Does anyone have a good solution for removing rust from some very rusty Fur Stretchers I picked up from a convention?

I removed the rust from many stretchers by using the wire brush wheel on my bench grinder.

How about a wire brush,sandpaper,steel wool,then a light coat of wax.

Do you then paint it after removing the rust?

Soak them in an oxalic acid bath.

Soak in 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Wire brush and wipe down with WD-40.

Most if not all stretchers are galvanized, soaking in acid or vinegar will very quickly remove any galvanization left and they will rust up faster than ever.

I'd just wipe them down with WD40. I wouldn't paint them just a light coat of oil even rub with coon fat will keep them from rusting or slow it WAY down.

This is what I do

WD 40 will clean off the grease accumulation from pelts.I use it on my fleshing beam from time to time.
I wouldn't rub any animal fat on a stretcher,it will get sticky when it oxidizes and pull fur from(dmg) your pelts.

WB 40 Is my choice and I use a scotch guard pad or steel wool to take off the rust.

I had 8 coyote wire stretchers that were way too rusty to use anymore, but had never thrown away. Last year I needed more coyote stretchers, so I went to Menards, and bought clear vinyl tubing with an inside diameter that would slide over the wire stretcher. I cut off the bottom of each of the wire stretchers, slid the tubing up each side to meet at the top (I didn't figure I could get the tubing to make the sharp bend at the nose of the wire stretcher). I made wood/wire hybrid stretchers like have been made for coon, by putting a wood insert in at the bottom. Used duct tape to tape the tubed wire stretcher sides to the wood insert. To use, just tack the bottom of the coyote hide to the wood insert. Worked very well for me and no worry about rust ever affecting any pelt again.

I have yet to see a speck of rust on my wooden stretchers and I get a better size.

I use steel wool land rust blaster then wipe down with WD40

Do you find that a little bit of rust on a wire stretcher hurts the pelt?

That is a very BIG YES!!!

I've seen people put wet hides on the stretcher to dry … this will make them rust quicker than anything and the fur will stick to them when you try to removed them. I make sure all of my fur is good and dried and deburred before even fleshing them. and check them after they are fleshed to make sure you have left any moisture on the fur before I stretch them.

Garry-

I think I recall hearing that rust reacts with the skin side of the pelt (or gets on it, etc.) and that during the tanning process, the pelt can fall apart wherever there was any rust contact with the skin. Hopefully a fur buyer, or NAFA, or FHA person can add insight or correct me if necessary.

X2
Then neutralize in baking soda and water.

Get wood ones?

Yes, replace with wood ones. They provide the ability to pin out a square butt and the tail and also provide overall better consistency in shape and fur density thus providing better overall appearance.