Moisture and tools

[Hpozzuoli]

Here in the northeast the weather has been crazy this year. We go from 20f to 55f thru the course of a night. When this happens everything in my garage gets soaked with condensation. I know a permanent heater would fix this, but in the mean time what can be done to protect the tools. I wipe what I can down with wd40 on a rag, but I can't get everything. Anyone else have this issue and what have you done.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Yep.

Also saw it in mfg facilities with no summer a/c and high humidity and wild temp swings with doors open during storms or in spring/fall.

It's a humidity/condensation/temp issue.

Dessicant bags work well if not great, but vary by temp. swings.

Boshield, WD40 and many other fluids keep the corrosion at bay.

Unless temp controlled, no real solution to solve it entirely.

 

[dledinger]

Humidity here is a killer. I use WD40 liberally and that typically works well. I've got some chainwax type areosol fir the really stubborn bits.

 

[Farmall450]

LPS 3 has a 3 year guarantee on protection indoors...

It leaves a nice protective film on.

 

[BearCuda]

Yeah, even though I don't have an issue with it, I keep multi desiccant packets in each of my drawers.

 

[woody 73]

I get a kick out of everyone cleaning off their tools 24/7, oh don't get me wrong if you work in any nice shop with good heating and cooling sure why not clean them at the end of the day.

But for everyone else myself included the temp swings are killers so all my tools look like **** and when I say that they are covered in everything from chicken fat, oil, grease, lard, and the list goes on; etc.

My tools and machines look like **** but you will find very little rust in all these many years.

Woody Tip:

WD-40 does a fantastic job at keeping the water at bay, but it has so little oil that it evaporates after just so long; been there done that the hard way.

 

[Johnny A]

same issue here....Live in Massachusetts & same problem,,,

 

[jd_1138]

I pulled my travel box out and took over to a friend's house today to replace a window regulator. My tools are covered in sweat. They are due for an oily wipedown.

 

[Danglerb]

Worst thing for rust is condensing moisture. Plant I worked at had the AC mess up one night, some economizer mode that cycled in outside air, and next morning thousand of dollars in tools had visible rust in a semi clean room setting.

Covering stuff will help a lot, cover and put a small light bulb in a bottom drawer, like 40 watt and should have no issue. Or use a real coating, Jig a loo etc.

 

[amitchell]

I use these in my unheated shed on the west coast of Canada.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=59367&cat=1,43456

They seem to be doing the trick.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

It is the worst today. I am in RI. I shut the garage and turned on the torpedo heater and got things under control. Had to run out and open garage and back to condensation central. I suppose a good oiling is all that can be done for now. I get aggrivated when my stuff is dirty..rust drives me crazy. Might be time for a permanent heat source this summer to get ready for next winter. Glad I am not the only one who has this problem.

 

[mattygee]

Another New Englander cringing at the latest temp swing... I keep everything doused in oil but there's always something that winds up with a good coating of rust.

 

[Heavy tech]

An ice dam on the roof of the shop I work at caused the roof to leak last week. It was fine at 7 am, I went out on a road call and came back at 1 to find water running down the wall and INTO my tool box. I was beyond pissed! 3/8"-1/2" of water in the bottom 4 drawers. Soaked it up with rags, blasted with the heat gun, then wiped everything with wd-40. So far no rust that I can find.


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[3baygarage]

Yeah, even though I don't have an issue with it, I keep multi desiccant packets in each of my drawers.

I have some desiccant sacks and chalk sticks in the drawers as well. Most of all I have a major moisture issue like the OP. Anything bare metal is in for a rusty ride. (Punches, chisels, impact sockets, old tools).
I learned it's too hard to fight it. Unless I always want everything oil soaked, then I just roll with it. As long as it's usable.
Not worth me trying to clean everything. I once oiled the whole pliers collection when I was bored. Now they're rusty again. Oh well.

 

[Crow Horse]

Try using VCI's like Zerust. Been using them for 2 years and no issues. Big improvement!

 

[Honda guy]

I spray mine with wd40 but it evaporates pretty quick. For long term protection I use Amsoil Heavy Duty Metal Protector.

 

[sparky5982]

WD-40 does a fantastic job at keeping the water at bay, but it has so little oil that it evaporates after just so long; been there done that the hard way.

Yep. WD-40 will disappear shortly unless it is in a sealed container. At work, I rub a light coat of Mobile Vactra on all of my tools - it is a machine way oil that sticks and will not evaporate in my lifetime. Rub on, wipe off. Works great. Plus it makes my wrenches shiny!

 

[dirtydogintex]

trial n error from the beach showed
several wipe downs w/Royal Purple grease/oil,
at least 2 applications of PB Blaster (dry between coatings),
storage in old refrig/freezer or plywood box (preferably w/heat - small incandescent bulb burning/small space heaters like in MCCs or gun cabinets)
all individually (but better in concert w/one another) seemed to mitigate moisture/salt.... even sea fog at times!!

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Yep. WD-40 will disappear shortly unless it is in a sealed container. At work, I rub a light coat of Mobile Vactra on all of my tools - it is a machine way oil that sticks and will not evaporate in my lifetime. Rub on, wipe off. Works great. Plus it makes my wrenches shiny!

Well this just *****. I didn't know that about wd40. I thought it left oily residue for a long period. So what is the best thing to use on your tools to protect them?

 

[woody 73]

Oh I forgot Bear grease...

Hpozzuoli the following products work well in your man cave:

http://www.theruststore.com/Boeshield-C20.aspx

 

[Wakefield]

Purple battery terminal protector grease? (Wiped on tool)

 

[Farmall450]

An ice dam on the roof of the shop I work at caused the roof to leak last week. It was fine at 7 am, I went out on a road call and came back at 1 to find water running down the wall and INTO my tool box. I was beyond pissed! 3/8"-1/2" of water in the bottom 4 drawers. Soaked it up with rags, blasted with the heat gun, then wiped everything with wd-40. So far no rust that I can find.


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That really *****.
Had a flood from dishwasher, my other box in the basement had the same problem.

Thank God for LPS 3.

 

[doublekick24]

Working in a truck shop, I'd have to say besides constantly being covered in grease the best protector is diesel fuel. I keep some in a spray bottle and wipe all of my tools down before they go back in the box. It doubles as a great cleaner too.