Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

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RogueRose
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Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by RogueRose »

I'm trying to find the best solution for keeping my tools as free from rust as possible. I've tried 3-in-1 oil, WD-40 and both seem to fall a little short of long term protection (especially WD40 though it works great for many other things). I've heard people swear by animal fats like lard and tallow (pig, beef, lamb/sheep and especially bear - yes bear tallow is supposed to be excellent and long lasting - IDK the lipid profile but I'll look) but then there are things like palm and coconut oil that are solid at room temps and a lot of other more exotic nut oils/fats and then there is mineral oil and various motor oils and automobile oils (transmission and such).

What I'm looking for is something to coat things like pliers, screw drivers, chisels, hammers, tin snips, wire cutters, scissors etc. Generally anything in a toolbox. IDK if my socket set needs some protection but those and my ratchets & wrenches ("crescent & adjuctable) could use some lovin.

Now IDK if there is much difference between what I put on the surface of the tools and the pivot points/joints for wire cutters, adjustable wrenches. I've used 3-in-1 for pivot points and it seems to work very nicely.

I'm in the process of reconditioning a few tool boxes worth of tools that look to have been neglected for ~20 years but they look like good american made tools from decades ago, so it may be worth it.

IDK the best method for rust removal (wire brushes, sand papers, Dremel "bits") but this is a good bit of work so I was thinking about using oxalic acid solution maybe with some phosphoric acid (both excellent rust removers - they won't eat the tools...). I'd do a quick brushing with a coarse steel brush to get big pieces of rust off then soak them for a while followed by washing/towel drying then back to the brushes, sand paper, etc. Finally wiped down with a cloth until clean then put an oil on it for protection.
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GlennW
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by GlennW »

The best I've found so far, and I've tried many.
129845.jpg
About $12.00-$13.00 for a 6.5 oz can though.
Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!
SteveM
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by SteveM »

Boeshield.

I've had it on stuff for years with no rust.

It came out on top in a rust preventative test by Fine Woodworking magazine.

Steve
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SteveHGraham
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by SteveHGraham »

Regular WD40 evaporates and doesn't leave much behind.

A number of people have run tests on various rust preventatives, and you can find the results by Googling. Eezox scored high. I kind of wonder how lard would do.

Do yourself a favor: don't store chemicals in your garage. I had problems because I put a sealed jug of pool acid in my shop.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
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NP317
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by NP317 »

Lards can go rancid. That might work for theft prevention!

The WD-40 "Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor" is new to me. Hmmm... Might need to try it.
The regular WD40 is about 60% solvent, with some %age of light oils. I use it as a cutting lubricant on my lathe and mill.

My 1998 Russian Ural Motorcycle arrived with what we jokingly called bear lard in several internal places! Maybe not a joke.

We moved from near salt water, to a dryer/higher location inland. That has worked best to reduce long term rusting.

Cosmoline is the best "old-world" rust preventer. But it sucks to remove.

I am restoring a very cosmetically rusty wood-burning cooking range. Lots of wire brushing (hand and machine), sand blasting, and painting with high temp stove paints.
Is Elbo Grease a preservative? Long term preservation will be by using it.
Probably the same solution for the tools, also.
~RN
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ctwo
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by ctwo »

Lately I've picked up my chip brush, dipped it in ATF and give my tools a light brushing ever so often. I may try melting some bees wax in ATF and see how that goes on tools for longer term storage..
Last edited by ctwo on Wed Nov 02, 2016 9:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Disclaimer: I'm just a guy with a few machines...
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GlennW
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by GlennW »

Check this out for an evaluation of different products:

http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

This is when I started using WD-40 Corrosion Specialist, and my findings are similar to the above link, as I have tried many different ones over the years.
Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!
JonLeary
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by JonLeary »

Corrosion X
asallwey
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by asallwey »

Check out Weatherpruf, for the makers of Kroil.

http://www.kanolabs.com/indSpec.html

I've used it in an automotive machine shop for a couple of years, works great. We have doors open quite a bit, summer and winter due to student and it seems to do the job.
earlgo
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by earlgo »

Gibbs lubricant works well for me. More than just another penetrating oil.
http://www.gibbsbrandlubricant.com/
It appears that there are many solutions (pun intended).

--earlgo
Before you do anything, you must do something else first. - Washington's principle.
John Evans
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Re: Rust prevention & removal & lubricants - oils vs "WD40" vs natural fats (animal/plant)

Post by John Evans »

Regular use with greasy .oily hands!
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