Rust proofing files

[porthos]

i hope this is my last question about files. after soaking my files in a 30% vinegar; rinsing and scrubbing; i put them outside in the sun to dry. 10 minutes later they are rusty, the last batch i had soaked them in kerosene. i was wondering if there is anything better to use. WD-40??

 

[yota]

I treat everything with Boeshield T9. buy it by the gallon. it's a lubricant with a wax additive developed by Boeing to prevent corrosion.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

Any light mineral oil would suffice
3in1 oil
Transmission fluid
Colonel Red’s Anti-rust concoction (transmission fluid/acetone/kerosene -equal parts)
Hydraulic fluid
Hot Wax dip

 

[David2011]

Very clean wet steel will rust at an amazing rate. I’ve had the same problem preparing steel for paint. As soon as the muriatic acid is washed off the files need to be treated with something to get rid of the water.

Dipping the files in 91% alcohol or acetone for a short soak will help remove the water through both dilution and rapid evaporation.

Since WD-40 was developed to displace water, it’s probably a decent product for the purpose. Brownells has several water displacement and rust preventative products:

Polar Active Rust Preventative No. 2
Hold - oops; apparently no longer available
WATER DISPLACING OIL "AFTER-BLUING" RUST PREVENTION

Mild heat as from a heat lamp, heat gun or a hot plate will drive moisture out quickly. Follow up with Boeshield T-9.

Something that just crossed my mind is to blow the water off with compressed air and immediately soak briefly in Evaporust. I have never tried it but since Evaporust is both water soluble and serves as a temporary rust inhibitor it might be worth trying.

Edit: Any oil applied to wet steel has to be water soluble. If not, it will trap water in the grooves of the files.

 

[RJSakowski]

Whenever an acid is used on steel,it leaves residual hydrogen ions which promote rusting. After using an acid on steel, the residual should be neutralized with a baking soda solution. After that, an acetone rinse will remove any water left. Follow that with a light oil for long term rust protection

 

[GeneT45]

Colonel Red’s Anti-rust concoction (transmission fluid/acetone/kerosene -equal parts)

Add mineral spirits, and optionally lanolin, and you have "Ed's Red" - I've never heard of Colonel Red's. A predecessor?
GsT

 

[yota]

not sure where you guys live but here, using light oil on tools and machinery quickly leads to surface rust, unless your shop is fully air conditioned 24/7. my shop is air conditioned, but I don't run it unless it's over 85 degrees or so and only when I'm working in there. the heat and esp the humidity here defeats most oils fairly quickly. most of the used tooling I buy here has to have a light layer of rust removed when I get it home, as it came from a shop where they used light oil. I've tried about everything over the years, including paste waxes and various oil concoctions, corrosion block, etc. I could clean and re-oil everything every 2 or 3 months, but that's not happening.

 

[Pevehouse]

Baking soda dip, then wd40 is the best luck I have had. Helps if your baking soda bath is steaming hot water as well

 

[Ulma Doctor]

Add mineral spirits, and optionally lanolin, and you have "Ed's Red" - I've never heard of Colonel Red's. A predecessor?
GsT

I believe that we are talking about the same mixture.
I do believe that I missed the Stoddard fluid in the original recipe
I think there are many similar solutions made from the ingredients that we both have recited.

Here is an old thread, conveying the same discussion

Preventing rust while storing collets

I live in Hawaii, about a mile from the ocean and our humidity can get pretty high here, too. I use Camellia oil to wipe down all my tools after use and before storage and have zero rust problems. Its a light vegetable oil that doesn't coagulate and the marketing hype is that it was used to...

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[a smile]

Therefore, it is very important to choose materials suitable for hardness, corrosion resistance and easy processing as the most commonly used and reserved materials. What better suggestions do you have?