How to Restore Horse-Drawn Farm Implements

Horse-drawn farm implements are antique farming tools, and may require restoration due to damage or weathering caused by use and time. Among the potential problems is rust on metal, damaged or cracked wood and rot. While some problems require replacing and remaking parts, which may require the services of professionals, many restoration projects are a simple matter of cleaning off rust, resanding wood and protecting the materials from further damage.

Things You'll Need

  • Water
  • Mild detergent
  • Wash rag
  • Towel
  • Rust remover
  • Scrub pad
  • Phosphoric acid (optional)
  • Rust protector product
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood finish (optional)
  • Paint (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean the farm implement with a mild detergent and warm water. Use a wash rag to remove the worst of the dirt. Dry the farm implement with a towel to prevent rusting. Once cleaned, it is possible to determine the extent of the damage or necessary restoration. Rotten wood or bad damage will need replacement rather than restoration. Most horse-drawn farm implements were made of iron or steel, so the main problem is typically rust.

    • 2

      Take the farm implement apart as necessary. Some implements will require removing parts, for which you will need a screwdriver to take out the screws. Others, such as horse-drawn rakes, do not require disassembly. If taken apart, set the pieces down in the order in which you removed them, so that when it's time to put the implement back together, you will know which piece goes where.

    • 3

      Spray or rub a rust remover onto rusted parts, according to the manufacturer's directions. The exact directions will differ between products, but typically rust remover is sprayed on and allowed to sit for a specified time. Use a scrub pad and gently scrub the rust stains from the farm implement or pieces.

    • 4

      Spray phosphoric acid onto the farm implement, and allow it to sit on the metal. Again, follow the manufacturer's instructions for use of this product. According to MetalWebNews.com, phosphoric acid eats away at rust, but takes time to start eating through the metal and will only eat through metal after the rust is gone. Rinse the phosphoric acid off with water and gently scrub the implement with a scrub pad to remove excess rust.

    • 5

      Dry the metal implement with a towel. When completely dry, spray on a rust protector product. Do not leave the metal unprotected as this can result in further rusting and brittle metals.

    • 6

      Sand any wooden pieces. This will not only smooth out splinters, it will also ensure that the wood is not rotten on the inside. Sand according to the grain of the wood.

    • 7

      Apply a wood finish to the wooden pieces as desired. If the farm implement does not have any wood parts or the parts are small, wood finish is not necessary.

    • 8

      Paint the farm implement as desired. Put any implements back together, if necessary, after the paint is completely dry.