Hand Tool Protection

[gdocktor3]

I have some older wrenches, that I love, but are raw metal and tend to rust up. I hit them on the bench grinder a few weeks ago and today they are starting to rust up again. These are big 1-1/8" and bigger Williams Superwrenches I keep in a long metal tool box. Not my tool chest. My garage is not a controlled climate so the temp and climate always changes. I know about the chemicals and those blocks they sell for the tool chests, but is there anything I can spray on them for protection. I wanted to ask before doing. I was thinking some white lithium grease or WD40 maybe? Or will that make them slippery and gross feeling? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Glenn

 

[kythri]

You can always wipe WD-40 off before you use them.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Just use wipe them down with a oily rag and you should be fine.

 

[gdocktor3]

Yea I actually waxed my truck the other day and I wiped a bunch down with the cloth I used.

 

[Adam.C]

Cold gun blue. I refinished the impacts in my profile with Brownell's. Paint is another reasonable option. But I would gun blue the working surfaces.
Long sure why more guys don't paint their old tools that have lost their chrome. There are some awesomely tough paints out there. You could also have them ceracoated

 

[Tim37]

http://www.lpslabs.com/product-details/612

I have been using this stuff at work for taps and such seems to be doing the trick

 

[gdocktor3]

I was almost about to grab a leftover can of Duplicolor truck bed liner to spray one of the wrenches with today to see what happened. I figured I would leave the jaw and box primed or bare, but spray the rest. Then it would have a nice grip to it. Might still do that.

 

[gdocktor3]

That LPS stuff isn't cheap, but neither are the tools I guess.

 

[Ray-CA]

An old school trick is to put a piece of chalk in your tool box drawers to absorb moisture. I get desiccant packs from my local pharmacist and use a couple per drawer.

Ray

 

[Dave455]

There are a number of factors here. Most important I reckon, is the quality of the steel. I have quite a few bare metal tools, but the decent ones seem quite rust resistant, while the cheaper ones (some cheap CK pliers etc) seem to rust while you watch! I reckon the Williams wrenches are decent though!

Next up is the environment. If your garage is damp, then temperature drops will result in condensation! Metal boxes make this worse, as you can get condensation forming inside the box. Best solution is to use wooden boxes, or line your metal boxes with cork, or better still get some plastic boxes that seal up! I use boxes designed for food storage for my infrequently used tools and have few problems.

Finally, wipe your tools with something before storage. An oily rag is better than nothing, but I prefer WD-40 of Break Free CLP. Both have a solvent that dries out, leaving your tools protected.

Here in the damp U.K. you can get vapour emitting paper that prevents rust, just include a small bit in the box! Works well for long term storage or grandfathers woodworking planes, but Never needed it if I use the plastic boxes!

 

[Rico.]

An old school trick is to put a piece of chalk in your tool box drawers to absorb moisture.
I get desiccant packs from my local pharmacist and use a couple per drawer.

^^ This only works if your drawers are air tight, otherwise the packs saturate quickly.


I just give mine a quick spray of WD-40... does the trick.

 

[Tim37]

That LPS stuff isn't cheap, but neither are the tools I guess.

I don't even know the company paid for it

 

[d.mcfarland]

Gun oil. I use Break-Free CLP and don't have issues even with bad humidity areas.

 

[cbacres]

I just started using a can of WD 40 specialist dry lube. Spray it on, let the tool set and wipe down after a while. shows promise, but I've only used for a short time.

 

[gdocktor3]

Yea the tools in my Mac tool chests are fine. I have an old metal Craftsman hand box thats on wheels and about 2 feet long. It doesn't seal well at all, but its a good, sturdy box to keep my long, heavy wrenches in. Plus it rolls away under my tool bench. As I'm writing this I'm considering spraying the wrenches with WD40, wiping them down and putting an old, oily towel inside and wrap it around the tools. Tuck them in nice and tight for the night...

 

[BigBlackBlazer]

If you don't want to oil them cause you don't want them all greasy you can try a thin coat of wax

 

[1950mercury]

Fluid film, gibbs or screw it paint or powder coat them

 

[Hornman]

Bull Frog Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors. Open the package, put in toolbox, vapor coats metal, stops corrosion. No greasy film.

 

[Cato]

Yes, WD 40 is the best solution. Just wipe them down with a rag damp with WD 40 after every use or so.

You can also use Rem Oil - I find that stuff to be less greasy than WD-40.

But WD 40 is a must for steel/stainless steel.

 

[dede2897234]

I also recommend Gibbs Brand corrosion inhibitor. I bought last year a heavily corroded Armstrong c-clamp at a swap meet. I soaked it in Evapo-Rust for 24 hours. Then, I cleaned the surface with 3M red scotch brite pad. I sprayed the surface with Gibbs Brand penetrant, let it soak, and cleaned the surface with a rag. Over the last year, the c-clamp has not rusted with it sitting on a shelf of a non-climate controlled garage.

Here is a link Gibbs Brand's product page: LINK. I bought my 2 cans from an eBay seller several years ago.


Dave

 

[St-rider]

black oxide.

 

[unslow1]

After I wire-wheeled them I painted a bunch of mine with cast blast. Paint that looks like cast iron.

 

[gdocktor3]

I also recommend Gibbs Brand corrosion inhibitor. I bought last year a heavily corroded Armstrong c-clamp at a swap meet. I soaked it in Evapo-Rust for 24 hours. Then, I cleaned the surface with 3M red scotch brite pad. I sprayed the surface with Gibbs Brand penetrant, let it soak, and cleaned the surface with a rag. Over the last year, the c-clamp has not rusted with it sitting on a shelf of a non-climate controlled garage.

Was it worth going through all that if its just been sitting for a year?
But I checked them out and it does seem like a good product. Thanks

 

[gdocktor3]

I like the paint idea. I have some older Mac wrenches that I don't use much because they are raw and rusty. Maybe I will clean them up and paint the SAE one color and the MM another color to tell them apart and throw them in a tool box for my truck. Be better than the Husky set I have in there now. I like that cast blast idea too.. Thanks for all the info guys.

 

[gdocktor3]

Bull Frog Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors. Open the package, put in toolbox, vapor coats metal, stops corrosion. No greasy film.

I keep my most valuable tools in my older, but nice Mac & Craftsman chests. The drawers with wrenches and sockets/ratchets are lined with a tool box liner. Everything is tight, but I highly doubt air tight. I've heard using the strips and cubes don't work well unless it is air tight. Makes sense, but do you think it will still work? Or atleast help?

 

[hangfirew8]

FluidFilm on all bare metal, VCI/VPI paper in the tool drawers.

Use WD40 for removing water but not rust-proofing. The Stoddard Fluid (deodorized kerosene) migrates and exposes the metal over time. WD40 meets exactly zero military standards for rust proofing.

 

[Zeke]

No one has mentioned seasoning them. Oil them up and cook them. About 300º should do it. Use the BBQ or anything where they can be heated w/o a direct flame.

 

[pendragon1998]

Paste wax is what I use on bare steel and cast iron that is prone to rust. It makes them pleasantly grippy.