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Q: How do I prevent my edge tools from rusting?
A: Rust is the curse of all woodworkers, but you’ve got three weapons at your disposal. First, lower the amount of water vapor in your shop’s air with a dehumidifier. Second, isolate your tools in small drawers containing reusable packets of silica gel. These packets absorb moisture in the air and can be renewed by heating in a microwave oven. Third, coat your tools with oil,wax or volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs) emitted by strips you can stick in a drawer. You must renew oil and wax coatings often, but the VCI strips do the work for you for up to two years.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
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I had the same problem in both the metal and the woodshops. I now keep ceiling fans on medium or high, year round. No rust since. The fans do not use much electricity, either. Even with a 3 phase 7hp converter running a lot our bill runs just over $100.