Stew Denton
06-03-2020, 8:36 PM
I was reading the Q&A section of Popular Woodworking, August 2005, page 15, and in it Christopher Schwarz answered a question on "How to Remove Light Rust From Hand Tool." The article spilled into the next pape, and after Schwarz discussed rust removal, he ended up writing about rust preventatives. Schwarz wrote that he used Camellia oil, but he wrote that "Our tests of rust preventatives didn't put Camellia oil at the top (that would be Fluid Film and WD-40...)." He went on to mention advantages of Camellia oil and why he used it.
I use Camellia Oil and Johnsons Paste Wax.
The question is: Does anyone remember the reference that Schwarz is referring to. I would guess that it was published in an earlier edition of PW. I don't think I have the edition, as I only have a very small smattering of older woodworking magazines.
That said, it would be great to hear about the findings that PW came up with.
I keep my first couple of chisels, which I have had for about 48 years I believe, in a simple sheath made from a cerial box or something similar. The chisel blade slides into the sheath. I treated the cardboard with WD40, I am pretty sure of this, and then wrapped it with masking tape. Recently I rewrapped the sheat with new masking tape and coated it with spray lacquer to protect the masking tape.
My two old chisels have not rusted to any appreciable extent over those 48 years, although I did recently clean off a tiny bit of very fine rust, primarily from where the chisel sticks out of the sheath, but it was not significant and cleaned off very easily. For most of those 48 years the chisels received no other rust preventative treatment except to be wiped down with a clean dry rag or tissue when they needed it.
Recently I have used things like 3 in 1 oil to treat sheaths for other chisels. However, now, looking back at my experience and the answer from Schwarz, I am thinking that maybe I should go back to the WD40.
WD40 received extensive testing before the manufacturer started selling it. I have done a lot of industrial testing over the last 30 years, and often in industry we have the time, money, and knowledge to do very good testing. That makes me respect the testing that went into WD40. Maybe a lot of us should consider WD40. Don't know.
Interesting Q&A comment by Schwarz.
If the testing was good, it might answer Erich's question on best rust preventatives.
Any information would be appreciated. What do you think?
Thanks and regards,
Stew
I use Camellia Oil and Johnsons Paste Wax.
The question is: Does anyone remember the reference that Schwarz is referring to. I would guess that it was published in an earlier edition of PW. I don't think I have the edition, as I only have a very small smattering of older woodworking magazines.
That said, it would be great to hear about the findings that PW came up with.
I keep my first couple of chisels, which I have had for about 48 years I believe, in a simple sheath made from a cerial box or something similar. The chisel blade slides into the sheath. I treated the cardboard with WD40, I am pretty sure of this, and then wrapped it with masking tape. Recently I rewrapped the sheat with new masking tape and coated it with spray lacquer to protect the masking tape.
My two old chisels have not rusted to any appreciable extent over those 48 years, although I did recently clean off a tiny bit of very fine rust, primarily from where the chisel sticks out of the sheath, but it was not significant and cleaned off very easily. For most of those 48 years the chisels received no other rust preventative treatment except to be wiped down with a clean dry rag or tissue when they needed it.
Recently I have used things like 3 in 1 oil to treat sheaths for other chisels. However, now, looking back at my experience and the answer from Schwarz, I am thinking that maybe I should go back to the WD40.
WD40 received extensive testing before the manufacturer started selling it. I have done a lot of industrial testing over the last 30 years, and often in industry we have the time, money, and knowledge to do very good testing. That makes me respect the testing that went into WD40. Maybe a lot of us should consider WD40. Don't know.
Interesting Q&A comment by Schwarz.
If the testing was good, it might answer Erich's question on best rust preventatives.
Any information would be appreciated. What do you think?
Thanks and regards,
Stew