rusty tools

[KEH]

What is it with guys who let their tool get wet and rusty? I was in a pawn shop and found a nice looking Cornwell 3/8 ratchet cheap. Action a little rough, got it home and oiled it, action smoothed up but rusty oil came out. Took it apart, saw no rust pitting, cleaned it, oiled it, all is well now. In another pawn shop, looking through bin of sockets, found a bunch rusty. Some were not old and were good brands, others cheap ones. I have an idea they didn't all come from one tool box, but who knows. Also found a Chinese Husky ratchet that had the pushbutton release almost stuck with rust and the action very rough. I graciously left all them for the next guy, but really, obviously someone had no idea of doing a little maintenance.

KEH

 

[96snma]

If they ended up in the pawn shop its likely someone didn't care about them in the first place... or it was stolen and neglected.

 

[KEH]

The Cornwell in the first shop I could see someone having to work in the rain with a ratchet with the oil dried up, but the ones in the second shop were from long term abuse. Come to think of it, I've seen other tools in boxes that had been wet. Well, this is the humid SE, at least part of the time, and not a desert area. Maybe combinatio of cheap tool box that leaks, cheap owner who dosent care, and box in back of truck.

KEH

 

[mrjaw14]

I try my best to wipe tools off when I'm done, they're kept in my toolbox, etc but never the less a few of my sockets internally are lightly rusted, pliers have rust spots.....I know it's because of humidity, but is there a way to prevent tool rust? I'm a DIY'er so they're not in the oil and grease everyday to get coated. I try to oil up my tools every now and then by wiping them with some 3-in-1 or REM oil

 

[KF5LCH]

Some people just don't care. I know alot of guys that buy tools & treat them like garbage.

A wipe down with 3- in-1 oil is a life saver. I always wipe everything down after use. Fingerprints are a killer on old tools.

Some of my best old tools are pawn shop tools, but they did require a little TLC to get them back into shape.

 

[trexdoink]

I stopped at a moving and tool sale off on a country road this summer. These morons had tools out on a trailer in the plastic cases full of water. As I looked around the farm for other tools, in a steel shed there were good quality tools scattered all over. Laying in the dirt, in boxes with trash, just all over. It pissed me off so bad that it wasn't organized to sell that I kinda told the guy off. His son owned the tools and was still in bed at like noon so he couldn't sell anything. I told him he needs to get his **** together, he pretty much agreed with me! I value even the cheapest tools, some people just don't value anything.

 

[ash95608]

I hate rusty tools, I wipe them down after using and I have a dehumidifier set up in my garage.

 

[camarotoolman]

Salty air realy rusts stuff here, tools rust in my garage. Just wire wheel and oil, no problem.

 

[Exceller8]

I love rusty gold! I get great deals because of the rust. A few minutes on my scotchbrite wheel and the tools are good as new. No complaints on rusty tools here.

 

[mncountrydoc]

Some is my best deal s have been on someone letting tools rust

 

[jeffmoss26]

All of the tools I got at a garage sale last weekend had a fine layer of dust/dirt on them. Nothing a wire wheel and a rag could not remove.

 

[zakmartin]

Whenever I'm done with a job, the tools get wiped down with a rag and some WD-40. Never had any problems with rust.

 

[JASTECH]

I bought a bunch of them 3-in-1 rust inhibitor things, have not tried yet, has anybody tried them? Maybe a new thread eh?

 

[TEXACMAN]

O.M.G. RUSTY TOOLS!!!! LOL! I don't like my tools getting rusty, I use mine everyday, but have had my socket set etc.. get wet and not know until later . Usually I just spray down with lube and wipe with a rag. Most tools that I have seen around here that are in rough shape are all off oilfield trucks where they stay oily ,dirty , wet , etc...

 

[Gregg33]

Many used tools I've bought have been passed down from long since deceased relatives. The family member that was given them usually wasn't handy or already had their own tools. The result was the tools sat in damp basements or garages for years before being sold. Also in the north the salt found on vehicle fasteners and even in the air (of the garage salt covered vehicles are parked in) speeds up the rusting bigtime.

 

[dodge610]

I have had a little trouble keeping the rust down on some of my tools in the second shop. I keep it warm up there but with hot and cold condensation some of my tools were getting rusty then i put damp check n my two bottom deep drawers. Problem solved they stay rust free change the damp check containers about 1 time every 2 months what a difference it makes.

 

[MellyVan]

You say wipe down with wd40, but that leaves greasy tools. Dont you find that annoying?

 

[blacK20]

I'd rather have a little bit of grease than rust on my tools. Besides wd40 is mostly solvent anyways and only leaves behind a very very light film of oil.

 

[metaldad]

Electrician walked off with my Klein linesmans.
The following week, he came back on the job. I rifled his bag, and reacquired my linesmans. Rusty, of course.
They aren't, anymore.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I've picked up lots of stuff from pawn shops and flea markets that were rusty, neglected, and not working and gave them new life. Both of these ratchets below wouldn't budge when I got them. Now they work great.

Let someone else spend the big money on them, I'll just swoop in later, spend a little time cleaning them up, and have the same tool for virtually nothing.

 

[mrstrictlygm]

I throw some of them silica desicant bags that come in some products you buy to keep the moisture out of my tool box. I've got a bunch of them and they seem to work ok.

 

[GortonsFisherman]

The folks next door own the only gas station in town. Went over there to borrow a trailer one day, and there were tools in various states of decay scattered all over the yard, in and amongst all their ATV's and sleds and whatnot. Some folks just don't care about much of anything, it would seem.

 

[woody 73]

Most times I can clean up a rusty tool, but when the tool is a precision instument like a ruler or micrometer I will walk away.

I passed up a fantastic deal this summer because the man had no idea what the tools were from his fathers shop; but he left them in his garage for untold years and they all had rust not the very heavy kind but still all covered with rust.

 

[bobemmerich]

I'm a DIY'er. I'm not using my stuff all the time. I found my tools would have rusty spots on them. The humidity and cooling caused this. I've done 2 things: I put silica packs in the drawers, and I've found the tool drawer liners from Lowes with Zerust work great. No more rusty tools.
The liners are 14 bucks, but worth every penny...
http://www.lowes.com/pd_90013-46478...&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=drawer+liner&facetInfo=
And I got the silica packs online...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FC5VT4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[2mJps]

I had to store my tools and Machine shop in van trailers one big lathe had to seat out side on a trailer for 8 years. I wish i would have sold most of it.It was a deal keeping stuff from rusting. I coated the big stuff with stp. It stayed drie but the mice pea rusted my hand tools. I saw it in the first year and tryed to keep mice at bay. The big lathe was cover in tarps and i reoiled it often its paint all peeld of. I thougt i would go nuts worring.Its took a lot of work but i all most have things back to normal.

 

[wafrederick]

I bought a rusty Snap On tool lot mostly sockets and wrenches,soaked them in Apple Cider vinegar overnight.The rust was coming off right away.The next day,took some baking soda and water to neutralize them wiping them down and wire wheeled them.Came out great.

 

[maddawg308]

I like rusty tools. They cost very little at the garage sales and flea markets, easy to get a lot of tools to fill the toolboxes for only spare change. I can use a wire wheel, Evapo-Rust, or a beadblaster to remove the rust coating, then Rem-Oil for a nice oily coat on it (just a thin wipe with a rag) and I'm good to go! Some of the tools with no finish I have set aside for blasting and parkerizing for an industrial finish. It's not "original", but it's like hot rods - they aren't original but they have style!

 

[zuk123]

Lookin4--

I've been buying rusty tools since finding GJ! It must be clicking (like learning a foreign language) because I recognized the Wizard ratchet solely from the shape of the handle!

I'm getting more picky about HOW MUCH rust I'll buy as I learn what cleans up and doesn't.

It hurts a little when I see rusted tools, especially machine tools or woodworking machines. A little care would have preserved so much value. And yet, those people's lack is an opportunity for the rest of us

zuk