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Garage shop rust prevention
From Robert B. Thorne of Spring Arbor, MI
My garage shop is attached to the house, yet the humidity from the warm house plus the snow melting has caused my Shopsmith and other tools to rust. I could use a plastic drop cloth, which should help quite a bit, I suppose. However, what about my saw blades and the tips of my cutting tools?
Actually, a plastic drop would be a very bad idea that could actually compound your rusting problem by trapping humidity underneath. Here’s what we suggest: First, coat all the bare (not painted) metal surfaces of your machine and key accessories with a rust preventative material such as Top-Cote (942204) or Dri-Cote (942203). These special aerosol products will go a long way toward protecting the surfaces of your tools.
For even more protection, consider Shopsmith’s Breathable Machine Covers. They’re made of a special fabric that is breathable, yet water resistant.
Another recommendation for garage shops is to consider getting a dehumidifier. They usually run less than $200 and, believe it or not, on a damp day a good could remove gallons of water from the garage air each day, preserving the tools in your shop.
For the tools in your tool chest, we recommend leaving a small, open can of camphor ice (available at most pharmacies) in one or more of the drawers. It will give off an invisible film that will coat your hand tools to prevent rust. This tip was passed on to us by an old, German toolmaker whose tools are over 40 years old and still look like new. |
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