Recommendations to protect tools from rust

[Helipilot]

My Mother gave me the steel square my Dad used on the war emergency pipeline that he worked on during WW2. He bought it in 1942 and I used it while I was his welder helper and working my way through school. He was an excellent pipeline welder and I learned a lot. The square accumulated a fine layer of rust over the years which I just finished cleaning off in my glass bead cabinet.

I usually use a Carnuba type wax on the machine tables ( Table Saw, Drill Press, Shear, Box Brake, etc.) to keep rust from forming but not sure about the square. It has a lot of sentimental value as you can guess.

 

[TheClaw]

I regularly wipe things down with WD40 but wax is good idea. Not sure what the best preservative is. I have a number of tools from my grandfather and great grandfather.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I use WD40 for that type of stuff too.

 

[G_P]

Wiping it with a light oil should do it. Wax would work as well.

 

[wssix99]

This type of thing is what WD-40 was invented for: http://wd40.com/about-us/history/

 

[LG63]

Now that it's been bead blasted I think a light film of mineral oil would be better than wax.

 

[ZRX61]

I've got one that was clear powder coated.

 

[ngray]

I haven't used it myself, but I understand LPS 3 is tops for long-term prevention that doesn't keep you from using tools (unlike cosmoline)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Z34GWK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[nicksnothereman]

My Mother gave me the steel square my Dad used on the war emergency pipeline that he worked on during WW2. He bought it in 1942 and I used it while I was his welder helper and working my way through school. He was an excellent pipeline welder and I learned a lot. The square accumulated a fine layer of rust over the years which I just finished cleaning off in my glass bead cabinet.

I usually use a Carnuba type wax on the machine tables ( Table Saw, Drill Press, Shear, Box Brake, etc.) to keep rust from forming but not sure about the square. It has a lot of sentimental value as you can guess.

For utility stuff I use either marine oil or marvel mystery lubricating oil. Has worked well. For other stuff (that I won't touch all the time) I just use mystik (or tubed grease...prefer citgo but haven't seen that it a while).

I would use marine oil if you're not going to use it a whole lot. Pretty cheap too. It's a gear oil so heavyweight. Overkill? Yes. But works well and is thin enough to massage in (vs. worm gear oil). Use it on working knives all the time.

 

[Justanoldguy]

Gibbs Product for sure.

http://www.gibbsbrandlubricant.com/

.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Gibbs Product for sure.

http://www.gibbsbrandlubricant.com/

.

Gibbs oil here too. A wipe down especially into the detail lines, cracks & crevices and the rust ain't coming back!

 

[Shadowdog500]

I use Johnson's paste wax on all of my metal tables every 6 months or so. Never though about using it on a square but I guess it wouldn't hurt.

Do you have a pic of the square? I'm curious what it looks like.

Chris

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Wurth Rost Off works great. Spray, let it sit, wipe of the excess. Done. I've used it on raw steel & iron car parts & they stay rust free for years in unconditioned garage storage. Once a year on driven cars.

Tommy

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I use wd40 on everything from tools to the tops of my drill press and table saw. Here are some more good ideas in this thread.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231881