So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
this, sorry if I missed something obvious.

I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.

I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
I should look into.

Thanks in advance for the help

Andrew

If the cabinet isn't sealed, the silica gel won't do you much good.
It won't bring the overall humidity of the whole shop down and won't
have a localized effect in an unsealed cabinet.

Tattooed and Dusty wrote:
I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
I should look into.

How sealed is sealed? I am currently using packets of desiccant that
came with the last large power tool I purchased, and they seem to be
working. There is a gap (1/8") entirely around each of the two doors?

Tattooed and Dusty wrote:
So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
this, sorry if I missed something obvious.

I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.

I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap
and easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the
base of each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be
recharged every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone
used this product for this purpose? Is there something easier,
cheaper, or better I should look into.

Thanks in advance for the help

Andrew

How about a dehumidifier?
--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

I have a fireproof safe that was genrating mold on the papers stored in
there. I fixed it using tidy-cat crystals in one of SWMBO's knee-his.
Works great!

http://www.tidycats.com/GetPage.aspx?ContentID=105

Drierite, at least the redry type, is not something you can dispose of
easily. Additionally, it works best in closed containers. Unless the
cabinet is sealed pretty well and is seldom opened, you will be regenerating
the drierite often.

I have great success using small camphor blocks in the drawers of my four
roll-around chests. They protect my hand tools and corded tools. My
playpen is a garage. In Florida.

I get the Humco Camphor Gum Blocks (made in China) from a local pharmacy.
They are not inexpensive. But they work.

The key is to stay ahead of the rust. I use Top Saver and Slip-It on the
machined surfaces of my stationary tools.
I keep Boeshield T-9, Rust Off, Rust Free and Navel Jelly around and use
them occasionally. I had used an adjustable crescent wrench a while back
and sprayed it with Boeshield. When I went to use it yesterday, I could not
adjust it because it was "frozen." A few minutes with WD-40 freed it up.
(I put the Boeshield in the back of the cabinet shelf.) My next project,
that keeps getting delayed, is to experiment using electrolysis to remove
rust from some small tools and parts.

Jack
Jacksonville, Florida

--
I've never learned anything from someone who agreed with me.
"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message
oups.com...
So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
this, sorry if I missed something obvious.

I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.

I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
I should look into.

Thanks in advance for the help

Andrew

On 13 Oct 2005 11:44:27 -0700, "Tattooed and Dusty"
wrote:

So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
this, sorry if I missed something obvious.

I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.

I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
I should look into.

Thanks in advance for the help

Andrew

I have kept watches and other small items in a dessicator. It works
well. But for a tool cabinet, I'd think your idea would work with
some maintenance (ie, drying the tubs in an oven). If you can keep
the inside of the cabinet warmer than the surrounding area, that will
help keep it dry. You could put a piano dryer inside each cabinet.
These are devices used when pianos are put into storage and provide a
little heat. You could probably get the same result with a 3 watt
light bulb in each cabinet. It also helps to wipe each tool with a
rag dampened with kerosene--be sure to dispose of the rag properly.

As the OP it's kinda funny to me the course this thread has taken. If
at all possible I would like to find a solution that's really simple,
and doesn't involve ongoing energy expendetures. I suppose that's not
possible. I guess I should have really phrased the question something
more like, does anyone know of a better desiccant than Drierite? Or
something like that. I am looking for simple and largely effective, not
a solution to keep my tools pristine for a decade of neglect. I use
them daily, just want a way to slow down the effects of humidity.

Ahh, sorry if I am babbling. Thanks for the comments either way, I
guess I should just order some Drierite and let you guys know how it
works.

Andrew

Tattooed and Dusty wrote:
As the OP it's kinda funny to me the course this thread has taken. If
at all possible I would like to find a solution that's really simple,
and doesn't involve ongoing energy expendetures. I suppose that's not
possible. I guess I should have really phrased the question something
more like, does anyone know of a better desiccant than Drierite? Or
something like that. I am looking for simple and largely effective,
not a solution to keep my tools pristine for a decade of neglect. I
use them daily, just want a way to slow down the effects of humidity.

Ahh, sorry if I am babbling. Thanks for the comments either way, I
guess I should just order some Drierite and let you guys know how it
works.

Andrew

Well if you don't mind having the blades hidden? how about a polystyrene
rack whereby the blades sit in a tight fit sheath.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message
ups.com...
As the OP it's kinda funny to me the course this thread has taken. If
at all possible I would like to find a solution that's really simple,
and doesn't involve ongoing energy expendetures. I suppose that's not
possible. I guess I should have really phrased the question something
more like, does anyone know of a better desiccant than Drierite? Or
something like that. I am looking for simple and largely effective, not
a solution to keep my tools pristine for a decade of neglect. I use
them daily, just want a way to slow down the effects of humidity.

Ahh, sorry if I am babbling. Thanks for the comments either way, I
guess I should just order some Drierite and let you guys know how it
works.

Andrew

Go to a arts and craft store, buy about 20pounds of the silica pellets
they use for burying and drying flowers, same basic stuff you get in
the little pouches in electronics cartons

Put in the new screw top ziplock containers with a gracious plenty of
holes drilled/poked thru the top of the lid and put inside the case.
Every few months pull out, put in a 200degree over to re-dry the
pellets and put back in

And on top of that, go to Brownells and buy the VPI rust blocker tabs
and toss a few into each case

John


On 13 Oct 2005 11:44:27 -0700, "Tattooed and Dusty"
wrote:

So I looked around the archives some, and didn't find an answer to
this, sorry if I missed something obvious.

I am planning to transition all my nice hand tools into a series of
wall cabinets with glass doors, and am trying to find a good way to
keep the inside of the cases dry. I like in Portland, Or and work in a
basement location, that gets really humid sometimes. I am tried of
reaching for an odd plane or chisel only to find surface rust on it.

I come from a science background, and am used to using a compound
called Drierite. I looked into ordering it for home use, it's cheap and
easy to order. Basically I would place a container of it at the base of
each cabinet, and it would soak up moisture. It has to be recharged
every "so often" but is relatively easy to do. Has anyone used this
product for this purpose? Is there something easier, cheaper, or better
I should look into.

Thanks in advance for the help

Andrew