How to Prevent Rust and Maintenance Hand Tools

Preventing rust in a Woodworking shop can be a difficult and ongoing task. I wanted to look at how I prevent rust and maintain the hand tools in my woodworking shop!

---Tools I Use---

---Book I am Listening to in the video---

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[rick]

GOOD subject James and boy did I have a HORRIBLE SURPRISE when son and I plasterboarded and insilated my barn workshop. I packed all my tools in one of the horse stable boxes(and this is summer in Normandy, and it rains, ) and 3 weeks later when painting finished and moving back in, I had rust on all my new chisels and parts on my planes...Not a drop of rain got to them either, just the humidity...I'm actually taking notes! Thanks again...cheers...rr

[WoodInn]

My garage shop in coastal Florida can be pretty brutal. Several years back I made several oil rag cans (like Paul Sellers makes) and I have them in various places around my shop. When I am done with a tool, I wipe it down before putting it away. This has dramatically reduced rush issues.

[timeless]

I’m here for my wood working class and I think you did a great job

[gregscarfe]

Many thanks for this video - finally learnt that the strange tool I found in neighbour's junk pile is a file card! Now file cleaning is solved

[HeartagramBamCky]

This is perfect! I’m in a little garage in my apartments (in PNW so it’s humid) and I’ve seen rust pop up within days sometimes. All of this you covered is stuff that has been nagging at me in the back of my mind for weeks! Thanks for sharing all of this knowledge!

[francois]

I have been using WD40 specialist dry PTFE spray for my tools and never looked back. (especially easy to use with rasps and files) A big plus is that it dries very quick and is pretty much not sticky when dry.

[MadMulberry]

I use a stiff bristled brush (mine is a pig bristle shoe brush trimmed to about half its original bristle length) to work the oil into my files and rasps and on my saw teeth.

Living in a very damp climate, like Ireland, I find that I can get significant rust in a week or two. I made the mistake of putting away my forstner bits after using them without cleaning off the sawdust. Within 2 weeks they had rusted quite severely with some pitting on a couple of them. Now, after each use, I brush off the sawdust and use a paintbrush to apply a light mineral oil. This works very well and has eliminated any trace of rust.

[timtron]

Wow. Surprising have many of the same tools you featured in this video. Thanks for the info. Cheers

[jakesimonds]

I normally use marine 6-56 corrosion spray or wd40 or pb blaster. With the adjustable wrench’s if you soak them into a bin of pb blaster that should work really well.

[Hudson]

I’ve started coating some tools with a clear coat of spray paint. Works well on like steel squares, calipers, and the sides of planes that don’t see friction.

[jway]

Good tips on tool maintenance. Oil and wax does save tools, not just woodworking tools but any steel tools.

[stevensparks]

I know this video is a year old, so I don’t know if you’ll see this comment.

Regarding applying oil to your rasp, I’d recommend using something like an old toothbrush to distribute to oil.

I maintain my bare steel barbell this way and the knurling on it is pretty aggressive so it’ll tear pretty much any towel to pieces. Brush off any rust/oxidation build up, and apply oil with my toothbrush.

It’s a real pain, but worth the effort.

[GaryWall]

On my wooden framed tools I will use wax on a shoe polish brush to get into the grain as well as those nooks and crannies. I did have a brush for oil many years ago but found I didn't use it enough so disposed of it but I can see from this video it might help if you need to oil rasps. Planes, chisels and saws I use a rag-in-a-can (tin). I rarely sand my tools because I found the same, let the patina build up as a natural rust inhibitor. Thanks, James.

[walterrider]

thank you . great info . funny story if you will i was a machinist from 70s to 80s so oil down all non painted parts every day . sadly that was a long time ago lol . now i have wood working tools in my garage and i forgot about rust prevention . yup rust tops so back to the oil . we tend to forget things with time . i have a drill press vice i used a teflon spray on took it apart and sprayed it back in the 70s mid no rust yet shame i can not remember what it was . suggestion on the rasps if you dont mind use an old paint brush ( short the bristles ) with oil in it .

[pearsoncourtneys]

Great content! Just wanted to throw in a little comment about a product we used at woodcraft, which is a life saver for me living close to the ocean, Bc As you can imagine the rust battle near salt water is a nightmare.
There is a product line called T-9, developed for the aircraft industry, and nothing I’ve found holds comes close to preventing rust for long durations of time, even right next to the ocean.
They have a lubricant that doesn’t have silicone so it won’t mess up finishes on wood, I use it in my cast iron surfaces and it prevents rust for years. If you follow the direction it binds to the metal creating a rust free barrier that is insanely slick, I’m pretty sure it’s what Clark griswold used on his sled.
I then wondered how it would work on hand tools, and it’s just as wonderful, super slick, and prevents me from battling rust every month. Highly recommended.
They also make a product called rust free that removes rust with ease, I brought back a table saw that was completely rusted over to like new condition fairly easy.
It smells horrible but I think that how you know it’s good… haha
All in all oil and wax work just fine for most, but if your close to salt water, t-9 has been a extraordinary time saver!
Beat of all they just started selling it at my local Napa… for half the price of woodcraft. Can’t beat it!

[dennisoshea]

I'm in New Hampshire and my shop is in the basement and in the summer we have quite a few days of heavy humidity.I have a dehumidifier that runs pretty heavy during the summer.I also use Paul sellers Rag in the can for a number of years I too am always on the outlook also run my air cleaner a lot also Have been lucky no big problems fingers crossed

[neiloconnor]

Thanks -- I'm behind in tool maintenance & need some tips. I have some bowling alley wax on the way.

[Fugalkibbles]

When I clean my sockets I put them on an impact and go over with 3000 grit sand paper then use compound polish and a light wax and haven’t rusted in a long time, their not slippery, and I have really good hydrophobic wax and they’re 30 years old and look brand new

[leavingcommunitstny]

I've used Boshield T-9 for many years. I live in the north east... Cold and wet all winter... 1 application lasts up to a year... In the fall I put a liberal application on my cast iron table tops, all my planes... The mid winter thaw it usually the most brutal time for tools... they get coated with moisture from condensation. Not a drop of rust as long as I do my part....

[Weathernerd]

I'm an electrician in Seattle. The high parking fees force me to park a long ways from the jobsite/ride crowded buses and carrying a backpack full of tools long distances is no fun so I often leave my tool backpack at the jobsite in a locked container. The problem is the jobsite is exposed to outside air and its cool and 80+% humidity most of the time. This causes my tools to rust quickly and I need to start oiling and waxing them.