Replies

1. 
   bob_barnett | Jan 18, 2010 07:56am | #1

   You probably aren't going to
   You probably aren’t going to like my answer. I air-conditioned my shop. Living in Alabama I could never keep the rust off my tools no mater what I tried. I even had some tools that would rust overnight. The A/C really extended my time of working in the shop. I was never able to do anything at night in the summer because of the heat and bugs. You might try a window unit to pull the moisture out of the air. If you are trying for moisture control, it is better to use an undersized unit so it will run more.

   Sorry I am not more help.

   bob

2. 
   Boogalee | Jan 18, 2010 09:48am | #2

   I live outside the New Orleans area.

   I use dessicant silica packs.

   http://www.valleycoin.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Silica&x=9&y=12

   Hope this helps.

   Al

3. 
   RalphBarker | Jan 18, 2010 11:37am | #3

   (in your best Nawlins accent) "That's not rust, suh, that's cha'actuh!" ;-)

   Living in New Mexico, I don't have much of a rust problem. But, it seems to me there's oil (of various types, some rather exotic) and there's wax (again, of various types). Then, there's really solving the problem with A/C - turning the shop into a climate-controlled living space. So, the choices boil down to paying for it in the electric bill, or paying for it in time and effort.

4. 
   Ray | Jan 18, 2010 11:44am | #4

   I'm in S. Alabama, same
   I'm in S. Alabama, same problems. A cabinet with a small light bulb in the bottom (protected, of course) works wonders at keeping the temperature slightly elevated and minimizing rust (we used that method on electronics in Viet Nam). Like the heater in your gun safe. Also, Camelia oil works quite well on hand tools.

1. 
   sam_in_nola | Jan 18, 2010 01:31pm | #5

   Thanks for the help. I actually keep all of my tools inside in the A/C right now. As I am adding onto and completely remodelling a 140 year old house I not too worried about the mess of working inside. It is unstoppable anyway.

   I will be building a small shop soon and I plan on putting both an A/C and dehummidifier in it. We use a dehummidifier in a small metal building at my girlfriends house and it does well with the power tools. If I come up with any brilliant ideas I will post them (doubtful though)

1. 
   pcott | Jan 18, 2010 09:53pm | #6

   I use a gun safe heater that puts out 9 watts. Works great, took humidity down 15 points. I cant remember the make right now.

5. 
   dawei | Feb 12, 2010 06:01pm | #7

   I live in Darwin, Australia. For those of you that don't know, Darwin is in the tropics. We are currently in the wet season and as I am new to the tropics have had to find a way to protect my tools from rust. I have started to use a lanolin based product which appears to be working well. I don't have my tools in a box/bags and I don't have the luxury of an air-conditioned workshop. So all my tools and timber, whilst being kept dry, are open to the atmosphere. I keep a light coating of the lanolin on the tools and wipe them off before use.

   My next step in solving the problem is to move to a more suitable climate.