Rust protection of hand tools

bartman · Jan 23, 2003

I have a few cans of "Fluid Film" I got mine at a Ford/NH dealer in both Maryland and Eastern Ohio. (not sure if all NH stores stock it or not)The stuff I have purchased was in a spray can I think the 12 OZ can cost about $7.00

Good stuff
Bartman

fractal · Jan 25, 2003

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I can't provide an authoritative source, so take it for what it's worth, but I also have been told that dessicant can be "restored" by heating. The heat is supposed to drive moisture out of the dessicant crystals and make them ready for reuse. As I recall, some dessicants will turn color from white to blue as they become saturated with water, so you know when to replace/restore them.

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You can buy silica gell at any craft store. It is commonly used to dry flowers. The jars they sell have complete instructions for regenerating the stuff. Putting it in a 350F oven for a couple hours works wonders.

Alternately you can look at http://www.howstuffworks.com/question206.htm

One thing to note is that desiccants work best in a sealed environment and quicly become saturated with water. Stashing a couple bags in your frequently opened toolbox is not going to offer a whole lot of protection.

I moved from not quite so near to the coast to a lot closer to the coast a few years ago and am finding that everything is rusting now. I too have found that my old "hit it with wd40" isn't cutting it any more and have gone back to the old tried and true wipe with a oil covered rag. I find that hitting the tool with wd40 then wiping with a oil covered rag seems to offer almost acceptable protection at a reasonable cost.

neilw · Jan 26, 2003

Try your local John Deere dealer for the Fluid Film. Desiccants are sold at Edmond Scientific (scientificsonline.com)and cheaperthandirt.com.

normde2001 · Jan 26, 2003

In my 33 years of working on cash registers, I, and thousands of others in the field, found that the best method of rust prevention was the use of penetrating oils, (WD-40, CRC5-56, we had our own company brand), and allowing them to do their jobs by soaking into the steel as much as possible and then replenishing every few months.Attached is a pic of a 70 year old machine, made of mostly stamped, mild steel, that I am refurbing, with very little rust, and probably hasn't been oiled in 10 years.