So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
this, sorry if I missed something obvious.
I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.
I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
I should look into.
Thanks in advance for the help
Andrew
As the OP it's kinda funny to me the course this thread has taken. If
at all possible I would like to find a solution that's really simple,
and doesn't involve ongoing energy expendetures. I suppose that's not
possible. I guess I should have really phrased the question something
more like, does anyone know of a better desiccant than Drierite? Or
something like that. I am looking for simple and largely effective, not
a solution to keep my tools pristine for a decade of neglect. I use
them daily, just want a way to slow down the effects of humidity.
Ahh, sorry if I am babbling. Thanks for the comments either way, I
guess I should just order some Drierite and let you guys know how it
works.
Andrew
Tattooed and Dusty wrote:
> As the OP it's kinda funny to me the course this thread has taken. If
> at all possible I would like to find a solution that's really simple,
> and doesn't involve ongoing energy expendetures. I suppose that's not
> possible. I guess I should have really phrased the question something
> more like, does anyone know of a better desiccant than Drierite? Or
> something like that. I am looking for simple and largely effective,
> not a solution to keep my tools pristine for a decade of neglect. I
> use them daily, just want a way to slow down the effects of humidity.
>
> Ahh, sorry if I am babbling. Thanks for the comments either way, I
> guess I should just order some Drierite and let you guys know how it
> works.
>
> Andrew
Well if you don't mind having the blades hidden? how about a polystyrene
rack whereby the blades sit in a tight fit sheath.
--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite
"Tattooed and Dusty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> As the OP it's kinda funny to me the course this thread has taken. If
> at all possible I would like to find a solution that's really simple,
> and doesn't involve ongoing energy expendetures. I suppose that's not
> possible. I guess I should have really phrased the question something
> more like, does anyone know of a better desiccant than Drierite? Or
> something like that. I am looking for simple and largely effective, not
> a solution to keep my tools pristine for a decade of neglect. I use
> them daily, just want a way to slow down the effects of humidity.
>
> Ahh, sorry if I am babbling. Thanks for the comments either way, I
> guess I should just order some Drierite and let you guys know how it
> works.
>
> Andrew
>
Tattooed and Dusty wrote:
> So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
> this, sorry if I missed something obvious.
>
> I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
> wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
> keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
> basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
> reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.
>
> I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
> called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap
> and easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the
> base of each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be
> recharged every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone
> used this product for this purpose? Is there something easier,
> cheaper, or better I should look into.
>
> Thanks in advance for the help
>
> Andrew
How about a dehumidifier?
--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite
If the cabinet isn't sealed, the silica gel won't do you much good.
It won't bring the overall humidity of the whole shop down and won't
have a localized effect in an unsealed cabinet.
Tattooed and Dusty wrote:
> I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
> called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
> easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
> each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
> every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
> product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
> I should look into.
Go to a arts and craft store, buy about 20pounds of the silica pellets
they use for burying and drying flowers, same basic stuff you get in
the little pouches in electronics cartons
Put in the new screw top ziplock containers with a gracious plenty of
holes drilled/poked thru the top of the lid and put inside the case.
Every few months pull out, put in a 200degree over to re-dry the
pellets and put back in
And on top of that, go to Brownells and buy the VPI rust blocker tabs
and toss a few into each case
John
On 13 Oct 2005 11:44:27 -0700, "Tattooed and Dusty"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
>this, sorry if I missed something obvious.
>
>I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
>wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
>keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
>basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
>reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.
>
>I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
>called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
>easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
>each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
>every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
>product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
>I should look into.
>
>Thanks in advance for the help
>
>Andrew
I have great success using small camphor blocks in the drawers of my four
roll-around chests. They protect my hand tools and corded tools. My
playpen is a garage. In Florida.
I get the Humco Camphor Gum Blocks (made in China) from a local pharmacy.
They are not inexpensive. But they work.
The key is to stay ahead of the rust. I use Top Saver and Slip-It on the
machined surfaces of my stationary tools.
I keep Boeshield T-9, Rust Off, Rust Free and Navel Jelly around and use
them occasionally. I had used an adjustable crescent wrench a while back
and sprayed it with Boeshield. When I went to use it yesterday, I could not
adjust it because it was "frozen." A few minutes with WD-40 freed it up.
(I put the Boeshield in the back of the cabinet shelf.) My next project,
that keeps getting delayed, is to experiment using electrolysis to remove
rust from some small tools and parts.
Jack
Jacksonville, Florida
--
I've never learned anything from someone who agreed with me.
"Tattooed and Dusty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
> this, sorry if I missed something obvious.
>
> I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
> wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
> keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
> basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
> reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.
>
> I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
> called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
> easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
> each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
> every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
> product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
> I should look into.
>
> Thanks in advance for the help
>
> Andrew
>
On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 15:35:32 -0700, Tattooed and Dusty wrote:
> How sealed is sealed?
Yes, dessicant works best in a sealed environment. OP probably used it in
bell or vacuum jars. I did. As to exchange between the closed case and the
general shop atmosphere, that's a basic rate calculation. pV=nRT and all
that. If the OP has a lab background, he'll be tickled pink (or blue) to
run the experiment for us. My guess is that yes, it won't work as well as
a sealed chamber, and yes, it'll help his rust problem. As long as the
dessicant isn't yet saturated, it'll maintain the low humidity.
--
"Keep your ass behind you"
vladimir a t mad {dot} scientist {dot} com
On 13 Oct 2005 11:44:27 -0700, "Tattooed and Dusty"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
>this, sorry if I missed something obvious.
>
>I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
>wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
>keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
>basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
>reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.
>
>I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
>called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
>easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
>each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
>every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
>product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
>I should look into.
>
>Thanks in advance for the help
>
>Andrew
I have kept watches and other small items in a dessicator. It works
well. But for a tool cabinet, I'd think your idea would work with
some maintenance (ie, drying the tubs in an oven). If you can keep
the inside of the cabinet warmer than the surrounding area, that will
help keep it dry. You could put a piano dryer inside each cabinet.
These are devices used when pianos are put into storage and provide a
little heat. You could probably get the same result with a 3 watt
light bulb in each cabinet. It also helps to wipe each tool with a
rag dampened with kerosene--be sure to dispose of the rag properly.