How to get rust off barbell without messing up the knurling?

[user421]

The barbell I use is a really old rusted piece of junk my dads friend gave me. The rust on it has kind of smoothed out the knurling and its starting to slide around my back and in my hands when I sweat. Anybody know an easy way to remove the rust without messing up the barbell? Currently cant get a new one.

[Satch12879]

Do you use chalk?

[Jason Donaldson]

The barbell I use is a really old rusted piece of junk my dads friend gave me. The rust on it has kind of smoothed out the knurling and its starting to slide around my back and in my hands when I sweat. Anybody know an easy way to remove the rust without messing up the barbell? Currently cant get a new one.

3 in 1 oil, a brass brush, and time + effort. The brass bristles are softer than the steel, but will work on the rust.

If you end up exposing any pitting in the steel, then that's where it was already messed up before you started.

[Sebastian Ohanian]

If it is a junk bar, spray on some lime away, scrub with brush, rinse off, and apply a thin coat of oil. Some may also suggest covering the bar in baking soda to neutralize the acid. I never did this on my cheap bar though, and it was fine. Eventually got rid of the bar.

[user421]

Do you use chalk?

No I haven't started using chalk yet, Got to convince my dad I wont cover the garage in chalk lol.

[user421]

Thanks, will try this

[kelticslob]

Yea, 3in1, metal brush. The longer you let it rust the more fucked up and smooth it’ll be so, pitter patter. If it’s way too smooth to be usable, hockey tape can make it grippy again.

[heinz83]

No I haven't started using chalk yet, Got to convince my dad I wont cover the garage in chalk lol.

I can't imagine anything worse than chalk on the garage floor.

[J.D. Shipley]

Get a block of chalk, go outside, put it in an old sock, tie the open end of a sock, and crush the block in the sock. Stick this ball in a large ziplock bag and put the bag in a bucket and keep it in the garage. When you need to chalk your hands up, keep the chalk ball in the bag but stick you hands in and chalk up. Keeping it in the bucket will prevent any resultant dust from getting over the floor. Clean up your bar and whatever dust you do make. I would hope dad would be a okay with all this.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I would hope dad would be a okay with all this.

If he's not, it's time to move out.