Preventing rust?

[Technikal]

I recently moved to a new-to-us house. The good news is I have a much larger garage than before. The bad news is the new garage isn't climate controlled like my old one.

I've noticed that I'm getting rust on some of the tools in my toolbox. I assume this is the result of the larger temperature and humidity swings in the garage due to the lack of HVAC. Beyond adding HVAC, which I don't plan to do, what can I do to prevent rust? Is it just being diligent about wiping down tools with a silicon or oil cloth? Dehumidifiers?

Thanks!

 

[shanny19]

VCI paper or chips. I bought a pack of VCI paper 4” by 4” squares, put one or two in each drawer.

 

[jimreed2160]

I have a two car garage in north Florida and I use a dehumidifier. It is not the whole solution but it does make a BIG difference.

 

[Fbmoose48]

Shanny19, I've been wondering how to combat this for a long time. I just found Zerust vci impregnated drawer liners because of your tip. Thanks

 

[unslow1]

I've found keeping the air circulating helps a lot. I have a fan on a timer.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Corrosion inhibitor.

 

[tanukiboy]

VCI paper or chips. I bought a pack of VCI paper 4” by 4” squares, put one or two in each drawer.

Thanks for the great tip, shanny19. After searching around a bit, I managed to find Zerust Excor VCI chips in Japan sold under the Trusco brand. I thank you, and my tools thank you.

 

[zendriver]

I've never owned a climate controlled garage, so the humidity and temps are all over the place.

I keep all metal tools, wiped down with WD40 and motor oil for drill presses, which I would do regardless.

If I don't then I'll get rust.

 

[Showkey]

I have a two car garage in north Florida and I use a dehumidifier. It is not the whole solution but it does make a BIG difference.

OP does not give his location.........but...........dehumidifiers can not be used in cold climates and work better if the room or buildings is climate controlled or at the very least low air exchange rate.
Example if he lives in MN and the garage is currently 30-40* dehumidifiers are not an option.......if the garage doors are used several times per day or the garage is not sealed well or insulated.......controlling humidity is near impossible.

 

[Technikal]

I'm in Austin, TX, so our winters are pretty mild, but we can have relatively high humidity all year long. We can also have pretty dramatic swings in temps in every season but summer (where it's consistently hot). A couple of weeks ago, we had temps in the 70s early in the week, then it was in the teens, then back in the upper 60s. Those wild swings tend to create condensation anywhere that's not climate controlled.

I'll check out the VCI paper and the humidifiers. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I wipe down with CRC 3-36 in my shop. It's a 2 story block building that is only heated when I'm there so I get the shop sweats too.

 

[reptilezs]

boshield t9 or crc corrosion inhibitor

 

[redwrench60]

Air circulation is the single biggest help I've found in controlling rust and corrosion on tools and equipment in my detached garage. It's harder for metal to condensate water droplets if air is moving. I keep a cheap box fan running 27/7 in one corner pointed down a wall to create a "swirl" effect in the whole space. It pulls less than an amp and makes a BIG difference. You can pull a soaking wet car in there and in 3 hours it's bone dry and the puddles are gone in 6.

 

[240Z_Master]

Get a desiccant of some sort... all those silica packages that say don't eat throw those bags in your tool boxes... A lot of the Chinese made furniture comes shipped with big bags of the silica packets. Hope this works.

 

[ddawg16]

All my tools are covered in oil from working on my vehicles.....Hence, I don't have an issue.

 

[Tonyuk]

Wipe the with the rag you use to clean up drips from oil changes, either that or a wipe down with some ATF works well.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

I use a dehumidifier in spring, summer and fall and wipe down with CRC 3-36. Use the dehumidifier in the winter during long warm humid spells.

 

[seanb02]

In my service truck which is not entirely sealed from moisture intrusion, rust can be an issue for any tools that do not have a good chrome surface. Typically I go through and wipe tools down with tractor hydraulic fluid once a month or so during the winter months. I choose to use the THF since it is convenient due to working on a farm. It is thin enough to coat surfaces well, but thick enough to stay there. Really doesn't seem to attract dirt as bad as say 15w40 oil does.

 

[matt_i]

boshield t9 or crc corrosion inhibitor

The Boeshield is my fave but its $$$ expensive. I went with a gallon of LPS-3 which goes in a pump spray bottle. Its a bit gummier but it works. There is also LPS-2 for slightly less corrosion protection and more lubrication.

The other thing that helped was some bentonite dessicant bags I got from containerized machines shipped from overseas that were being thrown out. But that was a windfall and not a controlled purchase.

 

[Chromdome35]

I use Boeshield on everything metal around my house and I've never had any rust on something I've treated with it.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Corrosion X or Corrosion HD is far, far better than any CRC or LPS product.

 

[Tallpilot]

I use Boeshield on everything metal around my house and I've never had any rust on something I've treated with it.

It's awesome stuff. Best 'fluid film' I have tried.

 

[SRSemenza]

It's awesome stuff. Best 'fluid film' I have tried.

Yes, what I like about Boeshield is that it is pretty much dry on most surfaces.

Seth

 

[ericb445]

I keep two box fans running 24/7. They are cheap enough to replace when they fail