preservative for vintage tools in storage

[Duct Tape Man]

I have piles of old vintage tools, that I save just for the posterity of it. I enjoy the history of tools and their use, as much as many of you do. A lot of these tools I never really use, I have them filling cabinets and boxes just for the sake of having them. Maybe one day I'll build a hot rod garage like some of you, and that's where displaying them would be a neat thing for me.

To the tools - many of them are vintage non-chrome or nickel plated, in other words, bare steel. Or they are chromed but missing a lot of it so the bare metal shows through. I hate rust, and even though I clean a lot of my tools with a wire wheel, I want them to stay pretty much cleaned like that, without them going back to rusty just sitting in a box. Wiping them with oil helps, of course, but that must be re-done once in a while to re-coat the oil, otherwise rust appears.

Looking for opinions of different coatings that I experiment with, to spray or coat the bare metal tools, so they stay nice and "in the white" so to speak, and not re-rust just sitting around. I did a search on Google and asked around, most just use oil or WD-40. I was thinking something along the lines of BLO, or polyurethane, or that beeswax/turpentine mix that some blacksmiths use.

Greatly value your opinions, thanks.

 

[bareass172]

I have used a lot of products for stuff like this, and I can't say I've found "the one" just yet, but I am looking for something to fit several different requirements. For what you want I would not use WD-40 as I believe it's a shorter term solution than what you want. If I were in your shoes I would try this product:
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...s-and-protectants/heavy-duty-metal-protector/
I have a can and I've used it, it basically coats whatever you spray with a film that dries and seals the item. I would compare it to beeswax in a spray form, but have no idea what it's actually made from. It leaves the item with a slight yellow tinge because of the film thickness, and once it's dry I'd trust it to be pretty durable. I used it to store some old shop equipment a few years back, it worked incredibly well.

Another possible option would be a product like a chain wax for chain lubrication:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012TZ1RU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'd say the chain wax is similar to the Amsoil stuff, but I'd still choose the Amsoil first if I had the option. I've only used chain wax on motorcycle chains but I've used the Amsoil stuff to store equipment.

I'd be interested to see other suggestions myself, but otherwise I hope this helps.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Breakfree CLP has worked well for me.

 

[bonneyman]

One word - Ballistol

http://www.ballistol.com/

 

[DJAMiller]

I use boeshield t-9 at work (I work around saltwater), from everything I've tried it seems to work the best. Comes in a white spray can with an airplane on it, it leaves a waxy coating on the tools.

 

[jakemac]

If you're going to be packing them away in storage, then lather them in grease and wrap them in layers of wax paper.

If they're going to be stored in toolboxes that are occasionally opened, then periodic oiling would be how I'd go. Stay away from WD-40. While it's a good water repellant, it evaporates too quickly for this purpose. Leaving the metal exposed. Some of the members here recommend using Fluid Film. I don't know anything about it, or how long it lasts.


I haven't tried it, but I was thinking today as my hands were covered in it, that a thin layer of SuperLube might work.

 

[Fyrme]

Boiled Linseed oil works great for long term storage of bare clean steel. Wipe a thin layer on the bare steel, and let it dry. It will get real tacky, and that's what helps keep it where you put it.

 

[dmftoy1]

Acf-50 - think it may be same stuff as boeshield mentioned above. Try it and I think you'll be amazed

 

[Davefr]

Why not use Cosmoline. It's been the standard product for protecting metal for many decades.

http://www.cosmolinedirect.com/

 

[Engine]

I have piles of old vintage tools, re-coat the oil, otherwise rust appears.

Looking for opinions of different coatings ....

Greatly value your opinions, thanks.

This may be something worth checking into:
"Tectyl 846 (Grade 4, Class 1) is a modern version of the World War II cosmoline type corrosion preventative."
You might want to contact them and ask if the product will work for long-term tool storage.
http://www.mil-specproducts.com/Products/TECTYL-846,-CLASS-I

 

[senlow]

Why not use Cosmoline. It's been the standard product for protecting metal for many decades.

http://www.cosmolinedirect.com/

 

[RivennHewn]

Penetrol:

http://www.floodaustralia.net/products/anti_corrosion/penetrol-anti_rust.php

 

[Zrexxer]

Boeshield or LPS 3.

 

[Scimonetti]

I've never used it for metal but what about mineral oil? I'm sure that the more specialized products are better but am curious.

 

[carcajou]

Fluid film worked for me. Going on several years now and they still look like the day i put them away.

 

[pauls_workshop]

The Boeshield can actually still be purchased though Sears if you wanted to and had points to use. A great item to buy there with points. - Paul

 

[wild cowboy]

Fluid Film

 

[dsp1]

Why not use Cosmoline. It's been the standard product for protecting metal for many decades.

http://www.cosmolinedirect.com/

^^^This^^^ I've used it for years to coat plows before storing them for the winter. They sit under a tarp during the winter and come spring the moldboards always stay brightly polished and corrosion free. Some stuff that you can usually always get at local parts stores is CRC Marine Corrosion Inhibitor. It leaves the same kind of amber waxy coating and holds up really well.

 

[azzido]

If you keep your tools in enclosed box you might want to consider using vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI) in addition to rust prevention sprays (Boeshield/Fluid Film/Break Free CLP/Eezox/Marvel Mystery Oil/CorrosionX/Balliston/etc.). You could also use silica gel to reduce the moisture.

Check out this site: http://www.theruststore.com they have a lot of great products there.

 

[pozidriv]

Here, tectyl has become a genericised trademark, and with good reason.
http://www.valvolineeurope.com/engl.../tectyl_glashelder/klar_spray?category=tectyl

Tectyl ML is an old cars best friend.

 

[Moose364]

Fluid film gets my vote

 

[Leadberry]

Another vote for cosmoline. It's been the standard since the dawn of time.

 

[magnusk750]

Boiled linseed oil. Thin layer on the tool with a brush, then wipe the excess with a cloth. After a day or two the linseed oil is dry and leave a pretty invisible layer that isn't tacky, if you have wiped it well enough. Tools can be handled, doesn't shine like lacquerd. Laquered tools looks quite ***** to my humble opinion.