Preventing Tool Rust with Silica Gel Packets

[WMS PERFORMANCE]

Sometimes when you buy a toy, electronic device, or gourmet food product, you'll find a white packet labeled “Silica Gel - Do not eat - Throw away”.Instead of throwing away the silica gel packets, toss them into your tool drawers. Or, to be more effective, put the silica gel packs in plastic containers with your tools so there isn’t a constant supply of humid air from the environment.

 

[popparoach]

we have buckets of these at work but they only help,not prevent. some stuff tries to rust anyway.

 

[nine4gmc]

You can get large cans of silica for "flower drying" at walmart for cheap to fill those plastic containers.

Link to SILICA: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Silica-Gel-Crystals-1.5-lb-Tub/24547309

 

[spongerich]

I usually just eat them.

I can tell you one thing.. they make you REALLY thirsty.

 

[Ratchet Guy]

I use this for my camera, specially with the expensive lenses to prevent mold from growing into the lens

 

[djjsr]

Here's something to think about.

A few years ago at Christmas time, I unpacked some piece of junk made in China. There where 2 silica packs and I tossed them in one drawer of a toolbox in the garage. A few months later when the weather warmed up a little, I opened that drawer and every wrench was VERY rusted on the surface. These were wrenches that I've had for 40 years and they never rusted before. Other drawers, with no silica packs, showed no rust on any tools.

I don't know what caused it but be careful what silica packs you put in with your tools.

 

[FigureItOut]

I have no experience on the effectiveness of this but I thought I'd just mention that those silica packs can and likely should be refreshed periodically by baking them in the oven. Temperature and duration are up to your judgment, based on the size of the pack and the consistency of the granules.

 

[WMS PERFORMANCE]

Silica gel can adsorb about 40 percent of its weight in moisture and can take the relative humidity in a closed container down to about 40 percent. Once saturated, you can drive the moisture off and reuse silica gel by heating it above 300 degrees F

 

[Brownsfan]

I throw them is my road tool bags and they seem to help. I don't have much rust issues at all. I also use Kobalt drawer liners with Zeerust and don't have any rust in my box at home at all. They really do seem work well. My garage is not climate controlled and the temperature changes all the time and moisture is really a big problem. But even my pliers and screwdrivers don't rust at all. Even Channellock pliers that some say rust like crazy. I have a bunch of then at home too.

 

[WMS PERFORMANCE]

Moisture is one of the main contributors to rust. High or even moderate humidity can cause rust on unprotected metal surfaces. In enclosed areas, temperature changes can cause higher humidity or even condensation. If you place something in an enclosed area such a plastic container, the humidity of the environment becomes enclosed. If the temperature drops, the moisture has no place to escape so the relative humidity increases and if it drops far enough, the moisture will condense.

 

[WMS PERFORMANCE]

One of the most convenient ways to protect items from rusting is by reducing the amount of moisture in the enclosed environment. If you have a silica gel desiccant, the enclosed environment is to your advantage. Once you close a container, moisture transfer (in or out) is limited. When you use silica gel, you "**** up the moisture" from the enclosure and thereby reduce the total moisture in the air. When you reduce the moisture in the air you reduce the relative humidity and reduce the dew point, the temperature at which the water vapor condenses.

 

[WMS PERFORMANCE]

Here's something to think about.

A few years ago at Christmas time, I unpacked some piece of junk made in China. There where 2 silica packs and I tossed them in one drawer of a toolbox in the garage. A few months later when the weather warmed up a little, I opened that drawer and every wrench was VERY rusted on the surface. These were wrenches that I've had for 40 years and they never rusted before. Other drawers, with no silica packs, showed no rust on any tools.

I don't know what caused it but be careful what silica packs you put in with your tools.

It’s important to periodically dry them out so they can be reused or else they’ll eventually start leaking once fully saturated. Hold each pack for about 15 minutes in front of a warm bright light bulb and they’ll be ready to go to work again

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

unless box is sealed, I don't see the major help with those.

 

[pcmeiners]

Only issue with silica gel, unless you have an hermetically sealed container, the silca absorbs it's maximum content in a very, very short time.
With the amount of moisture entering a garage due to air exhange and through many garage floors( no vapor barrier, pounds of water per day) it would require 55 gal drums of silca gel to do a complete job in most garages.

 

[NonSenCe]

i use kitty litter. (the plastic granule type, it is silica gel over here.)

i also use that inside the cars and such during winter time to absorb some of the moisture.

 

[Mustangmike]

a piece of blackboard chalk will also keep the moisture count down

 

[popparoach]

when its really cold outside we put them in our boots and they get warm.

 

[Squddle]

I've heard of people putting camphor in their toolboxes to prevent rust.... I've never tried this, but some say that if you can deal with the smell, the fumes stop rust.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Camphor blocks work, it's a an old time thing for machinists. The modern equivalent is a vapor corrosion inhibitor, or VCI. There are a number of manufacturers, here's one: http://www.bull-frog.com/products/

 

[lilredex]

Ditto on the camphor blocks....as close as your local drugstore.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3190772

 

[Finky198]

Fresh steps Crystal cat litter is also very high percent of silica gel. I make and use packets in all my tool boxes and pelican case, Sometimes it works better then others, but I def think it cant hurt for the price even if it only slows the process. And yes it can be baked and reused

I would highly recommend them if you are putting something in a seal case thats where they really shine

 

[HeadsUp]

I use these in a safe.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001EJIXK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ttpete]

I run a dehumidifier in the shop with the drain hose going to the floor drain. I have no problems with rust.

 

[Mr. T]

I just keep some (just about any I have on hand) light oil on mine and don't worry about packets and regenerating them etc. It's worked so far.

 

[pcmeiners]

I run a dehumidifier in the shop with the drain hose going to the floor drain. I have no problems with rust.

Other than vapor barrier under floor and on walls/ceiling, this is the only moisture solution which works