Tool box in the garage during the winter?

[b-mack]

I live in upstate NY and the weather is crazy. I was wondering if keeping a tool box in the garage over the winter during freezing temps will do any damage to the slides or warp the metal. I have been redoing a Snap On KR661 and have been reluctant to put it all back together and leave it to freeze in the garage. It will be coming into work with me in about 6 weeks. What do you think? Is this a crazy question? Thanks!

 

[devoncoolman]

It wont do any damage to it. Your good put it back together.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Nah, shouldn't harm it. As long as it's not exposed to condensation, you're good.

 

[MikeF2316]

I live in upstate NY and the weather is crazy. I was wondering if keeping a tool box in the garage over the winter during freezing temps will do any damage to the slides or warp the metal. I have been redoing a Snap On KR661 and have been reluctant to put it all back together and leave it to freeze in the garage. It will be coming into work with me in about 6 weeks. What do you think? Is this a crazy question? Thanks!

It's bad if you get a humid day that's warmer than the garage. The humid air moves into the garage and water condenses on the cold metal surfaces. I don't think a couple of times will hurt a toolbox, but it only takes once for some tools if they're not protected.

That said, if it's going to be kept in a climate controlled area, and you have the option to leave it in a climate controlled area now, I wouldn't put it in the garage.

 

[scaron]

way back when in an old rental house i used to live in, i didn't really have room for a basement workshop so i kept most of my mechanic's tools in a detached garage also on the property... we were there for maybe a year, year and a half and when I pulled the box and tools they were in pretty good shape; i mean, i'm sure everything had a light sheen of oil and grease on it from being used, but there wasn't like massive amounts of surface rust everywhere... now that i have a full basement i keep everything down there and haul a box out to the garage as i need it... mostly just issues as others say above, find the most climate controlled area you can, and it feels a bit more secure to me (i have a lot nicer tools than i did years ago). so i bet you'll be fine, mist everything with a coat of light oil if you're really worried.

 

[canuckian]

I only heated my last shop when I was in there and nothing bad happened the toolboxes or tools. The killer for me was humidity in the summer but if you wipe or spray some kind of rust inhibitor on the bare metal parts you shouldn't have an issue.

 

[regguy1]

The sheet metal on cars seems to survive cold just fine.....

 

[Farmall450]

We have 4 in our garage...all are doing just fine.

I think really hot humid days are actually worse.

 

[Packard V8]

Upstate NY cold is no problem. It's the humidity which is the killer. As mentioned, it's the warming up on a humid day. As long as you wipe everything with an oily rag before returning it to the box, you'll be fine.

jack vines

 

[FlyBy]

Grew up and used to live in the Syracuse area, always had my tools in an unheated garage and nothing every happened to them. I only had and issue in a house that I rented, the basement retained water in it every time it rained and was crazy humid. My dehumidifier couldn't keep up and some hand tools developed a little surface rust.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I started a thread yesterday along the same lines dealing with moisture in the garage during the winter. I then found this thread today. Other than oiling the tools to prevent rust not much can be done. I am looking at a gas ceiling heater for next year. Just yesterday everything was soaked in my garage due to the temp swing of 30 some odd degrees. I wiped and oiled what I could. I understand tools getting beat up. What I hate is when they rust. Just a victim of where we live.

 

[venturesomerite]

I have never had a temp controlled spot for any of my tool boxes, they are all just fine.

For what it's worth, cars have a similar if not thinner sheet metal gauge than tool boxes, with nicer paint and they survive just fine.

 

[Revere Cycles]

I grew up in Fairport; we never had any problems with tools or boxes in the garage. In the summer, it did get pretty humid when we were working, so we installed an exhaust fan.

 

[krdiesel03]

My guys roll boxes from -20 on a outside deck right into 120+ air temp with 100% humidity all of the time. Only thing they ***** about is taking the same box back out side and the drawers icing up. No rust no warping.