I have an apartment on a farm, and my land lord was nice enough to donate a shed to me. It has wooden floors and I guess the moisture is getting in there because my impact sockets and anything else that is hardnened is showing signs of rust. I have been trying to clean them, but it is a pain to keep up with so I am looking for a better solution. I should also add that the doors are pretty far off and have a decent gap in them. What route should I go to keep my tools from rusting? I keep hitting them with WD or even dirtbike air filter oil which gets real sticky. Perhaps a dehumidifier? Maybe new doors? HELP!!!
My tools are rusting!!!!!
- Thread starter Prime320
- Start date
Gary S
Well-known member
Yup. If you live in a swamp, or near an ocean, expect a lot of rust.
For the tools, clean them less and use them more. If you leave some grease on them after using them, they won't rust.
My Craftsman wrenches were bought in the early 70s. I've never cleaned them and they still have no rust on them.
junk4dummies
Banned
The fact that they are hardned has nothing to do with it. Humidity will do it along with ocean air. 3 in 1 or oil on a rag will work. Just wipe them down with any light oil. On my farm in Indiana I have a rag with oil. I wipe my shovels and yard tools down everytime I use them. It keeps the rust off. You can always get a shoe box and put them under your bed but I bet they will still rust if you don't spray light oil on them.
That is the nice thing about Southern California. No humidity and nothings rust here. Things near the ocean get a little rust but it is not like the gulf states.
Welcome to the world of rust to dust.
That is the nice thing about Southern California. No humidity and nothings rust here. Things near the ocean get a little rust but it is not like the gulf states.
Welcome to the world of rust to dust.
Sparkfarmer
Well-known member
http://www.zerustproducts.com/toolb...liners?zenid=89909aa8638cdec06fa73132ee48be3c
Haven't tried them myself but others here say they work.
Cheers
Haven't tried them myself but others here say they work.
Cheers
box
Well-known member
had simular problem with EVERYTHING in my shed rusting, turned out to be pool chlorine I was storing in there (duh me) accelerating the oxidation. Moved chlorine to a seperate remote shed and now i have no issues at all
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I have the same problem during the winter with all the condensation from my tools sitting in my service van, I just oil the **** out of all my sockets and wipe them lightly so they dont make a mess, this has proven to be the least messy and most effective.
RRmech
Well-known member
Back in the early 70's, I used to live right on the ocean in New Jersey.
And yup, everything rusts like crazy because of the salt and moisture in the air.
Fast forward 40 years to New Mexico, where virtually nothing rusts.
A VERY light coating of oil on your metal tools should do the job.
Steve
And yup, everything rusts like crazy because of the salt and moisture in the air.
Fast forward 40 years to New Mexico, where virtually nothing rusts.
A VERY light coating of oil on your metal tools should do the job.
Steve
waterboy12
Well-known member
A co worker sprays everything down with a light coat of extra virgin olive oil fallowed by a wipe down. I used to give him hell, but it works pretty good.
shampoop
Well-known member
Best advice is cleaning only accelerates rust. Covered in dirt and oil is better than clean. The oil keeps the rust away. Only thing I ever clean with is penetrating oil (like wd40) because it actually works pretty well and leaves a thin coat of oil behind. But my stuff gets handled all of the time. For stuff that spends a lot more time sitting around, you want something thicker and heavier.
Also, try to keep them in a dry environment. If you have a heated garage that's the easiest way, keeps the air dry. I'm sure a dehumidifier would work great too so long as the structure isn't swiss cheese letting humid air in from everywhere.
If you don't have that many tools, simply storing them inside the apartment might be the best solution.
Also, try to keep them in a dry environment. If you have a heated garage that's the easiest way, keeps the air dry. I'm sure a dehumidifier would work great too so long as the structure isn't swiss cheese letting humid air in from everywhere.
If you don't have that many tools, simply storing them inside the apartment might be the best solution.
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moronmountain
Well-known member
Put a gel pack in each drawer, and don't keep them clean. Regular old oil works way better than WD40.
Alan Douglas
Well-known member
Water will condense on any surface whose temperature is below the dew point. You can get the current dew point from the local US Weather Service website, and guess at the upcoming ones from the predicted low temperatures each night. Then it's a matter of keeping the tools warmer, or the air drier, or separating the moisture from the iron with oil or wax.
woody 73
Well-known member
A lot of the GJ members wipe down their tools after every use mind you that is ok by me; but I on the other hand never do that practice instead I let the oil & grease stay on each tool. Over time that stops all of the rust in my garage.
Crow Horse
Well-known member
There are a number of things you can try. Dehumidifier, heat, sealing the structure, Zerust products all will help. Some folks use Damp Rid. From what I understand, Damp Rid is calcium chloride. I went to the pool supplier, got a bucket of calcium chloride and made 2 part containers, one part to hold the calcium chloride and the lower part of collect the water. It does collect water and in the spring I place a number of these home brew damp rid clones around my shop. A word of caution, calcium chloride is corrosive handle with care.
You can lightly boil impact sockets for 20 or 25 minutes and it will convert the rust back into black oxide. Afterwards, you need to card the rust off a bit with some fine steel wool or a stiff bristle brush. Some guys use a spray oil like RemOil or will hot-oil treat them afterwards, but that's up to you. The process is the same thing as a slow-rust-blue on a firearm.
bobemmerich
Well-known member
Wax based ... Furniture polish works great. Something I learned from the old timers loooong ago.
Koolbreeze
Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2012
- Messages
- 11
I had a similar experience with those chlorine tablets for septic systems. I apparently left the lid a little loose, stuck the container in my utility room and everything metal was covered in rust in no time, including the electric service panel & breakers, hot water heater, tools and copper wire & pipes were tarnished. What a mess!
freeskier
Well-known member
dont clean them off, all the grease and grime from your gloves/hands/projects will protect them. i spray mine with wd-40 on a mist setting from a spray bottle if i know im gona be away for a week