Stopping rust forming on stock material

[Ansty]

Hi all

Just checking my BMS stock and found surface rust that looks something like a spiders web This cleans off but still leaves very slight marks on the metal.
Does anyone have any suggestions how to keep this at bay, bearing in mind that it is stored in drawers and in a centrally heated outbuilding (Well insulated shed) attached to house.
My lathe and milling machine stay bright with no covers or other attention.
Looking forward to your ideas.

Brian

[baggo]

Hi Brian,

You can buy rust inhibiting paper. You just put a piece in the drawer or cabinet where you keep your materials, tools etc. It gives off a vapour which stops the steel rusting. Chronos sell it amongst others. They also sell a similar compound in a small tin which has the same effect. You take the lid off the tin and place the tin in the drawer or cabinet.

John

[ron]

If you have a tolerant wife keep it in the house

Ron

[havoc]

A light coat of light oil. I use oil for bicycles, water clear and very liquid. Also a wooden drawer will pose less problems than metal drawers.

[simplex]

Invest in a dehumidifier. In my experience this will protect everything in the average size workshop. I had severe problems with rust on tools and materials due to condensation until I rescued an old dehumidifier from the skip - it had been dumped because the fan motor had failed. I replaced the fan motor and it has been working happily for 5 years.

If you can, find one (like mine) with "hot gas defrost" that will work at low temperatures, otherwise it will clog with ice when the air temperature drops below 5 centigrade; normal domestic units are not designed for use in unheated space.

If you want to buy new, then South Coast Environmental Services have a Woods unit (www.sces.co.uk/superbasket/product/124/Woods_ED36_Hot_Gas_Defrost_Dehumidifier available at £338 inc VAT.

Obviously, a dehumidifier will not protect against 'rusty fingers', but it does help protect against the ravages of damp and condensation.

[chris vine]

Yes a dehumidifier is the best bet I think. Watch out, as Simplex says, most of the ones in B and Q etc only work down to 5 or even 8 degrees C. This is pretty useless for an outside shed.

The other thing I found is that damp descends. You can make a big difference by covering rustable items with a sheet of polythene. I found this out when the dehumidifier was switched off by mistake for a few weeks and everything on the loco chassis rusted but only on top surfaces.

Chris.

[Ansty]

Thanks guys.

Will use a couple of the suggestions to combat the enemy!

Brian