Lawnjocky
Bronze Member
I don't know if this will interest anyone but I decided to do a test to see what protects against rust the best.
My shop is not climate controlled and I worry about rusty tools and other odds and ends that are stored for long periods of time or used infrequently. Maybe it's just my imagination but I don't think the chrome coating on new tools is as good as the old ones (20 yrs ago or more). With the thought of what would be a good protector I read posts here and other places. As expected opinions varied and that's putting it nicely. As a result I decided to use some left over steel from my last project and create a little test on my own. By the way, I got the idea from a blog where the guy was testing products for protecting guns.
I don't claim this test to be particularly scientific or any knowledge of the right way to do a test. I simply wanted to find out what worked best in a simple easy to do way that uses products that I have or can buy locally. I am also not trying to knock or praise the products I used. I like them all for different things and reasons. The basic question I'm trying to answer is what can I use to coat tools (mainly) and other metal items and expect them to be protected from rust.
What I did.
I took my pieces and ground off the coating so I had bare steel. I then cleaned it with brake cleaner to remove any oil and also wiped it with a clean shop towel. I stamped each piece with the initials of the lube I was going to use on that piece. I then used four pieces of clean paper shop towels to apply a thin coating of each product. I then hung all four plus an untreated piece outside exposed to the weather.
Products used.
1. Motor oil. I save my drips from empty bottles so the oil is a mixture but mainly 5w30.
2. WD40
3. Liquid Wrench lubricating oil
4. Fluid Film
Except for the motor oil all state they protect against rust.
Opinions on the application.
All four were applied to a shop towel and then rubbed on the metal. I was trying to replicate putting away a tool.
The easiest to apply was WD40. Possibly because I have it in a squirt bottle instead of a spray can.
Next best was the Liquid Wrench in a spray can. It foamed up a little and took slightly more effort to apply in a film.
Next to worst was the motor oil. Oil is just thicker. So it was harder to apply a thin coating.
The worst to apply was the Fluid Film. It was like rubbing on snot.
Cost of coatings from least expensive to most: motor oil, WD40, Liquid Wrench, Fluid Film
So there it is. Today is the one week mark. I have taken pictures and plan to leave the pieces up for a few months just to see what happens. If there is interest by others I will keep posting pictures and updates.
Anyone want to bet on which does best? No prizes, just bragging rights.
The first picture (left) is from the first day when I hung them.
The second picture is 24hrs later.
The coatings from left to right are; Control (bare metal), Fluid Film, motor oil, WD40 and Liquid Wrench.
My shop is not climate controlled and I worry about rusty tools and other odds and ends that are stored for long periods of time or used infrequently. Maybe it's just my imagination but I don't think the chrome coating on new tools is as good as the old ones (20 yrs ago or more). With the thought of what would be a good protector I read posts here and other places. As expected opinions varied and that's putting it nicely. As a result I decided to use some left over steel from my last project and create a little test on my own. By the way, I got the idea from a blog where the guy was testing products for protecting guns.
I don't claim this test to be particularly scientific or any knowledge of the right way to do a test. I simply wanted to find out what worked best in a simple easy to do way that uses products that I have or can buy locally. I am also not trying to knock or praise the products I used. I like them all for different things and reasons. The basic question I'm trying to answer is what can I use to coat tools (mainly) and other metal items and expect them to be protected from rust.
What I did.
I took my pieces and ground off the coating so I had bare steel. I then cleaned it with brake cleaner to remove any oil and also wiped it with a clean shop towel. I stamped each piece with the initials of the lube I was going to use on that piece. I then used four pieces of clean paper shop towels to apply a thin coating of each product. I then hung all four plus an untreated piece outside exposed to the weather.
Products used.
1. Motor oil. I save my drips from empty bottles so the oil is a mixture but mainly 5w30.
2. WD40
3. Liquid Wrench lubricating oil
4. Fluid Film
Except for the motor oil all state they protect against rust.
Opinions on the application.
All four were applied to a shop towel and then rubbed on the metal. I was trying to replicate putting away a tool.
The easiest to apply was WD40. Possibly because I have it in a squirt bottle instead of a spray can.
Next best was the Liquid Wrench in a spray can. It foamed up a little and took slightly more effort to apply in a film.
Next to worst was the motor oil. Oil is just thicker. So it was harder to apply a thin coating.
The worst to apply was the Fluid Film. It was like rubbing on snot.
Cost of coatings from least expensive to most: motor oil, WD40, Liquid Wrench, Fluid Film
So there it is. Today is the one week mark. I have taken pictures and plan to leave the pieces up for a few months just to see what happens. If there is interest by others I will keep posting pictures and updates.
Anyone want to bet on which does best? No prizes, just bragging rights.
The first picture (left) is from the first day when I hung them.
The second picture is 24hrs later.
The coatings from left to right are; Control (bare metal), Fluid Film, motor oil, WD40 and Liquid Wrench.
