Combating rust on planes

[Bob Noles]

I stole a few shop hours today and was doing some tightening up and rearranging some of the many hand tools I have collect over the past few months. Right now all of my tools are in good shape as I have cleaned and treated them to combat rust over the summer.

I currenty store my planes in socks in my woorkbench cabinet which is completely enclosed with doors and all. I am giving serious thought to relocating my planes to open shelves mounted to my shop walls which are painted cinder block.

My question is, will moving them to open shelving like this encourage rust? I plan on leaving them in the socks and continuing the prevention I have practiced. I'm just not sure where moisture accumulates the most.

TIA for any advice or opinion you can offer.

[Dick Latshaw]

Mine spent the summer in socks that the wife made of terry cloth. They were stored on open shelves and seem to have survived just fine. I did make sure that they had a light coat of oil and no remaining finger prints.

It was a bit drier than last summer though (by about 20 inches).:)

[Mario Brissette]

Mines receive camelia oil. You can buy this oil from http://www.japanwoodworker.com and a very thin coat of this oil protect from rust. I protect my plane blades after sharpening with that oil. Also, this oil is safe for wood and won't give you bad surprises when staining or finishing the wood after.

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/assets/images/product/JapanWoodworker/thumbs/02.167.jpg

[Harry Goodwin]

I live in eastern NC and have the best results leaving them open shelves or benches. The circulatiion helps to deter rust. Those I have covered up had problems. I also asked shoe dealer for that absorbing stuff and have a big bag of the stuff for all purposes and only traded a pen. Renasance wax helps too. Harry

[Dev Emch]

Machinists Chests, instrument oil and champho-phenic!

1). Machinists chests are made from wood with felt drawer liners. These chests have been used for years to store fine instruments such as micrometers and squares as they are prone to damage and rust. An extra nice side effect is that wood can breath and absorbs moisture. This is something no metal toolbox can ever compete with.

2). Cammilla oil or instrument oil works wonders. Wipe down the plane and it keeps the rust monkey away. Cammilla oil seems to be the cat's meow but I have used 3 in 1 oil for years with no ill effects and I like its smell.

3). You buy blocks of campfer and liquid chamfo-phenic at the drugist. Forgive my spelling of this stuff. Its the stuff that stinks like moth balls and wintergreen. A small block in the drawer or a cotten ball soaked with the liquid creates a vapor within the drawer that drives moisture away. An old machinist buddy showed me how to make tiny threaded bottles with holes in them. You fill each one with a soaked cotten ball with champfo-phenic and toss one in your plane drawer. keeps the organge monster away.

[Chris Barton]

There is another very cheap dehumidifier you can get for use in drawers and such to protect against rust... uncooked rice! Put some in a cloth bag and throw it in the drawer and the rice will effectively sop up the excess humidity. But, most rust forms on tools not so much be cause of humidity but, because of poor temperature control in the workshop. If your shop is an unheated garage or other space then, when the temperature drops, the tools cool off and then as the temperatures rise the tools warm slower than the surounding environment causing condensation to form on their surface which leads to rust. If you keep you tools warm (above the dew point) they won't rust...

[Dan Barr]

Excellent and great to know. along with all the other tips and tricks volunteered thus far.

thanks,

dan

[Albert Wagner]

There is another very cheap dehumidifier you can get for use in drawers and such to protect against rust... uncooked rice! <snip>

Makes good sense. I've always followed my mother's and grandmother's habit of putting uncooked rice into salt shakers to keep the salt dry.

[Dale Osowski]

Most of my planes are Japanese so I only need to portect the blade from rust. I use Flitz, it does a great job and I have not had any signs of rust even in humid weather.

Dale

[Bob Smalser]

In this wet climate, I wouldn't use anything for tool storage but pegboard. Excellent air flow, faster to get at my tools, and I can see any problems developing well before any unpleasant surprises.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594266/300720196.jpg

If you work outdoors and use your tools in the rain like I do, I recommend more drastic measures:

Rustproofing Tools
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=28340

[Eddie Darby]

There is always these that might help:

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=Ferro-Pak

http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/24545