Cause

Tetanus is often associated with rust, especially rusty nails, but this concept is somewhat misleading. Objects that accumulate rust are often found outdoors, or in places that harbor anaerobic bacteria, but the rust itself does not cause tetanus nor does it contain more C. tetani bacteria. The rough surface of rusty metal merely provides a prime habitat for a C. tetani endospore to reside, and the nail affords a means to puncture skin and deliver endospore into the wound. An endospore is a non-metabolizing survival structure that begins to metabolize and cause infection once in an adequate environment. Because C. tetani is an anaerobic bacterium, it and its endospores survive well in an environment that lacks oxygen. Hence, stepping on a nail (rusty or not) may result in a tetanus infection, as the low-oxygen (anaerobic) environment is provided by the same object that causes a puncture wound, delivering endospores to a suitable environment for growth. (from Wikipedia)

Jason, I don't think there would be any problem if you clean them up. But, personally. its just too tedious for me to sit around cleaning individual nails.

Travis,....... the honey badger wouldn't care.

Bill Adams;250331 wrote:

as I said put them in a container with some kero or diesel n shake them up you'd be surprised how good they come up
Olfolk used to soak all sorts of rsuty stuff in diesel for a bit to remove rust works a treat

Now talk about tasting bad!!!

they work well when used with rusty shoes
chris

chris bunting wrote:
LOL, especially on rusty horses when used by rusty shoers with rusty tools and rusty trucks.

Unless I had 5 or six boxes to clean, I wouldn't take the time, and maybe not then. Just chuck them and shoe an extra horse.

Save those little packages of silicate that comes in everything to absorb moisture, and throw one in a nail box when you open it.

I've tried WD-40, but couldn't acquire a "taste for it".

Regards

I quit putting nails in my mouth after a large dog took a whiss on my toolbox once!!

Olmate Fergus used to chuckle whe asking the young fellers at the service station pumping up their tyres if the valve cap tasted salty:eek:

Rachael Kane wrote:

Bill Adams wrote:

Must be a weman think that Rach
My dear olMum used to say
I mightnt always be right but Im never wrong
and dont you try n tell me different :cool:

:rolleyes: yes mum;)

I don,t use rusty nails, however a little bit of rust near the
head I might use. I wouldn,t want any problems as peviously stated. And some horses i shoe are thin walled as well.
I find that if i leave the nails in the cardboard box, then the box will help protect the nails from damp air, but keep the box properly closed.

I will use rusty shoes.

I personal think if you put wd on the nails and then the nails in your mouth, this might be an unhealth thing to do. You might get cancer of something. I worked in the chemical plant once, and the dangerous carcenogenic chemicals that go into stuff is amazing.

Michael Mackie wrote:
I find adding a couple thousand degrees Fahrenheit removes that darn rust from the shoes.