My first post. Thanks for the opportunity. I live in Maine and have my shop in a basement. The issue is rust, more so on handtools rather than the larger stationary machines. Most especially, on handplanes (which I store in a wooden shopmade chest; chisels (stored in old metal library card cases); and just about anything hanging on the pegboard. This summer, for the first time, I dehumidified the shop (a medium sized portable unit) for the entire season. This mitigated but did not solve the problem. <!—-><!—-> <!—->
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Over the years, I’ve tried every rub- and spray-on available in the Western World: all the waxes; the WD-40’s and T-9’s and Dri-Coats; the gun protectants and greases (Hoppe’s); Fluid Film from the local John Deere store; Camellia oil; the full line of dessicants, vapor emitters….you name it. The obvious problem with any applied substance is the inconvenience of having to clean the tool thoroughly before using it, then gooping it up again when you’re done.<!—-> <!—->
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I’ve combed the literature and internet for hints (Fine Woodworking tips: wrap’em in tin foil, store’em with a cake of carpenter’s chalk, etc.) Nix.<!—-> <!—->
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Although the shop is damp, even in peak season it’s not exactly submerged. But no luck with any of the fixes. The chest I made for the planes is all but hermetically sealed, lined with vapor paper, but still doesn’t get the job done. Plus, I’m reluctant to stash the tools where I can’t see and access them easily—in plastic bags inside of lanolin socks inside of gun lockers.
Any thoughts?<!—-> <!—->
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Replies
Grab a pair of your wife's old pantyhose and cut them up into sections and buy a jug of loose silica gel and make golf ball sized packets and drop them in all your tool containers. That should work. I have not actually tried it but heard it works great. Good luck and hope this helps.
Jay
In your situation I'd want to make a serious attempt to address the source of the problem not just the symptoms. First, buy a digital hygrometer (RadioShack or Oregon Scientific). Then, in order until the relative humidity drops consistently below 55%:
1. Extend all downspouts at least 10 feet out from the foundation walls.
2. Paint the cellar walls with Drylock.
3. Seal, insulate, and install an industrial strength dehumidifier like one of the Santa Fe models.
I work in two locations, basement and garage, and taking tools with edges back & forth has been a problem for me too. Last year, at a WWing show I purchased the Lie-Nielsen kit (se link below) and it has been a big help. The block is wonderfull at clean up on flat CI surfaces and the paper is good for long term blade & iron storage. The oil & wax are less effective and just my finger prints will cause the tool to rouge over.
As much as I would like to set my planes out to look at, I have to keep them in a drawer with desicent.
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?grp=1289
The old rust problem. Wire up your tool cabinets and stick a 25 watt bulb in each one, or if the cabinet is small use something like a 7 or 15 watt bulb. Instead of a 25 watt bulb use one of the funny looking energy saving bulbs switching the wattage down to about 7. The energy saving bulbs last a long time which saves having to replace the 25 watt ones on a regular basis.
This system has worked for me for a couple of decades now. It works on the basis of warming the interior of the cabinet, including the tools, reduces the RH of air in the cabinet leading to less condensation of water on to cold metal if and when you open the cabinet doors letting in new, possibly colder air of a higher RH. Slainte.
Richard Jones Furniture
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