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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Keeping tools dry in winter

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oldrustycars

09-21-2007 17:57:08

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My toolbox must stay in an unheated, uninsullated garage all winter. The condensation is terrible. Punches and impact sockets, anything unplated gets bad rust, and even chrome Snap On stuff gets rust. I've tried wiping everything down with WD-40 (the only thing its good for) but it makes a huge mess, and since my toolbox is six feet tall and double wide, it takes forever. Any ideas how to keep my tools dry and rust free all winter?

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super99

09-23-2007 16:12:17

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

I have the same problem with tools rusting.I think I will try getting one of those stick on oil pan heaters and put it on the side of my toolbox and see if that will stop it. Chris

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Stan in Oly, WA

09-22-2007 15:09:34

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

Re: BigMarv1085's suggestion to put a bag of desiccant in each drawer, years ago I read somewhere that you can make your own desiccant by baking wallboard gypsum (without the paper) to over 400 degrees for an hour.

Stan

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MarkB_MI

09-22-2007 13:49:41

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

My tools have been in an unheated shop for years and I never had any problems with condensation until last winter when I started using a torpedo heater. I think ventilation is the key. Unheated spaces are not necessarily damp, but unvented heaters generate a lot of water.

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09-22-2007 06:12:25

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

Maybe you could try to work on greasier machines and do not wash your hands too often. That might help keep the wrenches sealed up from the weather?

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tech4

09-22-2007 05:36:53

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

If you can find camphor blocks - place a block in each drawer of your tool chest. I used near salt water with no rust.
See site below....

camphor

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Satsop

09-21-2007 20:04:17

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

I have found that ventilation and a small amount of heat doe's wonders. I live in wettern Washington and have a 32' by 26' single wall constructed shop, I leave a heat lamp on at all times and no longer have a problem. Air circulation is very important. Jim

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Stan in Oly, WA

09-22-2007 00:30:15

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to Satsop, 09-21-2007 20:04:17

Hi Jim,

Do you leave the heat lamp trained directly on the tools you want to keep from rusting, or do you mean that the lamp is enough for the whole shop? What do you do to promote air circulation?

I wouldn't be surprised to find that Satsop is slightly wetter than Olympia. The microclimates around here are something else. For instance, Shelton is much wetter than Oly, and the Skok valley is much wetter than the south end of Shelton. Still, it beats tornados and hurricanes. If you can keep cheerful during the nine months of rain and overcast (more like ten this year) it's a piece of cake.

All the best, Stan

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Satsop

09-22-2007 15:14:34

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 09-22-2007 00:30:15

Stan

I just leave a light on. At our museum in Montesano we had problem in the basement, there are two stairways to the basement and now we leave the doors cracked open and a 6o watt bulb on and the problem is gone. In the shop I sometimes use a heat lamp. Hope this helps.

Oh for ventilation in the shop the attic has vents and I leave openings in the ceiling open.

JIM

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Ken from Pa.

09-21-2007 19:13:17

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

I had a little different situation with my tools in the garage . Being that I'm getting older & sensitive fingers to cold steel & also trying to keep dust & dirt out of my boxes ; I had to do something . So I took a corner of the garage & built a small room with good insulation . I then installed one of those electric heaters with the fluid inside . Now my tools are warm when I use them & the boxes are nice & clean . I even had a small area left to install a sink & toilet . Ya know , every tractor man needs a commode near by ! HTH ! God bless, Ken

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Ralph - Ohio

09-21-2007 18:28:29

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

It seems that what you need to do is keep the tools a little warmer than the surrounding air to prevent condensation. How about taking a tip from the fellow who mentioned the refrigerator solution. Assuming you have nothing that would burn in the botttom couple drawers, just put a 40 watt light bulb in there and keep it on all the time. The warm air rising around the drawers should help keep the whole box warm. Depending on the size of the box maybe you'd need a second light bulb about halfway up.

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jeffcat

09-22-2007 05:10:42

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to Ralph - Ohio, 09-21-2007 18:28:29

I will second the light bulb. Just a little heat will go a long way. Jeffcat

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delta bob

09-21-2007 18:10:01

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

Make a tool box out of an old fridge, put a small bulb in it and leave it on all the time. This will keep welding rods dry too.

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midwest redneck

09-21-2007 18:00:08

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to oldrustycars, 09-21-2007 17:57:08

Bring the tools in the house, or maybe use a heavy lube oil like way oil for machine tools.

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BigMarv1085

09-22-2007 11:18:03

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Re: Keeping tools dry in winter in reply to midwest redneck, 09-21-2007 18:00:08

I put somebags of desica in each drawerof my box.

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