Rust-Free Tools

[Herbseesmoore]

the question is how do you keep your tools rust free, wipe with oil on a regular basis, a lot of my tools have rust spots here and there, so in the damp enviro here on the boat I will need a plan.

[Pete7]

I won't have a damp boat because its not only tools but food and bedding etc. Indeed we clean the bilges out with the vacumn cleaner because dust and dog hairs find there way in.

I used to carry a special cold chisel when diving. About 6" long and made of some exotic alloy, but meant it was non-magnetic and non-sparking when used. Friendly Armourer gave it to me and despite a weekly dive the salt water never affected it. Sadly dropped without noticing

Whilst you could spray with WD40 or similar your going to get it all over the place next time you use the tools. How about a thin wipe with lanocote, at least its natural and kind to hands.

Pete

[Dynamo1181]

i use T9 Boeshield. It leaves a wax film to protect. Has worked for 18 yrs here.
A

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Pete7

... I used to carry a special cold chisel when diving. About 6" long and made of some exotic alloy, but meant it was non-magnetic and non-sparking when used...

Beryllium Copper.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Beryllium Copper.

Excellent it was a nice bit of kit, you could probably build a pyramid using one.

Certainly helped to liberate a rather nice brass port hole from an underwater wreck in Poland. Shame I couldn't lift the other 199 that were on the wreck.

Pete

[knottybuoyz]

Stick a block of camphor in your toolbox. We've discussed this before. It works.

[Ex-Calif]

My snap-on wrenches have been on the boat 4 years. Perfect.

Everything cheaper rusts...

[bob_77903]

Where does one get a block of camphor?

[zopi]

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

Stick a block of camphor in your toolbox. We've discussed this before. It works.

You should be able to get it from a decent pharmacist or a machinery supply house.

[GordMay]

Camphor blocks - Shop sales, stores & prices at TheFind.com

[Herbseesmoore]

Just poured my coffee and signed in. Good info as usual. Knew this had been discussed but a quick search for tool+rust didn't narrow it down. On the front burner now, which is a good thing.
Not to destroy my own thread, isn't a boat just naturally damp/humid. Unless you can run air/heat. Salt in the air. Is there much of a diff between land and sea in some place like Baja.

Going to explore some of those tips, thanks again.

[off-the-grid]

What about this stuff? Anyone ever try it?

[GordMay]

Used appropriately, Vapour Corrosion Inhibitors do work to reduce corrosion.
I wouldn’t recommend Zerust VC2-1, in this application.
Nitrites (Sodium Nitrite is the active ingredient in Zerust VC2-1) protect Iron and Aluminum ONLY, and attack Copper and Bronze.

➥ http://hazard.com/msds/f2/bnd/bndwk.html

[off-the-grid]

You think it would be bad even in an enclosed space where you're storing nothing but tools? Just keep it away from the thru-hulls!

[barnakiel]

We use plastic, bronze and SS tools.

Now those that can't be had in the above materials we keep them dry (except for those that need oil to run).

b.