I have started to notice that I am getting very small amounts if rust on my Craftsman sockets. They are only about a year old. I am looking for some type of rust inhibitor device to put inside my toolbox to battle this. Any recommendations?
Rust Inhibitor for Inside Toolbox? What Do You Use?
- Thread starter zackwatt
- Start date
You can use silica gel packets inside the drawers to absorb excess moisture in the air:
Silicagelpackets.com
They have indicating ones that turn a different color when saturated. Then you just bake them in an oven to remove the water and use them again. This isn't the method I use, but another option.
Whenever I buy a new tool and put it in my box, I spray and wipe the tool down with the same stuff I use on my firearms, GIBBS Brand. I then take a clean paper towel and wipe off the excess. Never had a tool (or firearm) rust.
Silicagelpackets.com
They have indicating ones that turn a different color when saturated. Then you just bake them in an oven to remove the water and use them again. This isn't the method I use, but another option.
Whenever I buy a new tool and put it in my box, I spray and wipe the tool down with the same stuff I use on my firearms, GIBBS Brand. I then take a clean paper towel and wipe off the excess. Never had a tool (or firearm) rust.
theWORLDSaNAIL
Well-known member
spray the sockets with paint light coat
caper
Well-known member
Not trying to be an a**hole but if you use them alot they don't rust.
Ray-CA
Well-known member
Every piece of electronic equipment I buy has several packets of the silica gel stuff inside. i just toss those in the tool box drawers. Free, cheap and easy to replace.
Ray
Ray
movalleyrider
New member
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- Oct 7, 2008
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- 4
t9 boeshield rust and corrosion protection (developed bu boeing)
use on cars, electronics, motorcycles, guns, tools, bicycle chain ect.
use on cars, electronics, motorcycles, guns, tools, bicycle chain ect.
Need4racin
Banned
I have the opposite problem. The ones I use rust from scratches and the dirt left on them attracts moisture.
yhprum
Well-known member
A pieice of camphor in the drawer will help prevent rusting. Old machinist trick.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
What you need is a Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor. They were developed from the old camphor trick yhprum mentioned. One of the good products on the market is the Bull Frog made by Cortec. This stuff works quite well - look at the emitter cups on their website, they also have a list of places where you can buy it. http://www.bull-frog.com/
crustyoldfe
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- Jul 18, 2009
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- 12
Just keep your tools clean and dry. Always have a rag close by to wipe them with after use. Toss them into the toolbox, and keep the tool box and drawers closed. Desiccant bags are good too. Some of my tools are over 60 years old (my late father was an aeroplane mechanic as well).
Funniest thing I ever saw was a coworker who believed that keeping his tools oily was a good idea. He was constantly skinning knuckles, slipping off nuts and bolts. One day his hand slipped off his wrench and he punched himself in the forehead, knocked himself senseless. Just stood there with a really stupid look on his face. After lowering him off his stand to the ground I couldn't suppress my laughter. I almost passed out laughing so hard.
He spent the rest of the afternoon wiping his tools.
Bob
Funniest thing I ever saw was a coworker who believed that keeping his tools oily was a good idea. He was constantly skinning knuckles, slipping off nuts and bolts. One day his hand slipped off his wrench and he punched himself in the forehead, knocked himself senseless. Just stood there with a really stupid look on his face. After lowering him off his stand to the ground I couldn't suppress my laughter. I almost passed out laughing so hard.
He spent the rest of the afternoon wiping his tools.
Bob
Last edited:
nate379
Banned
Light coat of WD40 is all I used with our boxes at work. At home, nothing. If they rust a little bit, oh well.. but I use most of the stuff enough that it's not a problem.
Swincjas000
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- Sep 13, 2024
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The sweat from your hands will rust them as well... spray some wd40, 3in1 oil, or something similar and wipe down your tools when your done for the day. This alone will stop the rust, if you take measures inside the box, even better. You don't have to get crazy with it, literally just wipe it down and throw it in the drawer. Taking the time to gather up and clean your tools keeps you from misplacing them as well... good habit to get into.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
And yet another revival of a 15 year old post by a newbie 
I've been doing this for at least 5 years and it's working well. It has also been completely successful at keeping Mr. Mousie from moving his family into a drawer, which had been a problem. Highly recommend.
I didn't even notice!And yet another revival of a 15 year old post by a newbie
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
There have been a lot of these old posts being revived by new members lately, I'm not sure why...
I should have guessed.And yet another revival of a 15 year old post by a newbie
How many people admit to using CMan sockets these days?
whitesco
Well-known member
Probably got yelled at to “Search, for lovva Pete” in some forum sometime…
pcmeiners
Well-known member
silica gel.....Fresh Step@ crystals un-sented kitty litter, or any un-sented silica based litter is silica gel, only not as expensive. I have 4 (8lbs) bags on hand for a transportable desiccant air drier.
www.freshstep.com
Crystal Silica Cat Litter | Fresh Step®
Fresh Step's blue crystal cat litter is made with silica gel, making it safe to use for your kitty.
www.freshstep.com
pcmeiners
Well-known member
But it is so much easier to let everyone repeatedly answer the same questions again and again and again.....
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
I'll quote myself from 2009:
Swincjas000
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Holy **** I just realized this was from 2009
alot of younger guys, myself included, are getting to the age where were getting our own houses, boxes, etc... For some reason these old *** posts keep getting reccomended when we're dredging the internet for info, attempting to not be as useless as our peers. A few of us had cool grandpa's, now we're here, annoying you old timers because they're unfortunately no longer around to answer our insescent questions lol... reddits a bit of a **** show.Swincjas000
Member
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I've been cleaning my tools with wd after use and then wiping down with 3in1 for years, and everything's in good shape so far... granted I haven't been around that many years lol... even if true, I'd imagine it's still better than leaving rust, dirt, and oil from your hands all over your tools.
I live in Southern FL and we have rust issues to say the least. I’ve tried dozens of products and CRC 3-23 has proven to be the best so far. It drys to a wax like finish but very thin. We spray everything on our boat mechanicals
Odd that the site doesn't have obvious pricing.
I've noticed that the camphor blocks from Amazon are no longer dirt cheap. What is your source?
Mike65
Well-known member
What about a small tub or bag of damp rid in the garage or toolbox to absorb the moisture?
karoc
Well-known member
Like another poster suggested, I put small piece of each block in drawer, and smells good. It last few months and not expensive
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
It's probably not that unusual for the manufacturer to not include pricing, you have to go to one of their distributors who actually sell their products. Here's one of them, including the prices: https://www.theruststore.com/collections/vci
My local drug store. They were about $1.50 for the ones shown, last time I purchashed them. They do last a long time when you only clip the corner of the packaging.
firebirdparts
Well-known member
I suppose we all need to be reminded that the old timers used camphor once in a while anyway!Holy **** I just realized this was from 2009
My dad was a machinist, and for sure, he did. I have his toolbox here. He's still alive, but I have machine tools and he doesn't, so it might as well be here.
WisJim
Well-known member
Who has found a good online source of reasonably priced camphor blocks? Lots of it online, but sketchy descriptions for a lot of it. Not available at any drugstore near me.