Long term tool storage ?

[pendragon1998]

I've got a new set of Armstrong full polish wrenches that I bought for my son (he's due in July). I'd like to save them for him until he's old enough to appreciate them, so probably 15 years or more. How should I store them so they still look nice and new by the time I'm ready to give them to him?

I'm considering something like maybe paste wax and storage in a sealed mylar bag with a few silica packets. Is there a better way?

 

[toolstools]

Vasoline.

Lots of war guns were stores packed with cosmoline. I had a 1934~ Mosin Nagant and a 55 sks packed with cosmoline. Once it was all wiped out, they both looked like they was brand new. Cosmoline and vasoline is pretty comparable to one another.

 

[Kevin54]

There are a few homemade recipes online for making "cosmoline". If you want to store the tools long term, Use something like Cosmoline, wrap each one individually in a soft towel, shopwrag, or along those lines, put them all in a box, and tuck them away. Also take a prescription bottle, make some notes as to why they are the way they are, and as to why you did it, and pack the note away with the wrenches. You never know what tomorrow brings. With a note, it will explain the why's that a person might ask on down the road.

 

[ijroorda]

I'd say use those bad boys until he's ready for them! My favorite tools that my dad has given me are ones that came out of his toolbox with some battle scars already on them.

I totally get it though; my daughter is 4 months old and I want to start collecting tools for her. Whether or not she turns out to be a gearhead like me, I want her to have the basics and know what to do with them!

 

[pendragon1998]

That's a fair point. I might offer him the choice of a set of my wrenches or his own set of the Armstrongs, then keep the one he didn't choose. They'd both be nice to have.

Or maybe I'll just give him the Armstrongs and let the kids fight over my tools when I'm dead! lol

 

[kiatech]

vacuum packing

 

[Farmall450]

I agree on Cosmoline's miraculous properties.

 

[nine4gmc]

Techs will have laser wrenches that fit any size found on the flying cars in 15yrs

 

[bobcatdan]

As long as they stay dry, I don't see why they would rust. Cosmoline was used for shipping stuff across the ocean where the salty air could do harm.

 

[Farmall450]

As long as they stay dry, I don't see why they would rust. Cosmoline was used for shipping stuff across the ocean where the salty air could do harm.

This is true.

I'm not sure why you'd stock up on wrench sets 15 years ahead of time, I'd say use them and if your son's interested in 15 years give him a set you have then. Just a long time to park something useful and have your money invested.

 

[KoJo]

Plus they are chrome plated, just wrap them up in old news paper and it should suffice.

 

[litljay]

At 15 years old I would have chosen the "new" set. When I got my dad's tools at a much older age, they became sentimental items that I wouldn't trade for the world.

I still hear him screaming at me to put them away every time I go to use one of his things.

 

[Givl Reggin]

maybe paste wax and storage in a sealed mylar bag with a few silica packets.

All you need is place them in a zip lock, put the zip lock in a cardboard box and store them in the back of the closet... as long as they stay dry they'll be fine for decades and decades. No need for any additional wax/oil/grease.

 

[Givl Reggin]

Techs will have laser wrenches that fit any size found on the flying cars in 15yrs

Robots, I tell you! ROBOTS! They're our future! They'll do everything and we'll be free to evolve into giant slug like creatures with huge brains!

 

[toolstools]

Flying cars already exist. Just saying.

 

[reptilezs]

boeshield t9 and store them in a climate controlled area

 

[d.mcfarland]

Sealed bag inside a sealed bag! Double bag those. I personally like the idea that the OP has to buy good items while he can!

 

[canuckian]

I'm building sets for each of our boys (one is almost 3 and the other almost 8 months old) to be given to them when I feel they're ready and I'm simply storing them in a cart in the shop (no heat or climate control). Been building the oldest boys set since he was born and 3 yrs later no ill effects. That being said, anything that isn't chromed gets an oily rag wiped over it every now and again but the chrome stuff I figure should be fine.

 

[andywander]

I'd say use those bad boys until he's ready for them! My favorite tools that my dad has given me are ones that came out of his toolbox with some battle scars already on them.....

yeah, i agree with this!

 

[dirtmister16]

get a wrench roll for them. roll em up and put it away. ive gotten several tools in rools that looked new that were never used.

 

[Jsf721]

Food saver vacuum sealed bags

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I think what you are doing is super cool and thoughtful. Props. Cosmoline in towel in sealed container with note like other said.

Give him your used tools when he is ???mid/late twenties or so, and knows what sentimental really means.

my $0.02

 

[619DioFan]

The best place /way to store those wrenches are at my house. I promise to " break them in - I mean care for them " properly.

 

[CWP1616L]

Those wrenches look like the short pattern version. Get the kid a set of long patterns in 12 point.

 

[FLRover]

I've bought a small SO roll cab and have started filling it with good tools as deals come about. I just keep it stored in a climate control storage unit. We plan on buying our son a pos car of his choice for his 14th birthday and he can spend a couple years getting it ready to drive learning along the way. Now of course if he's the brainy type then I will just buy him a nice new car (neither of his parents are so the odds aren't in his favor). Our baby boy is just shy of 2 months old.

Congrats on the little one. Its going to be joy like no other. I still amost cry ever time I hold my little guy!

 

[G_P]

They will be fine almost anywhere. I have found NOS chrome tools at yardsales that had been in a basement for decades and looked brand new just dusty!

Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2

 

[carcajou]

I did something similar, went out and bought my son a new model 7 Remington 243 the day he was born. I gave it to him when he turned 16. I know he will never sell it, it means too much to him. I think you have a great idea with the wrenches.

 

[PatJ800]

I vote do nothing special.

Use them if you want, or store them new if you want, but the tools don't need any special treatment.

I use pre-WWII tools every day of my working life and they had zero special treatment since they were made. I have/use pipe wrenches around 100 years old. I thread pipe regularly using a pipe vise, threaders, and reamers that are 120+ years old. They all look and work as good as anything ever made. I assume you are talking "simple" hand tools (screwdrivers, end wrenches, etc.) Quality name brand and American stuff made today is probably way better than the stuff I have.

I vote no special treatment.

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

I like LPS3 for long term storage.

I have had tools stored long term that have been flooded and in a fire...plan accordingly.

 

[nine4gmc]

COSMOLINE

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Robots, I tell you! ROBOTS! They're our future! They'll do everything and we'll be free to evolve into giant slug like creatures with huge brains!

The way things are going with people and technology, I wouldn't put my money on the 'huge brains' part

 

[Stuey]

While you're at it, why not a set of inch wrenches as well? If he's into fab work, machinery, or engineering areas, he'll need inch sizes more than metric.

 

[joebachor]

ammo cans and disiccant packs