long as they are smooth. Sure wont hurt to plow some to see what happens they could have been coated with something to make them black. Being smooth is whats important. Just remember to not go deep its alway worked for me on a couple of plows. A sanding disc with 120 or so grit will help also you dont want rough or the finish will have marks no cut-off wheels they will leave the surface too rough.

Paul from MI · May 13, 2013

I use a knotted wire brush in my 4-1/2" Makita grinder with good results. Once scoured a good coat of spray paint will keep them from rusting. Good place to use up those spray cans of paint your wife bought and didn't like the color.

BANDITFARMER · May 13, 2013

Last fall I bought an Oliver 4 bottom that had not been used in 20 years. I took a wire wheel on a drill and got all the big loose stuff off first. I then took a DA sander with 80 grit sand paper and sanded them till they were smooth, Not shinny. I blew them off with the air hose and gave them 2 heavy coats of cheep rattle cans of sandable car body primer and let it dry for an hour.
When I got it in the field and made the first round they were starting to shine up. The primer will fill the pits and scratches and lets the soil slide across the mollboard easier. I have done this for many years and it works good. I hope this helps you. Bandit

IlliniJohn · May 13, 2013

Agree, Jim, a 6" gringer is a whole lot easier to handle than a 7" or 9", and 60 grit will smooth off much more than a wire wheel.

A 4 & 1/2 inch grinder, even a cheap one from HF, using a soft, floppy pad with 80grit will also work, handles even easier than a 6", and a lot better/faster than a drill with wire brush - -Still need a face shield!

I personally wouln"t use paint on it to go plow - -saw too many new dozer blades filled with carry-back dirt, just like a fouled plow.
If anything, try spray graphite - -it sprays on as a liquid paint, dries down to a smooth coating. Spray graphite is available at most hardware, TSC, home stores, etc.

Best Wishes!
John

JMOR · May 13, 2013

(quoted from post at 21:11:56 05/13/13) Took some advice from on here since I don't have a gravel pit, and got one of those wire brush attachments for a power drill (I got two types -- a cupped one and a wheel one) and spent the past hour or so grinding away at my old 3 bottom plow. It's starting to look better, but I'm not sure I'm making enough headway on it. Any advice? Or just keep at her? It seems to be cleaning off the rust, but the underlying metal isn't shiny... It's dark blackish?

EDIT: No pictures of the work in progress as it got dark. Will try and get some tomorrow though.

Picture of plow though:

ou need to find sand like I have....it will eat the rust & good metal, too!

nh8260 · May 13, 2013

With the dirt and clay around here, even a rusted over mouldbord will be shiny in no time.

oleclint · May 13, 2013

A old timer once told me to plow shallow and drive fast to help it scour. Like using third gear, full throttle in your A-C. I have done this , seemed to help. clint

Fergienewbee · May 14, 2013

I think someone recommended coating them with brake fluid and letting them set for a while. A little wire brushing and mine cleaned right up. It's a joy to plow with a clean/scoured plow. Wish I was better at it; I'd farm myself out just to plow.

Larry

farmer boy · May 14, 2013

When you do get it shined up, be sure to grease it before putting it away, even if storing inside. It'll prevent all this crap next year.

JRSutton · May 14, 2013

4 1/2" Angle grinder with a cup brush with the knotted wire. (get a good brush made for an angle grinder - $22 or so)

You'll laugh at your previous attempts to do it with a drill, and will be done in no time.

Wear a full face shield. Once the brush starts getting a little worn, watch out for wire projectiles that shoot out and actually stick into your pants.

greygoat · May 14, 2013

I tried a "Harbor Freight" brush that lasted for
10 minutes, and made my pants leg look like a
hedgehog..then bought an expensive brush, at
a machine shop supply house, that did the job !

Meangreen · May 14, 2013

If you use a soft clay brick and rub it over the plow it will rub the rust off as you plow. I have actually seen it done before and it works. May take a few passes.

Anonymous-0 · May 14, 2013

You can brush on some Muriatic acid to help clean it up faster..

mkirsch · May 14, 2013

Get a FLAP DISK for your angle grinder. 40 or 60 grit.

Way quicker than a wire wheel. You won't be able to get a mirror finish, but you'll be able to get some shine on the bottoms.

Now that you've got the bulk of the rust off, it won't be so bad.

BANDITFARMER · May 14, 2013

I got this Oliver plow for dad a few years ago that was headed to the scrap yard. I offered the guy $75 and he took it. Anyway I know what you mean about using up paint the wife didn't like the color of. At least its color full. Bandit

JRSutton · May 14, 2013

Hedgehog - perfect analogy.

might have to steal that one.

pat sublett · May 14, 2013

Drills don't work very well for brushing and grinding. Buy or rent an angle grinder.

bgud · May 14, 2013

I have found the 4 in sanding discs work pretty well
to clean them up

Working on cleaning up my plow with a wire brush today...

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