Best way to remove rust from screws?

[magenta placenta]

In particular, the hex screws that look to hold the bridge saddles/intonation. I have a bit of rust on the 5th and 6th string screws, tried scraping it off with my fingernail as well as taking a toothbrush to it, but nothing really came off. they almsot look like they've been powder coated......Any way to clean those without replacing them?

[Gex]

I got a nasty 1987 RG550 with an original Edge tremolo from the pawn shop for $100.

It was in sad, sad shape. Dirty from head to foot, dirt all over the fretboard, and a rusty tremolo.

I got some heavy duty Rust remover from my buddy who works on cars. (I'll try to get the brand/name of this stuff) I put some of that in a bucket, with a little water, and I stripped down my tremolo. . took apart EVERYTHING that you can take apart, all the way down to the tiny saddle washers, and tossed them all in the bucket for about 2-3 hours.

I came back with a hand towel and took out the pieces one by one, and the rust literally falls off. Very cool. The longer you let the pieces sit in the solution, the easier the rust comes off.

I was afraid that the bridge was FUBAR, but NOPE! Its clean and shiny now, and works great! So does the whole guitar, in fact. It was a gamble when I bought it, I wasnt sure I could save it, with a little alcohol, rust remover, lemon oil, hand towel, and an old toothbrush, a couple hours, and Ive got a GREAT playing Ibanez RG. It just needs some dimarzios, and a new 5 way switch, and I will finally, with GREAT pleasure, deem it play-worthy.

Hope this helps.

[buddroyce]

I believe some CLR and a metal brush(for cleaning files) or a hard tooth brush works.

[chris101]

Ahh but for any 'blackened' screws/bolts that have lost the original finish due to rust and a good clean up what you then need to do is get some 'cold blue' from a gun smiths, dunk the now clean bolts in the chemical for a minute, agitate is required, remove, wash in clean water then lightly oil. They come out like new, thats how the finish is originally applied (well in the factory where they make the bolts they use a hot blue solution but its nasty sh1t). If you keep a very thin film of oil on the bolts they wont rust again either.

[wemedge]

Try soaking the parts in WD-40,and clean with an old toothbrush.
It works well for me.

wemedge

[Gresh]

I'll second the WD-40 and toothbrush suggestion, works like a charm and most everyone has those two items on hand. You could also simply do that treatment, then bathe them in alcohol to strip the oil off them prime and paint them with an enamel...it will wear off eventually but you can always reapply as needed.

[Mystical Potato]

Anyone tried Coca Cola?? I hear that stuff will damn near remove anything lol.

[ibanezcollector]

Ive seen the Coca Cola one work... Friend was fixing my car and didnt have any pb blaster so he poured some coke on the rusted bolt and waited a few minutes and viola` it worked like a charm.

[leppermessiah]

Wasn't the coca cola one busted on "myth busters"?

Just goes to prove you can't believe everything you see on telly.

I always use WD40 and it works great, and as a bonus it's dirt cheap.