Protecting Infrequently Used Tools From Rusting

[GSWayne]

I think it was Fine Woodworking did a rust prevention test and much to my surprise, WD-40 did very well in their test. Better than LPS or Boeshield both of which I thought would be better than WD-40. The stuff I bought after reading either the FWW or somebody else's test was Hornady One Shot HD-Extreme. It is designed to use on firearms. It forms a dry film.

 

[AR1911]

Just to be clear - It wasn't regular old WD40 that tested well for preventing rust. Is was a new product by the WD40 company.

http://wd40specialist.com/products/corrosion-inhibitor/

The original product has no rust prevention qualities. Indeed, it seems to accelerate it.

 

[Andre]

On my not-so-precision tools, paste wax works great.

 

[GSWayne]

In the FWW August 2012 issue they tested both the WD-40 Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor and regular WD-40 and the regular WD-40 did better. The product they said was the best was CRC 3-36.
The other test I found online was: http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667
and that was the test where the One Shot product did very well. In their test the WD-40 Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor did better in corrosion protect than regular WD-40.

 

[EmilioG]

I just started using Dow Corning Molykote Metal Protector Plus. It's a was based solvent that can be thinned with mineral spirits.
Spray or brush on. Leaves a thin wax coating on metal and will protect from rust for years! Cleans right off.