- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
Parkershop
Active member
Genuinely surprised desiccant packs did that much, they're as good as if coated with oil.
OP
Honestly, I’m shocked. The control wrench that was left out had a solid layer of surface rust. I’ll find it and post an image.
I took a guess about 2 years ago that desiccant packs might help with humidity/moisture. Being the cheap dutchman I am, I started keeping all the ones that came with my wife's Amazon orders and tossed them in different drawers of the tool box. Figured worse case, they're just in the way.
txvwnut
Well-known member
I saw in the video where you had a dessicant pack laying on a wrench. Was there no staining or light rust under the pack? I started putting packs in my tool boxes in the home shop and the ones that were in contact with a tool left a rust stain where the pack was.
OP
None. I know the video clip you speak of… I saw that after I was back in Texas and worried myself, but it had no ill effects.
dave*99
Well-known member
I had started a similar thread on tools and rust near saltwater. But my need was to address tools in a roller cabinet toolbox. A Packout is a sealed enclosure so my need was different.
I was intrigued by the suggestion to use camphor blocks. But I didn't try it as I have been successful (4 years running) in keeping the mechanics tools rust free with the usual film of oil from use.
All my machinery with cast iron tops are located in conditioned space.
www.garagejournal.com
I was intrigued by the suggestion to use camphor blocks. But I didn't try it as I have been successful (4 years running) in keeping the mechanics tools rust free with the usual film of oil from use.
All my machinery with cast iron tops are located in conditioned space.
Preventing rust on hand tools near saltwater
So here is the question - I have a typical roller cabinet full of typical mechanics hand tools located in a garage near the shore on the east coast. Of course they rust. I'd like to hear your experiences with protecting tools in this environment. There are a broad range of products to pick...
www.garagejournal.com
pcmeiners
Well-known member
Basically silica desiccant only evens out the moisture level of the area it is used in. It does not absorb moisture on a permanent basis; desiccant will absorb a small percent of moisture when first used from a closed container if the desiccant was dried in an oven but it is not much .
Once the desiccant captures moisture to a certain level it behaves as follows...... If an air change brings in humid air the desiccant absorbs some moisture, should an air change bring in drier air, then the desiccant gives off some moisture. Overall it does lower the average moisture level to a small degree in a closed container, and evens out the level of moisture if air changes occur but it is not a miracle cure for condensation.
Once the desiccant captures moisture to a certain level it behaves as follows...... If an air change brings in humid air the desiccant absorbs some moisture, should an air change bring in drier air, then the desiccant gives off some moisture. Overall it does lower the average moisture level to a small degree in a closed container, and evens out the level of moisture if air changes occur but it is not a miracle cure for condensation.
OP
From my experience, it works quite well in air tight containers sitting a few hundred feet from the Pacific Ocean…
I have one packout without desiccant that only had a couple of starrett rulers within. Both have surface rust after 7 months. They cleaned up fine, but I have zero rust in any packout that included desiccant.
Not very scientific… but…
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I use 60 gram desiccant tins in my 3d printer filament storage boxes. I have humidity monitors in all the gasketed cases that you can read. They will take 50% humidity air and drop it down to 10% around 6 cycles open/close cycle before they go in the oven and need to have the moisture baked out. Wouldn't call that a small degree. If fact the filament dryer will only get it down to 20-22% but the desiccant can pull even a wet filament roll down to 10 percent if left for a few days but it will need to be recharged if you do
pcmeiners
Well-known member
Agree in closed containers silica works, especially if it is recharged. Left in the open, as in a tool drawer many expect silica to keep absorbing moisture indefinitely. Here in PA I run my garage minisplit 24/7 for rust prevention , if not for rust I could work in a really cold or hot garage but I hate rusty tools/machinery.
cosmokenney
Well-known member
disston
Well-known member
I went to High School on the island of Kauai. Class of '66. Made it back after drafted in the Army, 1969. Left in '72. It's been over 50 years now since I left there. Still miss it.
I run a dehumidifier in my shop set at 40% to keep the rust away. I have a bunch of metal desiccant canisters I bought from Midway in the gun safe to drop the humidity some more. I bake those canisters a few times per year to recharge them.
I need to order up some more desiccant packs for my packout containers.
I need to order up some more desiccant packs for my packout containers.
OP
You need to get back. It's the only place I truly feel at home. Every minute I'm away is a minute lost.