Win the War on Rust

[monomach]

After seeing hundreds of pictures of people's tools in their boxes, I've never seen one particular thing that has a permanent place in mine.

I worked in automotive for years, took a break, and then finally went back recently.

During my break, I was in management in a Caterpillar transmission parts warehouse. These were finished, ready to install precision parts right out of production kept in a sealed, contaminant-free location. Any time my guys opened a tub to pick parts needed on the production line, they had to reseal it with fresh VCI paper inside.

Volatile
Corrosion
Inhibitor

It's just a piece of paper with a chemical coating on one side that releases a rust-preventing gas over time.

Since leaving Cat and losing my free VCI paper, I went looking for it outside and found something even better. There's a company that makes it on cardboard so it holds up better to being jostled around. I use a chip of it in every hand box and every toolbox drawer I have. You just have to write the date of first use on it and change each chip out every six months (for things you rarely open) or every couple of months (for things you open a lot). No more rust...ever. Well, I mean, it won't prevent rust if you flat-out take a garden hose to your toolbox every day, but it can make your tools immune to normal air moisture.

This isn't really going to help tool polishers. If you never use your tools, but just pull each one out and stare at it/polish it regularly, this will be a waste of money. Your tools will never rust if treated like that.

If you use your tools for a living, you're going to have those things you almost never touch that won't get wiped down or get that little incidental coating of oil from whatever was on your hands or a part. You know, your ignition wrenches or odd sizes of ball joint press adapters or your fourth-string needle nose pliers or whatever. This is perfect for that.

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...xes/rust-inhibitor-chips/p-1805316-c-9188.htm

There are other sources of paper out there, but this is the one I settled on for a few reasons.

a) Price: they're cheap
b) Size: small chips suitable for drawers
c) Durability: cardboard is better than paper
d) Availability: three Menards within 10 miles of my house
e) Dummy-proof: Pre-printed with a date line just like an oil change sticker

By the way, if anyone out there is using a VCI-type product in their box and has a better option, PLEASE leave a link. I'm 100% satisfied with this one, but I'm always ready to save money or get something even better.

 

[Dust Devil]

I have had tackle boxes with that stuff inside.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Wonder if the gas would just escape every time the box is opened?? Wouldn't that kinda void the whole gas to prevent rust solution?

 

[monomach]

Wonder if the gas would just escape every time the box is opened?? Wouldn't that kinda void the whole gas to prevent rust solution?

It does escape...even if you don't open the drawer. That's why it releases gas slowly over time instead of just coming in a can and being sprayed in there once. The level of corrosion inhibitor in your drawer builds back up after you let it out.

It builds up in the drawer and settles on the tool for a temporary coating, but escapes over time if it's not in an airproof bag. That's why drawers that are opened more often and exposed to more air/moisture need their chip changed more often.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think one company makes a tackle-box with that stuff impregnated in the plastic.

I've used Zerust capsules... Same stuff but you don't have to change them out as often.

 

[NKlamerus]

I think one company makes a tackle-box with that stuff impregnated in the plastic.

I've used Zerust capsules... Same stuff but you don't have to change them out as often.

Those tackle boxes ARE NOT worth the price. They will not work.

And then there is PLANO, who made 100% waterproof cases and advertised them as rust proof. Yet the humidity trapped in them caused condensation and fogging, which caused rust.

So what did they do? Made the exact same box with over 100 drilled holes all over it and marketed it as "breathable and washable"

Now THAT is marketing!

 

[Juan Valderrama]

I am not sure if you have seen this article:

Gun Cleaning Clinic: Knowing the Limits of Rust Preventatives

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=...rce=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979

Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

 

[monomach]

I am not sure if you have seen this article:

Gun Cleaning Clinic: Knowing the Limits of Rust Preventatives

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=...rce=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979

Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

Those are all things you need to apply to each tool individually and regularly aka...huge pains in the ***.

VCI is something you drop in a drawer and forget about until it's time to change them out. They apply themselves to the tools over and over and over each day.

 

[Stuart in MN]

VCI products work well. Another brand is http://www.bull-frog.com/products/, they sell a variety of products similar to the one posted above. One online source for them is http://www.theruststore.com/

 

[malibu101]

I've seen this (link below) drawer liner at Lowes that is supposed to somehow prevent rust.
Maybe the same idea?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_90013-46478-90059_0__?productId=3374226

 

[d.mcfarland]

Anybody have a link to a long term test of products like this?

I'm thinking a good use would be for rarely used small toolboxes with rarely used items (non electric).

 

[Fretters]

The old school method for the same was simply moth balls. The ones which had Camphor in, not the new "safe" ones. Camphor impregnated anything should work.

 

[lilredex]

Camphor blocks...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218822

 

[Home specialist]

Great

 

[CJM8515]

Oh the zerust boxes work, I used one for eons. Made by flambeau and not all that $.

 

[fury9]

I'm in construction and when I open a box of nails it contains a small bag of desiccant.I just throw the little pack in with my tools in cases and in my tool box at home, seems to work.

 

[Docman]

I'm in construction and when I open a box of nails it contains a small bag of desiccant.I just throw the little pack in with my tools in cases and in my tool box at home, seems to work.

Shoe shopping with the wife? Grab a handful of desiccants from the boxes.

 

[pauls_workshop]

This is becoming a really great thread. Mono on the VCI chips, about how long do those last before needing replacement if drawers are opened closed say once a week each? And how long if not opened (long term storage drawer)? And finally, as these things disperse their secret ingredients, those will also leave the box. If you have a basement shop, are these secret ingredients harmful to humans inhalation over time? thx- Paul

 

[monomach]

This is becoming a really great thread. Mono on the VCI chips, about how long do those last before needing replacement if drawers are opened closed say once a week each? And how long if not opened (long term storage drawer)? And finally, as these things disperse their secret ingredients, those will also leave the box. If you have a basement shop, are these secret ingredients harmful to humans inhalation over time? thx- Paul

Once a week and never are basically the same...they'd need to be changed every six months for that.

As far as I know, they're not too harmful to humans. I have a bedroom closet full of hand boxes with them. The MSDS sheet only puts the health danger at a 1.

 

[Juan Valderrama]

Another testing site

http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

 

[monomach]

Another testing site

http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

All the years I've worked in dealerships, I've never seen someone willing to get out a bottle of some product and rub down every tool he used afterward.

Ain't nobody got time fo' dat. All of those things are for tool polishers.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I think it's a test simulating a longer period of time. Saying that maybe someone would clean all tools once a year whether they are used daily or rarely.

 

[bonneyman]

I've heard that this stuff is great for stopping rust on the inside of a bike frame. Wonder if it would work inside a tool box, as neither frame nor box is airtight. Just a suggestion.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012GO58Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bcradio]

What's rust?

 

[BlackjackNA]

Fluid Film

 

[dillymann]

Fluid Film

^^^this, I swear by that stuff


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[yhprum]

search Camphor, its an old time machinist trick to stop tools from rusting. Smells like Vicks. Put a few blocks in your toolbox and they evaporate slowly, leaving a slightly oily residue on your tools.