Tools shed and condensation

Wrapped in polythene will trap any moisture that gets in and it will get in or simply be there when you wrap 'em up.

Best to give *all* the surfaces that will rust a wipe over with an oily rag or a light spray with WD40 and wipe over.

Steel box/cupboard / ammo box, with a rubber seal gasket and a few silica gel dessicant packs inside.

Ok, so you have tools, polythene and a problem wife. You do the math...

But, he might not want a patio.

Colin Bignell

I spray mine with WD40. You can get it in 5 Litre cans with a squirty thing. Cheaper then the aerosol cans.

Stuff that was stored for a couple of years in my son's cold, wet cellar and that had been oiled and then wrapped in oily cotton cloth seems to have survived the experience. Unfortunately my Record No. 52½ Vice wasn't and didn't and is now a solid block of rust. However, given the cost of a replacement, it's probably worth the effort of reviving it.

Nick

Yeah, I tried doing that, but she whinged when it went in her hair

Electrolytic derusting. Marvellous stuff.

Ta. This post now preserved[1] awaiting the appropriately-shaped tuit.

Nick [1]Better than the vice was, I hope.

I wonder whether an insulated cool bag/box might be worth a try

Probably not suitable for all, but FWIW...

I run a small computer server (an HP Microserver) in the garage, with cat5 cable to the house. I have put this inside a large metal cabinet originally used for stationery (a tenner from eBay). I put my high carbon steel rustable tools - chisels, planes etc. - inside the cabinet, near to the server. I am hoping/assuming that the 20W or so the server dissipates will be enough to keep things dry enough to prevent rusting. Time will tell...

Jon N

Well you could try an old fridge with the mechanism inoperative. Put small = tools in it along with some silica gel.

I have an ongoing problem in my workshop. Built as a double garage it has a= full width roller shutter door so keeping it sealed is out of the question= .

Major machinery, saw, planer, bandsaw have purpose made light plywood cover= s. These have proved completely satisfactory. (I only use the workshop on a= n occasional basis and removing/replacing these covers is easy.)

Smaller machinery morticer, lathe, drill press etc. have cotton covers plac= ed over them after a light spray of camelia oil or Boeshiled T9. Just somet= hing to keep the falling cold air from making contact with the metal surfac= e until the temperature stabilises.

Hand tools are stored in drawers or cupboards.

Most small stuff will get a wipe with an oily rag or sprayed with Boeshield= T9 (WD40 dries and leaves a sticky mess after a short time)before being pu= t away.

I also uses various waxes and oils, Liberon machinery wax, Camelia oil, Ren= aissance wax etc. etc.=20

Its a constant battle

1. Wipe them with oil or grease. Tools that is.
2. Sealed box & desiccant
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   Semi-sealed container and light bulb
3. Drier shed

I've also wondered about designing a shed to use low level solar heat to dry itself.

NT

This may be of interest eventuallu !

It could be a base for another shed.

Owain

Put the wife in the shed, she won't rust, and bring your tools into the house.

LOL !

It's interesting this as it must depend on some characteristic of the shed. I've garage with effectively two lean-toos neither of which I am noticing a rust problem with.

The main workshop is fully insulated with a background heater set to just above frost level - I get no problem in there at all as I would expect. The second area is general storage including metalwork and includes a metal working lathe - this is not insulated and has a single skin corrugated clear plastic roof off which there is occasionally some condensation. The lathe is my main concern but has an old tarpaulin thrown over it and never shows any signs of rust. I do wonder if the fact that both floors have a membrane under the concrete is the main benefit and that the wood stored in the store area acts as an air moisture controller.

Rob