router/drill bit protection

[Andy]

Right now my small woodshop is in my basement, which is constantly humid, despite the dehumidifier. (Fortunately, it's also constantly cool, so it's a nice place to work in this heat!) Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has a great secret for how to protect router bits, drill bits, and chisels from rust. I know Boeshield T-9 is sold just for this purpose, but I've heard mixed reviews of that. Also, do you have to wipe T-9 off before using the bits? Is Topcote good for these implements, or more for tablesaw tops? I'd like something that is easy to spray on, and ideally, that doesn't have to be wiped off before use. If I'm going to be wiping something off anyway, why not just coat the metal surfaces with some good old grease? I know it could mess with wood, but what if it was wiped off carefully? What about spraying WD-40 on bits after use? My other (very different approach) idea is to buy or build a box that is somewhat airtight and put a silca gel dessicator (or equivalent) in the box, then store bits and chisels in there. How well would the box need to seal to make this effective? I've seen little dessicator boxes for use in gun cabinets that are fairly cheap and can be 'recharged' in the oven. Any advice, opinions, or shared experience would be much appreciated, Andy

[David]

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Keeping them in drawrs or a cabinet helps.

No, but I'd wipe it off the shaft to be sre of a good grip.

I don't see why it would not work.

Never tried it I've never had the cu tting portion of a bit rust, only a couple of the shafts had very minor rusting.

The seem to work in cardboard boxes so I assume it does not thave to be perfect. There would be little air change sitting in a cabinet.

[CW]

LPS.

[cerskine]

I have had good luck with VCI materials. They have the advantage of penetrating the nooks and crannies, as well as leaving no residue.

[Woodchuck34]

Dave,

Have you tried spraying T-9 w/o putting into the plastic router case. I've never noticed any buildup on my saw blades, router bits, or table tops. This stuff does eat away rust though. Got some on my arm and it burned. You may be melting the plastic case.

Chuck

[David]

I wondered about the plastic/T-9 reaction myself. Not sure if the residue is a reaction between the two, or because I didn't wipe off the excess. Rust's not a problem in my shop, so I've stopped putting it on the bits.

I did get around to placing o-rings on most of my bits to keep them from dropping too far into the chuck. That makes swapping bits go faster.

Dave

Woodchuck34 wrote:

[David]

[Andy]

LPS? I assume this is the LPS 1 greaseless lubricant? Where do I buy it? Thanks

[CW]

That's the stuff. Works great. I get it at a local hardware store. Right beside the WD40.

[Andy Dingley]

cast iron tools - wax

routers - make them out of carbide

drill bits - use them

chisels - keep them in a cupboard or drawer with a dessicator. Silica gel isn't enough - it has minimal ability to "dry out" a space that's regularly opened to the air. Instead use calcium chloride, the "flowerpot" dessicators that gradually fill up a bowl of liquid. Because they're spillable, these dessicators should be given dedicated shelf space at the _bottom_ of your cupboard.

If you're in England (damp winters and overnight condensation), then an anti-condensation heater is worth having inside the cupboard. Just a degree or two is usually enough to avoid the dew point.

Camellia oil (any decent woodwork supplier) is a good treatment for any tool after sharpening, or as a lubricant when using it. Unlike WD40, it doesn't stain the timber or interfere with finishes. Many people keep an "oil pot" on the bench, a wooden box or pot (mine is a length of bamboo) stuffed tightly full of cotton scrim and soaked in camellia oil.

[Prometheus]

Back when I used to smoke, they sold these little humidor pellets that you could put in a can of loose tobacco to regulate the moisture. If it was too dry, you could soak the things in water and it would raise the humidity- if it was too moist (and this it the bit that it on topic) you could put a dry "button" in the can, and it would soak up the excess moisture. IIRC, they were called pouch buttons, and they were extremely inexpensive. They were little aluminum things about the size of a quarter with a bunch of small holes in them and a clay pellet in the center. Might work for you, if you put them in a sealed container with the bits. I'm sure they're very similar to the ones you mentioned for gun cabinets, but they may be a more reasonable size for your drill bits. Most tobacconists carry them.

Then again, I just give them a little squirt of WD-40 every now and again, and it works fine for me.

[mac davis]

One of my kids used to sell and ship electronic stuff... he gave me a bag of those "don't be stupid enough to eat this, lug nut" packets that absorb moisture.. they seem to work for a long time... I change them every year or so when I see them, but I've gone into a drawer for a seldom used tool and found it dry after the same bag for 2+ years..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

[John]

Store in a draw or anthing reasonably air tight and use a VPI (vapor phase inhibitor like they use in gun cases) to keep the rust under control You can find VPI products in most gun stores or at the Brownell's website. Highly recommended as this does work. Obviously, if the drawer/container is opened frequently the VPI product needs to be replaced more often, but often you can find the VPI impregnated cardboard squares (approx 3/4 in on a side) and zip lock baggies and get 1yr or longer protection

Brownells has Rust Blox Vapor tabs, $5.69 for 12 (part #

084-058-012), $40.23 for 100 of them. Each BLOX protects "...up to 300cu.in. for at least 1yr"

John

[Badger]

Seconded from the Eastern side of the pond!