My son recently moved to Dallas from the Denver area. Humidity is considerably higher down there. Some of his tools are already showing signs of rust. They're all kept in a really nice Milwaukee rolling cabinet/work bench. Short of air conditioning his garage is there anything that can be done to protect his tools?
Preventing rust on tools
- Thread starter GaryMX5
- Start date
Boeshield
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
WD40 is known to remove moisture so many mechanics use it after cleaning. Really any light oil (as mentioned in #2 comment) wiped on will help keep them good until the next use. There are anti-rust tool cabinet pads/liners that are not expensive one can buy from most tool sellers. They do actually work very well.
I was shocked how quickly it began to happen. I've have lots of tools that are 40 to 50 years old here in colorado that have no signs of rust at all, but our humidity is generally very low. He has basic drawer mats/liners but I'll start looking for those that reduce rust issues (didn't know there was such a thing). Oiling hand tools all the time seems to be a messy nuisance but it may have to come to that.
This stuff works really well. But is a bit pricey.
https://www.westmarine.com/corrosio...Thtl2Bw-ppqEqEHjZIcQ9mV8omzqW6ssaAraFEALw_wcB
https://www.westmarine.com/corrosio...Thtl2Bw-ppqEqEHjZIcQ9mV8omzqW6ssaAraFEALw_wcB
CorrosionX is, IMO, the best for this specific task. ACF50 works well too and is a little more viscous.
I have a dedicated rag for cleaning+oiling in my toolbox. It gets pretty saturated over time. I've had no issues with either product swelling rubber handles or grips.
I have a dedicated rag for cleaning+oiling in my toolbox. It gets pretty saturated over time. I've had no issues with either product swelling rubber handles or grips.
Moth balls in the tool box was an old remedy which seemed to work.
Similar thread. Similar recommendations, which you might find useful:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/spray-nine-tool-saver-spray.384469/#post-6935885
I think the most effective thing you can do is this - get used to wiping down your tools when you put them away. Hit the black oxide tools with a spritz of oil when you put them away.
I actually have a can of this Liquid Wrench oil that I am using at the moment in my shop.
https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Wrench-L212-Lrail-Each/dp/B00200B22S?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
Just plain oil, but it works to prevent rust on the impact sockets.
Now, at home, I have Corrosion-X, which I use on guns, and it works great, and in the shop, I have a can of Rem-oil that I use to wipe down infrequently used tools, but I hit my impact sockets with a light spritz of that Liquid Wrench when I put them away.
I think the most important thing - don’t put tools away dirty.
Wipe off the dirt, fingerprints, everything when you put them away. Chrome is pretty corrosion resistant, that’s why tools are made with a hard chrome finish. Just cleaning them off will make a big difference.
I live near the ocean. Very near. And I don’t have a problem with rusting tools. I have to believe that part of the reason is that they get cleaned when I put them away.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/spray-nine-tool-saver-spray.384469/#post-6935885
I think the most effective thing you can do is this - get used to wiping down your tools when you put them away. Hit the black oxide tools with a spritz of oil when you put them away.
I actually have a can of this Liquid Wrench oil that I am using at the moment in my shop.
https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Wrench-L212-Lrail-Each/dp/B00200B22S?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
Just plain oil, but it works to prevent rust on the impact sockets.
Now, at home, I have Corrosion-X, which I use on guns, and it works great, and in the shop, I have a can of Rem-oil that I use to wipe down infrequently used tools, but I hit my impact sockets with a light spritz of that Liquid Wrench when I put them away.
I think the most important thing - don’t put tools away dirty.
Wipe off the dirt, fingerprints, everything when you put them away. Chrome is pretty corrosion resistant, that’s why tools are made with a hard chrome finish. Just cleaning them off will make a big difference.
I live near the ocean. Very near. And I don’t have a problem with rusting tools. I have to believe that part of the reason is that they get cleaned when I put them away.
That, and those little square cakes of Camphor. They were much like mothballs and would slowly evaporate over time. They smelled like Vicks Vaporub. A lot of machinists kept them in their tool boxes.
JHZR2
Staff member
Have you actually used that on tools? It stinks. And is messy.
This is a go to thing, I agree. For gun safes too.
OP - I’d recommend ballistol first. It is non toxic. It smells like anise, but that dissipates. Other corrosion liquids stink chemically and don’t dissipate as well.
For low use and no touch stuff I’d recommend some lanolin on a brush. It lasts way longer than anything else. While the smell of products like fluid film can be objectionable too, it goes away in time and the heavy lanolin coating protects better than anything else.
I don't find the smell to be bad at all. Most all of these products are going to have some degree of odor to them.
I just spray some on a terry cloth rag, and wipe them down. I do much the same with metal pistol magazines. I've found it lasts longer than most other rust preventatives. YMMV.
I just spray some on a terry cloth rag, and wipe them down. I do much the same with metal pistol magazines. I've found it lasts longer than most other rust preventatives. YMMV.
CorrosionX smells like it works.
I keep a rag soaked in Fluid Film in a plastic container for wiping tools after use. If storing tools for extended period of time I use some VCI paper cut to fit the drawers and cover the tools. Rolls of VCI paper can be bought from Uline
JHZR2
Staff member
Bad??CorrosionX smells like it works.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
I just ran across this product again. I heard about this way back when I was still working on my cars n trucks + the last of the chevelles. Meant to get some but got side tracked and totally forgot. Recently , when looking to order some more gun cleaner/oil products and there it was. Popped up as I cruised the net and all around the WD40 / 3-In-1 / Amsoil and some other lube products. Last gun oil/cleaner I ordered (still got some in garage) came from Amsoil and its some good stuff.
Actually I had thought they stopped making the stuff due to lack of sales, company buy outs etc... Apparently they are still in the business, somewhere? WD40 (it sounds like) has bought 3-In-1 Oil company or some of their product line a while back that included this 3-In-1 Rust preventer product.
Could not find a separate WD40 company website nor a separate site for 3-In-1 oil. The No Rust Preventer as well as WD40 products show up in Amazon , E Bay and some other sites such as:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2949144465...006&customid=63651b332bc3dc59d9526637849bacc3
https://www.dobmeierjanitorialsuppl...ield-Rust-&-Corrosion-Inhibitor-SKU-WDC110153
A hard internet search will probably find this stuff on other web pages as well.
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