Official Luthiers Forum!

East valley of Phoenix..Apache Junction. Right at the foot of Superstition Mountain.

As a tool maker we had very expensive tools . Some purchased many made so we had to take good care of them. We used a product called camphor
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALCANFOR-REFINE ... 27d00d604d

this help to absorb excess moisture and keep tools from rusting in the tool box. Sorry but WD 40 won't stop rust , it is a water displacement oil. Wax may help but controlling humidity and wiping tools down is one of the best ways to keep them pristine . If you do want to use an oil use a light oil or mineral oil.
Rusting can be from a PH imbalance , body chemistry , or not having the proper liner in your tool box. Cardboard and paper may not be the best thing to use.
I don't use any oil just camphor and don't have a rusting issue . Desiccant bead packs will also help. You will know them as they are often shipped in tool cartons and will say DO NOT EAT.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Fine Woodworking published a review of Rust Prevention products last summer. They used each product on A2 Steel and Cast Iron. The A2 got frozen and exposed to warm room air daily to mimic what happens in an unheated environment. The Cast Iron was spritzed with water and placed outside under an overhang. CRC 3-36 Rust Preventer was the best performer on both A2 and Cast Iron. It's carried at O'Riley and other auto supply shops. 11oz can for ~$6.00 is a lifetime supply. Regular WD-40, LPS 3 and 3M Rust Fighter-1 also gave good results on both A2 Steel and Cast Iron. Movit and Camelia oil worked great on A2 but were not effective at all on Cast Iron. Surprisingly, the old favs like Jojoba oil, Johnston's Paste Wax, T-9, Topcote, Top Saver, Waxlit, and Renaissance wax were not effective against rust formation. I'm sure most of us don't torture our tools like this so most of the products marketed may do ok in a reasonable environment.

I use the VCI bags from Lee Valley for my chisels and a home brewed spray of 1/2 block of grated Gulfwax paraffin dissolved in ~8oz of mineral spirits in a spray bottle for the past 40+ years on my Cast Iron machine tops. No rust ever in muggy NC. I also watch the dewpoint closely and don't open the shop when the inside air temp is below the dewpoint outside.

Yeah, sounds right. I always found that regular WD-40 prevented rust a whole lot better than paste wax, which basically didn't work. OTOH, I used to live a few blocks from the ocean.

I just picked up some Evap - o - rust from O'Reilly's and will try that to eliminate the rust I already have. I'll try to remember to chime in after I use it and let you know how it worked.

There are a number of common household chemicals (like toilet bowl cleaners for instance) that contain some nasty acids. If these are stored in the same room as tools, they can cause them to rust. As mentioned already, lead acid batteries are bad, phosphoric acid is bad, and there are others.
Make sure you don't have any strong acids or bases stored in, or used in, your shop area.

Dave

Do you think the kind of water that is used in the humidifyer would matter? I just use tap water.

I don't think the source of the water would be the problem, but if your humidifier is out of whack, that might be.

If I recall correctly, haven't you just moved into a new workshop, Beth? If so, I'd be suspecting some building material out-gassing (e.g. foam insulation?) being a potential cause of your problem. The good news is that that should be a problem that disappears (with good ventilation) before too long.

_________________
Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Many of the camellia oil products are really just scented mineral oil -which works fine

Jojoba oil works great and is easily available. It does turn into wax when it gets cold, but just needs to be warmed a little.

Mutton tallow also works great, but is sticky if you use too much.

-jd

I have a couple other ideas. If you have a water softener located in your shop the salt could be an issue.
I also wondered If you have large temperature swings in your shop, especially when your humidifier is running,if that might cause condensation on the tools. If it did and they were up against something like a drawer liner that prevented the moisture from evaporating again that might do it also. Just speculation and something to look for.
Good luck
Dave