Tools maintenance

[DaveNay]

This has been bothering me for some years now.....

For those of you who don't live in dry/arid parts of the country/world, how the heck do you keep your hand tools from rusting?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif My machine shop is an old equipment building, and is far far far from dry. The high humidity of summer really takes its toll on my tools, leaving a fine red rust on any unprotected steel surface. Even some of my lower quality chrome plated tools get spots on them. I manage to keep my air tools oiled before and after use because any internal rust can ruin them, but I am getting tired of the cosmetic issues with all the rust around. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Dave

 

[Glenn9643]

Boeshield T9.

 

[MadReferee]

My basement shop is below grade and I have to keep a dehumidifier running 24/7 from May 1 thru Nov 1, and I live in New Hampshire. I pull out about 2 gallons of water on the typical day. Since I started using the dehumidifier I have not had a rust problem on any of my machine shop equipment.

 

[DaveNay]

Unfortunately, a de-humidifier will do me no good. My outbuilding is not even close to being sealed good enough, and I would be trying to dehumidify all of northern Illinois.

I am probably going to run out and buy some of that Boeshield T-9 product today.

Dave

 

[gsganzer]

Do a search for suppliers of "Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors" (VCI). You should be able to find foam pads or emitters that you can put in your tool boxes. Some of the emitters look like an air freshener and emit a vapor that prevents corrosion. They don't leave any kind of film that you can feel, or harm electronic components. For the tools that can't fit in tool boxes, I usually coat them with CorrosionX. It's less volatile then WD40 and protects longer.