Storing tools

[David R. Pennington]

I just bought myself a nice assortment of flat cabinet scrapers, before I take them to the shop I would like to decide how to store them and keep them from rusting. Any ideas? My shop is only heated when I build a fire and I don't want to find them rusty one day. I thought of making some cloth envelopes and keeping them oiled? Any Ideas?

[docone]

Oil floats on water. We, down here in Fl, use wax.
Get the tool clean and ready, then wax it.

[Pete G.]

You don't want anything that will transfer to the bare wood that you're working on. I store mine in sort of a leather envelope with leather dividers to keep them from rubbing together. Occasionally I'll give them a quick spritz of WD 40 and a wipe down. That seems to do the trick.

[PPatch]

Your base question I believe is "how to protect steel, keep the rust at bay." I live in the south and fighting rust is a constant problem most of the year and the only way I know is oil. But I'll add in WD-40 too since that is what I use on files, it sure worked last summer and this fall when I first began use it. For something like scrapers I would go the time honored oil route too, but when its time to use them I would wipe them clean so the oil does not transfer to the wood. My best take on the deal.

dave

[Ric27]

I see you live in WV. fairly humid there I'm sure. Leather will collect moister and hold it against the metal. In that you are storing in an uncontrolled environment I would say a light coat of oil would be good way to forestall rust. But nothing keeps the rust at bay like constant use. What the $#*!, if they get a little rust just buff it back with a little steel wool. No harm.   

[David R. Pennington]

Very humid most of the time except when its below freezing. I give a lot of my tools a coat of half and half linseed oil and turpentine but that wouldn't be too good on scrapers. I do need some sort of storage pouch, but I have learned that leather is not a good option in humid conditions. Maybe wool felt and canvas?

[Birdhunter]

David,
A few years ago Roy Underhill touted the use of mutton tallow on wood & metal tools . I understand this was the common protection on tools in England . Lee Valley had or has it in a tin.
Curt

[David R. Pennington]

I have mutton tallow and some deer tallow, might work.

[WadePatton]

Yeah, I gots no mutton, but hang if I can figger what mutton tallow could do that deer tallow won't. 

But on that first note-lanolin (extracted from wool) was reportedly used to thwart corrosion aboard ships in the days of sail and wood.  Probably still works.  I have that too.

[Birdhunter]

It states on the Lee valley site it states that it won't inhibit the use of stain or glue.
Curt

[Brian Jordan]

I use birchwood casey barricade. It works in the bore of your rifle. And it works just as well on fine cutting tools. 

[drago]

I use Fluid Film on some of my rifles aand my flint shotgun when hunting in wet weather. It is lanolin based and is supposed to be safe on wood. I got it a Graingers.

[J Henry]

 No oil it could get on your next project,,wipe them clean,wax and store them in an open ,air can circulate,environment,,  no leather,, no tallow,it is/has salt, tanned with  "salts" and will ruin your tools with rust,,worst come to shove  wax or clear coat with shellac,easy to remove with alcohol..

[R.I.J.]

I use paste wax on my saw and planer tables, just cross light them once in a while to see if it has worn off, and reapply. Ticking coated with wax would serve to keep scrapers separated to protect edges and burrs. Works in Maine.

[smallpatch]

Wow, I didn't know how lucky I am. I live in AZ and with single digit humidity, I just don't have to worry about rusting tools.

[P.W.Berkuta]

I just bought myself a nice assortment of flat cabinet scrapers, before I take them to the shop I would like to decide how to store them and keep them from rusting. Any ideas? My shop is only heated when I build a fire and I don't want to find them rusty one day. I thought of making some cloth envelopes and keeping them oiled? Any Ideas?

After you apply your favorite rust preventive build yourself a wooden box with slots to hold your scrapers vertical so they don't lie flat and do have some space between them for the air to circulate .

[Mad Monk]

From my days of the wood work and an old book.

"Solid camphor releases fumes that form a rust-preventative coating and is therefore stored in tool chests to protect tools against rust."

This was seen in an article on how to keep files from rusting in a tool cabinet.
The block of camphor gives off fumes that then condense on the metal tools.  The microscopic film of camphor doers not effect how the tools work nor contaminate the wood being worked.

Mad Monk

[Bob Roller]

From my days of the wood work and an old book.

"Solid camphor releases fumes that form a rust-preventative coating and is therefore stored in tool chests to protect tools against rust."

This was seen in an article on how to keep files from rusting in a tool cabinet.
The block of camphor gives off fumes that then condense on the metal tools.  The microscopic film of camphor doers not effect how the tools work nor contaminate the wood being worked.

Mad Monk

Where can camphor be purchased.??

Bob Roller

[sweed]

http://www.amazon.com/Camphor-Gum-Blocks-block-Humco/dp/B0012ZKGBA

Read the reviews! Evidently this is a synthetic but does the same thing. In one review the feller says to go to an Indian food store and ask for food grade camphor blocks.

[Mad Monk]

From my days of the wood work and an old book.

"Solid camphor releases fumes that form a rust-preventative coating and is therefore stored in tool chests to protect tools against rust."

This was seen in an article on how to keep files from rusting in a tool cabinet.
The block of camphor gives off fumes that then condense on the metal tools.  The microscopic film of camphor doers not effect how the tools work nor contaminate the wood being worked.

Mad Monk

Where can camphor be purchased.??

Bob Roller

I wasn't ignoring you Bob.  Shortly after I posted my message the big brown truck with the daughter's new computer arrived.  Got it set up and running just a short time ago.

I think camphor also has anti-insect properties.  Might be useful in boxes of raw horns.

[Okefinokee Outlaw]

Here in SC I've been using Renaissance Wax with great success.

[WadePatton]

No oil it could get on your next project,,wipe them clean,wax and store them in an open ,air can circulate,environment,,  no leather,, no tallow,it is/has salt, ...

There is no salt in my tallow.  I have no idea why anyone would put salt in their tallow.    

Where can camphor be purchased.??

Bob Roller

Amazon and Ebay like most other "smalls" these days.  I see camphor in various forms.  reckon i'll have to get some...

[John A. Stein]

My father always had a blockof camphor in his toolbox.and that was years ago. John

[CMS3900]

Two other products not mentioned:  A friend uses  Boeshield T-9 and loves it, I would consider it for for medium length storage.  http://boeshield.com/  

For long term storage I use CRC's SP-400 and fold in wax paper. It places a film on the tool almost like cosmoline but is not greasy, only tacky to the touch.  I have personally seen it used on mills and lathes that were placed outside for months tarped, and when brought back inside were rust free.  http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/00255257

I use WD-40 for my daily tools, and my once-every-few-months wood tools just have a few of the desiccant packs you get with different things tossed in the drawer with them.

[Z. Buck]

Have you considered bluing them? Bluing does help prevent corrosion after all...