Thread: Stopping rust on hand tools and machinery

I use a light spray of WD40 followed by a rub with a rag.

Likewise, wd40 or 3in1 oil,light rub and wrap em up if not using for any length of time and theyll be fine.

beejay1

Clean cast iron with fine steel wool and machine oil, then wipe off. Works for me. Hand tools just get the wipe treatment.

Snow

SilverGlide is the go, I have used it and it works a treat, no silicon either, which is the finnishers nightmare.


Al

Hello,
Try Lannox, lubes as well as containing lanolin, seems to protect for a long time wraped in a rag. Bill

SilverGlide is an exceptional product. It stops rust completely, can be applied with a cloth or steel wool, protects for a long time between coats and little goes a long way. I purchased a tin over a year ago, and have hardly used any.

Also, it lubricates the surface of my table saw without leaving a coating that attracts dust, nor does it stain the timber. It makes it easier to slide the mitre gauge and timber after application.

However, I have never consider using it for hand tools.

Silverglide definitely!

I have used all the others mentioned above and living in a salt-laden atmosphere can get rust on an unprotected metal tool OVERNIGHT!!

WD40 ends up so messy after the tenth application you feel like you are in a mechanic's workshop, and it dries out after a while.

I gave all my chisels a touch up last night while the tennis was on tele, and the interesting thing is that the Silverglide applied about a year ago was still repelling water.

Out of interest, I re-did them with U-Beat's Traditional Wax to see how long that will last, but I suspect it will be hard to beat the purpose made product.

cheers,

P

Chook
Have to agree with the others on Silverglide, Its good stuff and a little does go a long way.

It seems that the silverglide is the stuff to get. But carbatec tells me to put silverglide on table saws etc and Camilla oil on chisels, hand saws and the like. But from what you are saying I can put the silverglide on everything and it works okay. I have about $50 000 of tools at work which accumulating rust at a ridiculous rate and I have to get it right. I have worked in a lot of places and I have never seen a place to attract rust like it.

Originally Posted by chook

It seems that the silverglide is the stuff to get. But carbatec tells me to put silverglide on table saws etc and Camilla oil on chisels, hand saws and the like. But from what you are saying I can put the silverglide on everything and it works okay. I have about $50 000 of tools at work which accumulating rust at a ridiculous rate and I have to get it right. I have worked in a lot of places and I have never seen a place to attract rust like it.

You work in a school shop and the rust is a problem? If this has built up over the holidays perhaps I can understand it, but generally tools in heavy use wont rust much due to regular handling. If you have this as an ongoing problem then the solution may require more than a simple coating of oil or wax.

Are there environmental factors at play? Does the school have evaporative cooling systems or aircon?

I cover my machinery with old sheets when not in use to avoid moist air flowing over their cool surfaces. Hand tools I try to keep in drawers or cupboards. I use three-in-one oil for hand tools and an automotive refinishers polish for the machines (no silicates). Lanolin based oils are also good, as is Johnson's floor wax if you can get it.

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

I gave all my chisels a touch up last night while the tennis was on tele, cheers,

P

:confused: What, was the missus out for the night??

Al :eek:

Originally Posted by Groggy

You work in a school shop and the rust is a problem? If this has built up over the holidays perhaps I can understand it, but generally tools in heavy use wont rust much due to regular handling. If you have this as an ongoing problem then the solution may require more than a simple coating of oil or wax.

Are there environmental factors at play? Does the school have evaporative cooling systems or aircon?

It is a fact. The tools get a lot of use yet I have never seen a place where rust was such a problem. The shed has excellent ventilation but no (sadly) air con. I am at a loss to explain why it is happening but I am going to stop it! I will look further into the environmental factors. But for example I have a shed at home where I dried several cubic metres of timber and the tools in the shed did not rust. Yet here is a high open shed where I can find no obvious source of humidity and rust is a problem. Before the holidays I oiled everything which helped but it has not stopped it.

What about salt air, or industries near by??

Al

Originally Posted by chook

It is a fact. The tools get a lot of use yet I have never seen a place where rust was such a problem. The shed has excellent ventilation but no (sadly) air con. I am at a loss to explain why it is happening but I am going to stop it! I will look further into the environmental factors. But for example I have a shed at home where I dried several cubic metres of timber and the tools in the shed did not rust. Yet here is a high open shed where I can find no obvious source of humidity and rust is a problem. Before the holidays I oiled everything which helped but it has not stopped it.

Since rust is largely brought about by cooling, moisture laden, air falling on metal surfaces, maybe the best answer for now is covers held of the surfaces with covers. At least until you can figure out something else.