Rust preventative?

[Ultradog MN]

I picked up a pair of Starrett outside calipers a while back.
Have them soaking in evaporust as I type this.
They wont get used often. Mostly just sit in a drawer.
What can I use to slow down their rusting again?
I was thinking about using something like Chap Stick or Burt's Bees that is more waxy than oily.
What do you guys use?

 

[sdelivery]

Light oil and keep a penny with it.

 

[GeneT45]

LPS-3 Messy, waxy, very effective. When I lived in Oregon this was my go-to for things I wasn't going to use regularly.

GsT

 

[Batmanacw]

Starrett M1 oil dries to a very thin film that doesn't interfere with intricate mechanisms. Protects really well in a shop environment.

 

[Batmanacw]

Light oil and keep a penny with it.

Is the penny like an anode?

 

[Martin W]

I save any rust preventing paper that I get. Also keep silica packets. This along with some gun oil keeps everything clean and shiny. McMaster Carr and Uline carry the rust prevention paper.
Martin

 

[sdelivery]

Is the penny like an anode?

I think that is the correct term for it.
I know the old guys back when I was a young guy told me after I ask why there is a penny in every drawer in his tool box.

 

[Jake M]

I've heard that a lot about the pennies. Allegedly you can stick one with greast next to the battery post in your car too. I suspect it's a good thing there isn't too much electrolyte in a tool box drawer.

https://structx.com/Material_Properties_001.html

On the original topic... I'd use a light machine oil if it's all apart and you can get it everywhere it needs to be. Or if you're counting on it to creep, Fluid Film or Wool Wax (that's Fluid Film without the stank). Don't hose it down, just spray on a rag, and wipe it down with that. It does pretty good with such jobs, and when it sits for years, the residue isn't as "sticky" as most protectants.

LPS-3 and M1 are very recommendable if you want to get something in. I use "my way", because these are are what's always around, and do the job.

 

[G-ManBart]

Look into "Mold Shield" which is made by a number of companies. A retired die maker told me that's what they used to keep freshly reworked dies from rusting before they were put back in service. I have a number of bare metal items covered with it that have sat for several years without a hint of rust.

 

[Karl_T]

The penny makes perfect sense. It is mostly zinc. Zinc is used all over as a rust anode. You see them in water heaters, boats, galvanized metal like pipes etc.

https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/e8b574cfe646499fa3c61f8b9ee37643