How To Prevent Fishing Pliers From Rusting

Fishing pliers are frequently exposed to saltwater which puts them in the crosshairs of rust. Moisture from the air can get the best of their joints and before you know it, your pliers are jammed, leaving them abandoned in your garage drawers. Not only is there a way for you to prevent this from happening, but you can also recover rusted pliers. How? Let’s find out.

Is There a Way to Prevent Fishing Pliers From Rusting?

Depending on the material your pliers are made up of, here’s how you can prevent them from rusting:

Aluminum and stainless-steel fishing pliers

One of the ways to achieve this is by buying aluminum pliers and keeping them lubricated. Lubricated aluminum pliers can be exposed to seawater and as long as you’re cleaning them after each use and lubricating them again, there’s nothing for you to worry about. You can also use this technique to prevent your stainless steel pliers from rusting.

Steel alloy pliers

If you’ve got any other long-nosed pliers, your job to keep them protected from rust will be difficult but it’s entirely possible (if you’ve got the money, we suggest buying aluminum pliers).

Get yourself some gun oil and plasti dip. The latter will be used for the handles or they’ll also catch rust in no time. Once you have gun oil, get yourself a rag and use it to wipe the oil against your pliers right before you go fishing.

Here’s How You Can Free Up Rusted Pliers

Has rust already gotten the best of your pliers? Don’t worry, unless the pliers have been deteriorating for years, there’s nothing some baking soda, vinegar DIY and scraping can’t fix.

Sanding and scraping

If there isn’t much rust to begin with, you may just want to get sanding paper or use another sharp object to scrape the rust away. Resorting to harsh chemicals in a mild case is unnecessary and should always be avoided.

Baking soda

If your pliers are covered in a mediocre amount of rust, opt for a baking soda paste to get the job done. This method is ideal for scraping off rust if it’s in patches, but not if the whole pliers are covered in rust. Here’s how you can use baking soda to free up your pliers from rust:

1. Add some baking soda and water to a bowl. Stir it properly until it forms a paste.
2. Apply the paste to the affected areas on the pliers and let them rest for 2-3 hours or more.
3. Get a metallic brush and start scraping the rusted surface with it. Don’t be too aggressive as that can leave marks on your pliers.
4. Once you’re done, wash the pliers thoroughly, and lubricate them with gun oil for best results.

Vinegar and salt

Vinegar, salt, and even a sprinkle of baking soda can help soften rust so you can clean it easily afterwards.

1. Clean your pliers and make sure there isn’t any grease or existing dirt on them.
2. Take a bowl large enough to fit your pliers in and add vinegar and salt to it. Throw in some baking soda too if you have it. Make sure to add a quarter cup of salt and 2 tbsp of baking soda for each liter of vinegar.
3. Dip the pliers inside the mixture and leave them there for 2-3 days.
4. Keep checking in between, and if you notice the rust getting soft, scrape it all off with a metal brush. Wash the pliers afterwards, and apply some gun oil on them.

Take It Away With Three Evergreen Storage & Maintenance Tips

• Once you’re done using your pliers, make sure you clean them and use a rag and oil to lubricate them.
• Always store your fishing pliers in a place where moisture cannot get to them easily.
• Whenever you notice a hint of rust, get rid of it right away using one of the aforementioned methods.