Soak them in citric acid, that will remove the rust and then a quick rub down with fine emery and oil them and they will be fine.

Washing soda and a battery charger.

http://www.fergusonenthusiasts.com/restoration%20helps/tech/Rust%20Removal%20Using%20a%20Battery%20Charger.pdf

Unlike Acid it won't attack the steel. Use a blue non abrasive scourer to remove any residue or a green one if you must.

Malcolm I have tried electrolysis and was quite happy with the results, until I found a post somewhere recommending Molasses. After trying both I would say molasses is the way to go. Gentle and effective and much easier to setup. The only caveat being that molasses doesn't shift grease so your part needs to be clean before putting it in solution.

My wife uses cheap cola for cleaning secondhand cheap jewelry that she sells to raise funds for an animal charity.

Works well!

Also is good stuff for cleaning or fluxing for soldering. Dip a "bronze" coin in for a few minutes, and you'll see why we never drink the stuff! Phosphoric acid is a constituent, I think, which is what I use to deal with rust on car panels..

Howard

Cola is just an expensive way to get phosphoric acid but in a buffered Ph neutral solution with bubbles to help dislodge dirt. Better to find a proper solution of Phosphoric acid and paint it on rather than dunk it. repeat brushing every few minutes up to half an hour and wash off. You will become familiar with how it reacts. It leaves a protective coating which can be polished off with scotchbright if necessary.