Trying to protect tools from condensation rust. Tinkering Video.

[Mart]

Following the weather fluctuations recently I noticed a lot of rust on my machine tools. I spent a bit of time getting the worst of the rust off and gave them a wipe down and oil up. Not much to this one, just trying to stop the rust, and hopefully stave it off in the future. Just a bit of tinkering, fixing what needs fixing.

https://youtu.be/3pkUVk2UWjA

[Kurt in NJ]

i learned to not open doors on nice warm day after a cold spell, and to keep everything oiled, the only thing the condensation doesn’t seem to bother is the 109+ year old Sidney lathe, i think the iron is so oil soaked it can’t rust

[Weldemup]

As far as hand tools are concerned I always keep block Camphor in my closed toolbox.
Even in really damp shops it always kept my stuff from rusting.
Local pharmacy keeps some in stock.

[millersgarage]

every little pack of desiccant that comes in a package, i put in the drawers in my toolbox

[RalphG]

One nice thing about our cold and dry climate is that I rarely see any problem with condensation in the shops. Maybe spray with WD40?

[Pete]

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Go out and buy an apple. Find a busy spot on a high traffic pedestrian walkway and sell the apple for more than you paid for it. Do the same with 2 apples the next day. Repeat till you have enough to buy a shop building with a heat pump. Buy tools as needed. Keep tools in the shop building. They will never rust or corrode.
Keep doing the apple thing and eventually you will have all the money and others will have all the apples. Then, retire and play with old Fords..

[36coupe]

A friend put in a heat pump and runs it on dehumidifier in his shop in NH. Solved the condensation problem.

[Doublepumper]

I had a condensation problem in the winter when warming up the shop first thing in the morning. I was convinced I needed a dehumidifier and started looking for one local on C. list. In the mean time, my two daughters bought one and surprised me with it as a Christmas gift. Since then, I've been using it with great results...no more condensation!
I highly recommend one for your shop if condensation is a problem.

[Pete]

If you have heat in the shop and you keep the building at 55F all the time, you won't need a dehumidifier. As a side note handling cold tools while it is not pleasant, is a contributor to early arthritis.
And 55F is plenty warm if you are actively working and have coveralls on..

[tubman]

Putting a dehumidifier in my shop was the best thing I ever did.

I am mystified by "Pete"'s post, especially since he is in the Pacific North West.

[Wat-0]

I keep a fan running to move air around the shop during temp changes that seems to work for me to keep the rust from forming.

[Flathead Fever]

Ever leave the cap off a gallon of muriatic overnight in your garage, every non-painted surface will be covered in rust the next day.

At work we used to wipe down all the large tools like the brake lathes, drill press... with WD-40 and that seemed to help.

LPS 3 is made for tools that are going into storage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeaKjU0nac8

[Pete]

Originally Posted by tubman

Putting a dehumidifier in my shop was the best thing I ever did.

I am mystified by "Pete"'s post, especially since he is in the Pacific North West.

All I am saying is, I have had a heat pump in my shop for 30 years. It holds the temp. in the shop at 55F all of the time unless the outside temp gets to 70F. If it gets to 70F the heat pump switches automatically to "cool" and it holds it at 70 till the outside temp comes down. I have never had any rust or corrosion on anything in the shop due to moisture.
No dehumidifier needed. A dehumidifier will NOT keep you warm in the winter or cool in the summer.
You could use any form of heat as long as the temp. is held constant. The heat pump has the advantage of cooling in the summer. It also removes water from the air when need be.
Heat pumps are cheaper to operate than plain heaters or air conditioners also.

I don't sell or service heat pumps....lol

All of this discussion has basically to due with the relatshionship of temperature and dew point. That definition can be found at Wiki.

[GB SISSON]

Pete, do you live on the East side or West side? A lot of folks from 'Away' don't realize the huge difference in the climate in our state.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Pete, do you live on the East side or West side? A lot of folks from 'Away' don't realize the huge difference in the climate in our state.

West.
It does not matter where you live, the laws of physics still apply.

[corvette8n]

This and Fluid film are my go to products depending upon the application.

[rockfla]

Like Corvette8ns post above there are many products on the market that dissipate moisture. I for one recommend and used to sell LPS1. I sold it to the Navy after the USS Cole was bombed in Yemen, they sprayed LPS1 over the entire exposed area of the ship before they transported it back here to the states. I also sold it by the 55 gal drum to Emergency One Air Rescue facility as they ALSO used it for its water displacing capabilities. I have seen the sales rep for this product coat a drop light with an incandescent light and a Milwaukee drill motor and dunk them underwater and both perform flawlessly!!! Its good stuff!!!! I use it exclusively.....I used to coat my mountain bike chain, gear set and derailures to keep them clean of dirt and water!!!!

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by millersgarage

every little pack of desiccant that comes in a package, i put in the drawers in my toolbox

I do as well.

[pistonbroke]

I'm with Pete, I keep my shop between 55 and 75. I have never had any condensation in my shop but have seen it aplenty in the carport and barns I used to work in around here in the PNW. A warm shop makes this a much more enjoyable hobby. Hopefully won't I ever be without one again. Tim

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Pete

All I am saying is, I have had a heat pump in my shop for 30 years. It holds the temp. in the shop at 55F all of the time unless the outside temp gets to 70F. If it gets to 70F the heat pump switches automatically to "cool" and it holds it at 70 till the outside temp comes down. I have never had any rust or corrosion on anything in the shop due to moisture.

I am no longer mystified.