I was bored today, and needed something "useful" to do, so I decided to experiment a bit with an old bolt. This is what I started with:
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/uploads/12276/Bolt_004.jpg

I used the wire wheel to clean it up:
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/uploads/12276/Bolt_006.jpg

Then I cleaned ith thoroughly with laquer thinner and dipped it in gun blueing (regular cold blue from Walmart):
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/uploads/12276/Bolt_007.jpg

After a good rinse in warm water, I sprayed it with some WD-40 and wiped it off. Here's the finished bolt, together with a new one from a bolt kit (the one on top is the new one):
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/uploads/12276/Bolt_011.jpg

It's not perfect, and I don't think this finish will hold up to the elements as well as the finish on a new bolt. It looks pretty good though, and it could be a way of reusing hard-to-find original fasteners until you find new ones.

Acid dipping will probably be an easier way to clean it up, and there are also refinishing kits from Caswell plating that will probably give you a more OEM-like appearance.

I recently did some fastners with a product from Eastwood called (Zinc Phosphate in a can). It was recommended by someone else for use on bolts,hinges,etc. I had to sandblast them first and use a self etching primer but they turned out pretty good and should hold up for quite a while.

There is a product called "oxysolve" (or is it oxisolve?) that puts a nice phosphate coating on steel and looks a lot like the original finish.

Looks good. I wish I had the patience to scrub and clean every little bolt like that. I don't - that's why I usually give mine a good checkbook cleaning :D Besides I figure the least I could do for the old girl is to buy her some new fasteners.

Maybe if you soaked them in Zep purple stuff to get teh paint and grime off, then soaked it in phosphoric acid or vinegar to get the rust off....

Andy

A tumbler works well too. I have one from when I used to reload brass cartridges and I've used it a few times on small hardware. Done the wire wheel thing too, but the tumbler is easier.