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Rust !!!!!!!!!

hawkeyefxr

Full Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2015
Posts
373
Location
Yateley Hants
First Name
ken
Not sure if this is the place for this but here goes. I have been suffering with tooling going rusty in my shed really bad, but this year and period Feb & Mar only ???.
It is so bad i removed my chuck from the lathe put it in the box i made to hold all my chuck bits and pieces and two days later there was rust on it. I have lineded the box with foam to keep things in place and i reckon that is a cause.
I will be on a big clean up tomorrow, i may even put a wire brush on my grinder.
I will be bringing the box indoors as well.
What do you use to fend off the rust in your tools.
 

bigbob

Graduate Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Posts
557
Location
Inverness
First Name
Bob
Some folk says to keep a fan running in the workshop this keeps the air moving. What worked for me is insulating the workshop with this stuff how to insulate a shed - Google Search cost me about £120 when I did it and it has made a big differance. I use hand tools (planes chisels router planes etc) and always rub them with a cloth in a can with 3 in one oil in. Paul Sellers has a video on how to make one of these.
 

21William

Fellow
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,618
Location
Dorset
First Name
William
Clip lock food storage containers are good for storing small tools. For other bigger stuff machine wax can help to keep rust at bay.
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
A dehumidifier? Possibly an option that's too expensive, but it would certainly work.

Those storms we had in February and March will have increased the humidity by a huge amount though, so that may be colouring your perception a little. It's particularly dry at the moment, at least were I live, (about 30% in my workshop) whereas during those storms it was about 70%. A normal house that is reasonably built will be about 50% (relative humidity) in average circumstances, but unless your workshop is atmospherically sealed to the same standard as a house, you're always going to suffer from the same problem each winter, unless you can seal the building or remove the moisture. Treating the tools and metal surfaces with waxes or oils will certainly help, but that solution relies on continued diligence to repeat the treatment regularly.

Find the gaps, seal them, then insulate. That would be my long term solution I think. The most expensive option and the most effort I'm afraid, but worth it in the long term I would suggest.
 

pittswood

Fellow
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Posts
1,249
Location
Rhigos, South Wales
First Name
Kelvin
Hi Ken,
In Wales we have the same problem. Where we live its a high humidity area and has always been. I was told by a local to use, Liberon Lubricating Wax. Just a thin layer over all metal parts, even on your lathe beds. I have been using it for years on everything, hand planners, saws, morse tapers, drills even on my scroll saws, anything that's or could be exposed to the air.
My workshop is fully insulated, roof, walls, even floor, but i still had tools showing rust, but not now with using that wax. Try it mate, better waxed than rusted.
Kelvin
 

hawkeyefxr

Full Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2015
Posts
373
Location
Yateley Hants
First Name
ken
Thanks for the replies.
Insulating the shed is not on really as my worktop draws and shelves which i made many years ago are fixed to one wall and i have everything and the kitchen sink hanging off the others.
Feb and Mar were when it all happened. I do have a dehumidifer but can't really leave that running 24/7.
I will look into the rag and oil can thing and get some of the wax mentioned. I will be bringing my chuck box indoors next year.
 
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