So much for rain protection

[Elizabeth]

Furious with myself. I was repairing my deck and had my compound mitre saw, power drill, and a few hand tools on an outdoor bench. I was done for the day and covered them with a tarp as usual, but the next day wasn't just rainy but very windy. Blew the tarp completely off. I'm not worried about the hand tools, but both the saw and the drill got wet. Not submerged, but definitely rained on for a few hours. Any advice? This is my first time doing relatively large home repairs since my husband died and I'd really like to get this right.

[gfretwell]

My guess is when they dry out they will be OK. If this just happened, use your hair dryer. This is not unusual in the construction trades. I have seen power tools pulled out of salt water, get a good wash down with WD40, blown out with air and go on working fine. If this was just rain, I doubt the WD40 is even necessary.

[Frank]

Question has been asked before. This looks like a good answer:

"Don't run it. Disassemble it to the point of your comfort level, then blow it out with compressed air as best you can, then let it dry out naturally for a while. It should be fine. Running it wet could short it out and cause electrical damage, and letting it sit wet for long periods could promote corrosion."

[Hawk]

Which is a good reason to use WD40. I don't believe it's necessary to dismantle. If it's been a day or so, it's dry but to ensure, use a blow dryer. I would still spray with WD40 since it won't hurt it. In fact, she could simply use the WD40 and not worry about blow drying it. The WD40 will help dissipate the water. Then run it.

[gfretwell]

The only problem with WD40 is it tends to remove the lubrication along with the water.

[Ralph Mowery]

They probably just need a good drying out. You could put them in the oven with the door cracked and set for the very lowest heat for an hour or two. You may have to monitor the overn temperature and keep it below

150 deg F. If it is very hot and sunny , put them in a car with the windows rolled up all day. Anything to just dry it out, then they will probalby be ok. The is standard practic with much electronic equipment.

[Clare Snyder]

I'd rather use LPS1

[Hawk]

Even better though I always use Kroil.

[Andy]

You could also put the power tool in a sealed bag of rice to absorb the water.

I did that with a cell phone I dropped in water.

Andy

[Frank]

That is best for sensitive small electronic equipment like cell phones. It would probably take a large amount of descant for a saw and drill.

[Hawk]

Additionally, several tools such as drills have openings and the rice would get inside the tool.

[Peter]

WD40 is flammable and volatile. Any residual WD40 fluid or concentrated vapors could be ignited by a spark either from the tool's switch or motor brushes (if the tool doesn't use a brushless motor) producing an explosive fire. It also strips lubricants from seals and bearings. I suggest it NOT be used as suggested by Hawk.

[Frank]

Yes.

When I worked in the lab we used such as this:

We would put the desiccant, usually phosphorous pentoxide, under the plate and item to be desiccate on top.

We also had vacuum desiccators to speed up the process.

[Hawk]

Nice. Good item to have in cases like this.

[micky]

Good diea and in the bag or out, let them sit for a couple days. If there is a place to oil the motors (and there probably is not), 3-in-1 is okay or any non-detergent oil (almost all auto oil is detergent)

Run for a couple minutes and then let dry again for another day.

Unless you have to finish the work you started sooner than all this. Then run the tooks and pay close attention to the steam coming out Just kidding. Probably will be fine.

[Clare Snyder]

To dry out electrical equipment???????? DEFINITELY not recommended, PARTICULARLY on a power tool with a brush type motor. Even WD40 can be problematic there - while LPS1 is made SPECIFICALLY for that kind of use - NOT LPS2

[Clare Snyder]

As long as the tool has not been submerged I'd generally just blow it out with compressed air then dry it the rest of the way with a hair drier then let it set in the sun for a while before using - If submerged I'd be tempted to use LPS1 (or CRC 556) and THEN blow it out and dry it.

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On Mon, 08 Jun 2020 18:13:22 -0400, [e-mail] posted for all of us to digest...

+1 You will be allright. Just make sure they are dry before use.