Tools/tool box in unheated garage

[whitedogone]

I was thinking about adding rope lighting to the inside of my box. The thought would be that it would keep the temp slightly higher than the room temp. Simular to those heating rods for gun safes. Anyone had any luck doing something like this?l

 

[boosteddsm92]

I think a reptile heat mat would be more suited, looking to do this myself soon.

 

[whitedogone]

One of the gunsafe rods would do the trick as well. Just thinking lighting would be nice as well.

 

[warmpancakes]

If the garage is cold leave it cold, If you use a heater to warm the garage when you are out there and then let it get cold again when your not there, rust happens,

either keep the garage above 40
or let it get cold, and stay cold,

 

[lakota]

Haven't found rust to be a problem on my tools leaving then in an unheated detached garage for the last 30 years in New York State.

 

[whitedogone]

I guess I'm just a little paranoid. Ever had WW tools cast iron tops in an unheated garage overwinter?

 

[warmpancakes]

Haven't found rust to be a problem on my tools leaving then in an unheated detached garage for the last 30 years in New York State.

same here, except for the one winter I used a torpedo heater to warm the garage for a few hours 2-3 night a week even the plastic stuff rusted. Now i just add a extra lawer till the furnace goes in in the spring

 

[Full Throttle]

I wouldnt worry about temps as much as what the humidity is in the garage.

 

[colin39]

Our workshop is damp and cold, ive never had an issue with rusting tools, untill this year. Im looking into toolbox warmers/heaters or dehumidifiers

 

[whitedogone]

I fought rusty cast iron tops for years on WW equip. The last few I have just placed a small clamp on light under the tables.....problem solved. Just wanting to keep my new roller box and hand tools in the same shape.

 

[joel63]

WW equipment?

 

[toddoky]

Woodworking

 

[astroracer]

To keep the ways and bed from rusting on my mill and the tables on my bandsaws and welding benches, I scrub them with Metal Ready and a Scotchbrite pad. Scrub to remove any light surface rust, wipe dry and leave it. Metal Ready puts down a phosphorus coating which inhibits rust. It will last for a long time, even under heavy use.
Mark

 

[toofart]

Haven't found rust to be a problem on my tools leaving then in an unheated detached garage for the last 30 years in New York State.

^^ this

Freezing air contains less humidity, and when heated up gives you insanely low humidity levels.

 

[Banjorear]

Gibbs oil is the bomb for protecting cast iron.

 

[joel63]

Woodworking

Thanks.

 

[MikeF2316]

The big problem is the temperature fluctuations. We just had the situation last Sunday. Inside my garage where the tools are was 4°C, but we had a warmup with humid air and 14° temperatures. So, like lots of my neighbours, I used the day to get some outside work done. The humid 14° air hitting my 4° tools caused condensation. This is the kind of thing you need to avoid.

So what you really need is a way to keep your "rustables" above the outside air temperature, and you'll have no problem. If you keep your toolbox covered and try not to open it up in these conditions, it'll minimize the problem. I kept the doors closed and put on my heaters to warm things up.

 

[whitedogone]

The big problem is the temperature fluctuations. We just had the situation last Sunday. Inside my garage where the tools are was 4°C, but we had a warmup with humid air and 14° temperatures. So, like lots of my neighbours, I used the day to get some outside work done. The humid 14° air hitting my 4° tools caused condensation. This is the kind of thing you need to avoid.

So what you really need is a way to keep your "rustables" above the outside air temperature, and you'll have no problem. If you keep your toolbox covered and try not to open it up in these conditions, it'll minimize the problem. I kept the doors closed and put on my heaters to warm things up.

Bingo, That's what I am trying to do. All it takes is to keep the box and what's in it slightly above the air temps.....problem solved.

 

[DennisH2014]

I wouldn't worry about temperature, it's not terribly important, humidity however is! I would look into a good dehumidifier if I was you, and one of the best ways to protect tools and other metal from rusting is a light coat of oil! I use marvel mystery oil, and I can tell you it works wonders. Tools that were previously coated with rust and deeply pitted come back to life, and amazingly don't rust again.

 

[whitedogone]

A humidifier that will work close to freezing?

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

tool box is not sealed, so I think all those rust prevent product will not work well.

within 6+years, I only had slight surface rust on few sockets. It wiped right off with wd-40.

 

[rusty65]

I got some tool box liners that have rust stuff in them and they work so well it will eat the rust off tools.


Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

 

[srmc john]

There tools. Use them they won't rust.

 

[justme-]

I keep tools in my shed with little issue in MA. Only real issue with rust is when I need to work in inclement weather and don't dry them (snow or rain). Been out there 6 years now with little issue. I also keep a socket set and bag with assorted tools in the toolbox of my pickup all winter...

If you have an issue with rust in the garage I would expect it's related to moisture not temp. My basement has moisture issues and I have the resultant rust on things and mold on leather goods.
Try wither solving the moisture issue or adding a dehumidifier which will also add some heat.
May want to look at: Are you insulated? Moisture barrier intact? Is there a noticeable water leak from building, internal plumbing, or ground water? (I have ground water issues when it rains coming through my stone foundation) interior spacer of the house not vented into the garage? I'm on a well which leads to lots of sweat on pipes, we have a thin floor in the basement and grading outside needs to be changed to help keep rain water away from the foundation.


wiping your tools down with a very light coat of oil (fluid film, wd40, 3n1, even motor oil) will go along way to protecting them even in poor storage conditions.

 

[90zcar]

I only have issues when I turn my little salamander heater on in my garage. It's very cold in there and then I turn that thing on and the air gets to 80 degrees in 5 minutes. As soon as I open a drawer on my snap on box the tools inside instantly form a layer of condensation on them.
It's not too bad but after winter from doing this so much I notice my impact stuff has little dots of rust which usually go away with a wipe down of pb blaster.
I would love to have heat in my garage all winter but unfortunately I am not rich enough to do so!


Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk

 

[thesilverone]

I keep desiccant packs in my tool boxes and no rust here in Mass

 

[2oolhound]

I only have issues when I turn my little salamander heater on in my garage. It's very cold in there and then I turn that thing on and the air gets to 80 degrees in 5 minutes. As soon as I open a drawer on my snap on box the tools inside instantly form a layer of condensation on them.
It's not too bad but after winter from doing this so much I notice my impact stuff has little dots of rust which usually go away with a wipe down of pb blaster.
I would love to have heat in my garage all winter but unfortunately I am not rich enough to do so!


Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk

That's the big issue, condensation from changing temps. How about mounting a rack fan to the back of the box so air is constantly moving across the tools?

You can find them cheap at surplas sales and should fit at the bottom under the last drawer or maybe mount under the box between the wheels with a vent where space and structure will allow. This idea:

http://www.globalindustrial.ca/p/of...I1J0LD8VpM55VRyxhbIfdBoCCtvw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[devoncoolman]

I run a dehumidifier in my basement and my garage 24hrs 7days a week. And i have buckets of damp-rid in my tool box. Works great no rust what so ever.

 

[warweapon762]

I wouldnt worry about temps as much as what the humidity is in the garage.

This, heat just accelerates oxidation. You would do best to get a dehumidifier.

 

[whitedogone]

Dehumidifier s only work down to around 60 degrees.

 

[mp23]

Some tools just rust no matter how dry you try and keep them. There shouldn't be a problem with normal chrome tools rusting in your box over the winter.

 

[404]

I only have issues when I turn my little salamander heater on in my garage. It's very cold in there and then I turn that thing on and the air gets to 80 degrees in 5 minutes. As soon as I open a drawer on my snap on box the tools inside instantly form a layer of condensation on them.
It's not too bad but after winter from doing this so much I notice my impact stuff has little dots of rust which usually go away with a wipe down of pb blaster.
I would love to have heat in my garage all winter but unfortunately I am not rich enough to do so!


Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk

This is happening because the combustion of Kerosene (a hydrocarbon) produces lots of water vapor. The hydro part (hydrogen) combines with oxygen to make H2O, water.

If it was possible to keep the heat but vent the exhaust of the heater this would not happen.

 

[Cope]

My garage is very humid, and on a damp cold day my sockets would be covered in condensation, enough that my impact sockets started rusting. I was given a small dehumidifier, and the humidity is no longer an issue. Also, when I empty the pan, I water our plants.

 

[Fugio]

I had to keep one of my my gun safes in the garage for about 6 months while we did some remodeling. It caused several of my guns to get some rust on them.

But the same garage has been FULL of tools for 15+ years without a speck of rust on any of them. If you use them, your tools should have a little coating of oil, grease, and grime on them, in addition to chrome plating. They should be well protected.

 

[Faisal]

dont worry about temps as much as what the humidity is in the garage,just keep your tools cleaned and use w40 always after using the tools