Tool Rust Solutions?

[Boyd]

I live in the Dallas, TX area where we've had some decent rain fall the last few weeks. The humidity in my garage ranges anywhere between 30 and 60 percent, but was near 70 percent today when I noticed that several of my natural finish tools are beginning to accumulate rust.

Outside of wiping them with an oily rag after every use, what can I do to help prevent the rust? I've seen some tool box drawer liner at Lowe's that has a built in rust inhibitor but question it's effectiveness. Do they work? What about silica packs?

 

[Falcon67]

I'm from Fort Worth, lived in Houston too. Natural finish tools - rub lightly with 3-n-1 or light machine oil. Dessicant isn't going to work unless you seal them in zip locks. Where we live now is dryer, but I still periodically wipe all machine surfaces. Don't know much else to do.

 

[onewaydave]

This is a often discussed subject here. I'm not sure there is an answer, at least that has worked for me. I have central A/C in the garage and druing the humid parts of the year that have temperature fluctuations, I get a remarkable amount of condensation in the garage if I even think of opening the doors.

The only way I see to stop this from happening is to eliminate any change in temperature and humidity. Not acceptable for me.

If your tool boxes are fairly tight I like the silica gell idea. I use that in the gun safes. Helps but not a perfect fix. Cilica gel needs to be dried out once in a while (in theoven at lowest setting for a few hours).

An old time machinist put eucyleptus (just cuts of wood from the trunk of a tree) in his tool chest and swore by it. Every machinist I've mentioned this to rolls their eyes.

Tool box heater (an incadescent light can be rigged to a chick hatchery thermostat to work automatically) would help. I think they make something for gun safes if you don't want to fab your own.

What's that stuff we used to scrub off our M-14s...

Dave.

 

[egdede]

Camphor blocks in each drawer, though I've never lived anywhere that humid.

 

[ddawg16]

I just keep a lot of WD40 around.....you spray it on....after awhile the solvent evaporates and just leaves the oil.....

Falcon....next time I'm in Ft Worth and have a day to kill....I may have to swing out your way....looks to only be about a 3 hour drive....

 

[sarel.wagner]

Have a look at these tests, I use Eezox myself look here

Rgrds

 

[Shadowdog500]

I live by the ocean and used to work with a salt water boat mechanic who never wiped his tools off after using them. His tools looked messy, but they did not have rust on them. He said it is the only way to keep your tools from rusting when working on the docks. I asked several other salt water boat mechanics, and they said this is standard practice for allot of them.


I also know a machinist that told me that you are supposed to oil the felt pad in the bottom of machinists boxes to keep the tools from rusting.

Hope this helps,

Chris

 

[wbclassics]

If you don't have AC in your garage, you might want to consider a multi-use Mini-Split HVAC system like this one (shop around though):

http://www.justminisplits.com/products/12000BTU_shinco_standard_ductless_mini_split.php

AC / Dehumidification / Heat Pump

That Shinco unit is on the Gov's tax credit eligible list, so you'll get 30% back.

All of the other things, wiping with oil, special drawer liners, dessicants... you're treating the symptoms, but not removing the cause. Get rid of the humidity. Seal the air infiltration into the garage, and then remove the humidity from the entire garage.

 

[Bigpigdave]

I like T9 Boeshield for rust control. It seems to work really well for my climate. I have also found the new 3-in-1 No Rust Shields( http://no-rust-shield.3inone.com/ )to be interesting technology although I have not used them yet as they seem kind of expensive. Good luck and remember "Rust Never Sleeps".
Dave

 

[Stuart in MN]

Camphor blocks in each drawer, though I've never lived anywhere that humid.

The modern version of the old camphor block is a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor, like the Bullfrog emitter cup: http://www.bull-frog.com/products/ They work pretty well.

 

[larry_g]

The modern version of the old camphor block is a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor, like the Bullfrog emitter cup: http://www.bull-frog.com/products/ They work pretty well.

I was going to suggest Cortec, but following Stuarts link I see that Bull frog is Cortec. I used to move sensitive equipment around the world and we used the emitters to control corrosion. Good stuff..

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rickycobra]

Wipe them down and keep them out of damp areas. What does the liner look like from Lowes?

 

[Torque1st]

What's that stuff we used to scrub off our M-14s...

Dave.

Cosmoline.

There are some more modern equivalents available in gun shops.

 

[6768rogues]

I recently restored a bucket of antique mechanic's tools. After glass bead blasting, they will rust overnight. I blast them, polish them on a wire wheel and then spray them with WD-40. After wetting them with WD-40, I rub it in and remove the excess with a rag. They don't feel oily and have not rusted after several weeks of humid weather.

 

[pgreen]

I added a simple dehumidifier from Lowes a few years ago. It is the largest of the standard household dehumidifiers that I could easily find. This one is doing a fine job in my 40' x 60' shop. I don't remember the rating, but it wasn't near this size. It works wonders, and wasn't anywhere near the cost of A/C, and I'm sure nowhere near the operating cost of A/C.

Put it on automatic, add a drain hose to it and leave it there.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Eezox is a good product, I use it on firearms and tools also.

For some things, you might want something heavier, Amsoil Metal Protectant dries to a heavy waxy film. I use it on C-clamp threads, rivet gun sets, bucking bars (both aircraft tools that I don't use much at home), the column of the drill press, etc.

Charles

 

[Gary S]

I live by the ocean and used to work with a salt water boat mechanic who never wiped his tools off after using them. His tools looked messy, but they did not have rust on them.

That is my practice too. I use my tools on greasy vehicles. The grease gets on my hands and on the tools. Cleaning the tools invites rust. Leaving that film of protective grease on them protects them. None of my 40 year old wrenches have rust on them yet, in spite of temperature changes from -40 to +110 that causes condensation on all metal surfaces. The water can't do any damage through the film of grease.

 

[MichaelP]

There is only one effective and efficient method: use of a dehumidifier. The rest is a Sisyphean challenge.

 

[71buickfreak]

Camphor blocks in each drawer, though I've never lived anywhere that humid.

My grandfather swore by the camphor blocks, never had a problem in Oklahoma.

 

[Boyd]

If you don't have AC in your garage, you might want to consider a multi-use Mini-Split HVAC system like this one (shop around though):

http://www.justminisplits.com/products/12000BTU_shinco_standard_ductless_mini_split.php

AC / Dehumidification / Heat Pump

That Shinco unit is on the Gov's tax credit eligible list, so you'll get 30% back.

All of the other things, wiping with oil, special drawer liners, dessicants... you're treating the symptoms, but not removing the cause. Get rid of the humidity. Seal the air infiltration into the garage, and then remove the humidity from the entire garage.

I've been eyeing a mini-split system for a while. I didn't realize the price had come down so much on those units. How long is the tax credit in effect? Do I have to buy before the end of the year?

 

[Boyd]

Wipe them down and keep them out of damp areas. What does the liner look like from Lowes?

It looks like regular drawer liner, but is impregnated with some type of rust inhibitor.

 

[CamarosRus]

FLUID-FILM

www.Fluid-Film.com

Fluid Film's unique woolwax (lanolin) formula contains
NO solvents to evaporate. Always active, it will not become
tacky, providing long-lasting protection

 

[Motorhead Extraordinaire]

In New England it can get quite humid in the summer. I use a dehumidifier in my basement and in my shop. Humidity is a killer and all of the oil, wd40, etc. can't stop humidity.

They are fairly inexpensive, you can set the humidity level, and they don't seem to cost a lot to run.

For me, a worthwhile investment.

Joe

 

[BriggsBodied28]

I added a simple dehumidifier from Lowes a few years ago. It is the largest of the standard household dehumidifiers that I could easily find. This one is doing a fine job in my 40' x 60' shop. I don't remember the rating, but it wasn't near this size. It works wonders, and wasn't anywhere near the cost of A/C, and I'm sure nowhere near the operating cost of A/C.

Put it on automatic, add a drain hose to it and leave it there.

X 2! Dehumidifier is an inexpensive solution to purchase and operate.

 

[CISO1969]

This is a often discussed subject here. I'm not sure there is an answer, at least that has worked for me. I have central A/C in the garage and druing the humid parts of the year that have temperature fluctuations, I get a remarkable amount of condensation in the garage if I even think of opening the doors.

The only way I see to stop this from happening is to eliminate any change in temperature and humidity. Not acceptable for me.

If your tool boxes are fairly tight I like the silica gell idea. I use that in the gun safes. Helps but not a perfect fix. Cilica gel needs to be dried out once in a while (in theoven at lowest setting for a few hours).

An old time machinist put eucyleptus (just cuts of wood from the trunk of a tree) in his tool chest and swore by it. Every machinist I've mentioned this to rolls their eyes.

Tool box heater (an incadescent light can be rigged to a chick hatchery thermostat to work automatically) would help. I think they make something for gun safes if you don't want to fab your own.

What's that stuff we used to scrub off our M-14s...

Dave.

Cosmoline LOL. I did my fair share of cleaning it off old GI issued stuff from "Storage." I also used to collect military stuff and would find it used there. It's nasty shiz.

CISO