rant on wet tools

[KEH]

What is it with people letting tools get wet? I'm in the humid SE, but some people treat their tools as if they were in the desert. I got, from the pawn shop, a 3/8 driver 11 mm Craftsman USA deep socket. It showed no signs of much use, but all of the interior of the socket was very rusty. (price reflected condition, so no rant there) In another PS previously I found 2 SK Diamond 3/8 drive ratchets. The outside showed their age, and both had some rust in the action. One still worked, the other was locked up. I left them for the next guy.
Plastic cases that some tools come in are not waterproof. Found some examples of them, including a Mac set of screwdriver bits and small sockets, all rusted in the plastic case.

KEH

 

[M6erfan]

Some people don't give a sh*t. Of course it might be accidental or an unfortuate circumstance such as flood...

I was over at a friends house a couple weeks back and it was pouring rain, saw a few combo wrenches out on the patio table getting drenched. They were in plain view so I'm sure he saw them too, he didn't seem to care.

 

[davethorik]

I have a Wright 1/2 drive ratchet that I found in an empty apartment. I'm guessing the reason it was left behind was because it was rusted tight. It has the soft rubber grip and the rust stops about 3/4" from the grip, like it was left standing in something filled with water.

I have had it soaking in PB blaster for about 6 weeks and I got the mechanism free, although it just freewheels, no resistance. Haven't had time to mess with it in a couple days, if I can rebuild it cool. If not, oh well I tried.

Still want to find who would do that to a Wright ratchet and beat them upside the head.

 

[FigureItOut]

I have tools I bought last fall that I'm fighting rust on, and they've never been wet. Klein, SK and Wiha, so not garbage. It's humid here, I guess it just happens.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[Al Borland]

Nothing wrong with getting your tool wet as long as you clean it up when you're done.(SOMEONE had to say it)
It's worse when the tools get put back in the plastic case wet, and the case gets closed up...
It's not just our new guys.

 

[yamaha0343]

I have tools I bought last fall that I'm fighting rust on, and they've never been wet. Klein, SK and Wiha, so not garbage. It's humid here, I guess it just happens.

Same here in Louisiana. I've found throwing a couple silica packs in my toolbox helps out some.

 

[Gotcha640]

My uncle works oilfield heavy equipment repair, and his tools get wet, muddy, iced over if he doesn't put one tool away while he uses a second for a few minutes, driven over, and stolen by TSA. He charges his customers enough to bring a usable set of tools to the site, and if he breaks one or the whole box gets driven over by a mine dump truck, it's all paid for.

A neighbor buys new tools when his old ones get scuffed or start showing rust or don't catch the light just right. He has the money to do it, I get some second hand tools, and you get all worked up.

Who's doing it wrong?

 

[yamaha0343]

I think you're winning.

 

[CJM8515]

I work outside with my tools, my ratchets, sockets and wrenches do get rusted after a rainy day. I usually wipe them down with WD40 or whatever I have with me and clean off all the rust. My boss doesnt care, all of his tools are rusty.

 

[Ruger_556]

I worked on refrigerated trailers for awhile, tools were wet more often than not due to working outside and really wasn't anything you could do about it. Sometimes you can't avoid it...

 

[CutterFarms]

I try to keep my impacts or anything I know will rust with fluid film. Lasts pretty long time even when you think its worn off. My OCD can't leave tools unprotected

 

[Ram Hemi]

Not all of us work in a heated and ac'd shop. I work in all weather conditions, from hot, rainy, muddy, snowy, -40 etc. I try to keep my stuff as clean as possible but that fact is it just doesn't always happen, I get called from one thing to the next and don't always have enough time to wipe everything down the way I do when I'm in the shop. You should see the 3/8" long flex head SO ratchet I have. It's all rust, no chrome left. Going
To try to trade it next time I see our SO guy. Also working field service on heavy equipment some tools get lost and then found months later and aren't in the same shape they were when I lost them.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

After a cold night, most of the metal tools in my service truck have some moisture...keep using them, and it goes away.

 

[TigerDude]

They're just tools. They aren't children.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Humidity, bouncing all around freezing every other day during the winter, and work that needs to be done now means stuff doesn't stay new forever. It would be nice to live in a desert sometimes, I think I would have one truck for life, just because I could. Rust *****, it is a never ending battle.

 

[slip knot]

We got this thing called humidity down here. We also got this thing called the gulf of mexico. combine those two and I dare you to keep the rust off of tools. Rust happens.just deal with it and move on.

 

[Mastermind]

I keep a sheet of that rust armor stuff in screwdriver bit boxes, socket boxes etc. Seems to work good. I spray a little wd40 on it once and a while too.

 

[M6erfan]

They're just tools. They aren't children.

Children rust?

 

[B_Bimmer]

I was wondering the same, I have left mine out for hours in rain and snow, no rust yet.

 

[Bielio]

Don't know about anyone else on the forum, but some of my tools get polished.
Had a pair of knipex pliers that started showing surface rust. (Minor, but still visible)
Ended up polishing them to a bright shine.
No more problems with that pair.
It may seem extreme to many here, I agree, tools are meant to be used, worn, abused, thrashed and trashed.
I never looked at tools that way.

If I spend the money for quality, I expect the tool to perform, a little TLC and proper lube (not WD-40) goes a long way.
I've seen friends abuse their tools (throwing them, yes, throwing them across a garage it a fit of anger)
Me: why?
Pissed off dude: that's why I pay for expensive tools, so they take the abuse

Me: …you idiot

 

[fivespdcat]

I was working on my sprinkler system last week. So not much I can do except clean them up after, which includes water....

 

[finn]

I bought an inexpensive set of Crescent ratchets and sockets that I keep in the shed. Primary use for that set, along with some duplicate Craftsman and Allen combo wrenches is to install and remove the dock.

They get wet.

 

[Gmonkee]

His tools, his loss if they go to ****.

No two users have the same ideals and work under the same conditions.

On top of that I buy battered used tools mainly because they are so cheap. Look at my pile and judge me you won't get a good read. I didn't beat them up but I see no value in paying more for shiny chrome that will not turn the bolt better than my mess.

Tools are to be used and one day used up. They make billions more of them daily for a reason.

 

[Jim C.]

I'm careful about not abusing, misusing, or neglecting my tools. As a pretty serious DIYer, I have a relatively significant investment in my arsenal of tools. Occasionally a tool might get wet, but it's nothing to simply wipe off moisture and apply some oil, etc. It only takes a minute. Residing in the rust belt of America, I also heated my shop, so my tools are not exposed to the big temperature swings that cause condensation and lead to rust. Once I invest in a tool, I plan on keeping it and using it for life. I don't see any reason to needlessly let it deteriorate due to neglect.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

I was working on my sprinkler system last week. So not much I can do except clean them up after, which includes water....

I have a pair of Channellock 442 and 422 pliers that I use almost exclusively when I'm working on my irrigation system. I've had them for as long as I've had the irrigation system... 17 years to be exact. Those two pairs of pliers always get wet, but neither one has a speck of rust on it. It's simple preventative maintenance. Wipe them off, apply a little oil to the metal surfaces, add a drop in the joint and they're rust free, ready for the next use.

Jim C.

 

[geartow]

As a wrecker operater in ny it is often your tools get wet in snow and whatever the state decided this is the chemical of the year for snow removal. Put them back in the truck dry them of at night do again next day.

 

[crewchief888]

Not all of us work in a heated and ac'd shop. I work in all weather conditions, from hot, rainy, muddy, snowy, -40 etc. I try to keep my stuff as clean as possible but that fact is it just doesn't always happen, I get called from one thing to the next and don't always have enough time to wipe everything down the way I do when I'm in the shop. You should see the 3/8" long flex head SO ratchet I have. It's all rust, no chrome left. Going
To try to trade it next time I see our SO guy. Also working field service on heavy equipment some tools get lost and then found months later and aren't in the same shape they were when I lost them.

After a cold night, most of the metal tools in my service truck have some moisture...keep using them, and it goes away.

i'm a field service mechanic at a const eq dealership, most of my working tools are grease/oil covered. it's keeps the rust at bay....


garage tools are kept pretty much clean, oil/grease free when i put them away.

 

[Jess]

If you own a boat that is in the water year round, you get to learn all about rusting tools. Mine get a wipe with a cloth, a spray with WD40 and another wipe before being put back into the boat tool box. For years, I used Vap-o-rust with stickies inside the box, but stopped when I went with a quality plastic tool box that seals well.

 

[ryan20021982]

Went to a sale yesterday that had tons of old wrenches and every single one was solid rust, there were no prices on anything and I didn't want to ask.

 

[Bielio]

Went to a sale yesterday that had tons of old wrenches and every single one was solid rust, there were no prices on anything and I didn't want to ask.

Yup, to a certain degree you have to avoid buying rusted tools.
As stated before, buying used is always great.
Like a used car, let someone else take the loss.

How's it go? "…as soon as you drive the vehicle off the lot you lose ___%, even if you turn around and try and have them buy it back…"

And thus, the endless hunt continues to find more tools to purchase, damn this addiction!

 

[SantaAna12]

If you own a boat that is in the water year round, you get to learn all about rusting tools. Mine get a wipe with a cloth, a spray with WD40 and another wipe before being put back into the boat tool box. For years, I used Vap-o-rust with stickies inside the box, but stopped when I went with a quality plastic tool box that seals well.

Which box?

I find Boeshield works for me.

 

[Superbec]

I was changing a brake caliper on my van yesterday when a flush rain was upon me , tool were underneath my carport but the wind blew some water on my trolley...

I almost lost it... nothing worked good yesterday, after that the jack broke .... now I have a huge bottle jack 20 tons

 

[texasfiremedic]

Which box seals? Pelican

 

[SantaAna12]

Model?

 

[aaronld]

Came home from overseas and found some tools just inside my barn laid out next to a salt block of all things. They had to have been sitting there six months and lets just say I was pissed off.

 

[texasfiremedic]

Model?

http://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/watertight-protector-hard-cases/large-case/transport-case/1630/

I have seen this one used before. They made trays for the different levels of padding. The tools had cutouts. It was very nice.

I have a 1550 that I left in the back of the truck for couple of months without anything in it. I did not have the padding in it either. When I opened it up I did not have any moisture in it. I see them here offshore on the production platforms. Many sit outside for months at a time with equipment in them. When they are opened the tools are not covered in rust.

So take it for what you will. They made a believer out of me.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Children rust?

Yep, and they don't like to be wire wheeled!