Cleaning the original tools

["Everett" <ebus@ebus.simplenet.com>]

I know someone out there in Type III land has cleaned up their original
tools to remove rust, etc. so...

Here are a few questions along that line:
1. What can I use to clean the tools and remove the rust?
2. My tools seem to be black in color - is this:
   a. Corrosion,
   b. An original rust-preventative coating, or
   c. Just paint that was originally applied to the tools?
3. If the tools originally came painted or with a coating of some origin,
is there a product available to duplicate the color/coating?  If so, what
product?

I had an extra original spark plug removal tool so, as a test, I cleaned it
as best I could with fine steel wool and a brush.  It looked pretty good
but still had a lot of rust pitting.  I then attempted to use Naval Jelly
on it to remove the rust.  This did not give the result I wanted.  The tool
began as black with various rust pits and now is silver metallic in color
and covered with black splotches and the rust spots did not go away - they
just turned black.  Ahhhh!

Thanks,
Everett Barnes
ebus@ebus.simplenet.com
'55 Kombi / '65 Squareback
http://ebus.simplenet.com/Volkswagen