Those silica packs are a solid move—picked up that trick after I found a bunch of my sockets starting to pit a few years back. I’m right on the coast, so the salt air creeps in even if I keep the garage closed up tight. What’s made the biggest difference for me is using a small dehumidifier in the tool closet, especially during those damp months. It’s not a total fix, but I’ve noticed a lot less rust on my pliers and chisels since I started.
I’ve tried Boeshield and Fluid Film, both seem to help, though I’ll admit I’m not the best at remembering to reapply as often as I should. The rinse with fresh water is key after any outdoor work—learned that the hard way after leaving a drill bit salty and coming back to a rusty mess. I’ve also started wrapping a few of my hand tools in old t-shirts before tossing them in the bin. Not fancy, but it keeps moisture off a bit longer.
Honestly, I’m still hunting for a perfect routine, but those small steps have definitely slowed the rust creep for me.
I’m right there with you on the salt air—my garage is maybe a quarter mile from the water, and it’s wild how fast stuff starts to corrode. I’ve been doing a few things that seem to help: First, I keep a cheap hygrometer in the tool chest so I can actually see when humidity spikes. If it gets above 60%, I run a fan or the dehumidifier for a few hours. Second, I started using those VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) papers in my tool drawers. They’re not perfect, but I’ve noticed less rust on my wrenches since I started. I do like the t-shirt wrap idea, though—never thought of that. I’ve tried the oils too, but honestly, I forget to reapply just like you. For me, it’s all about layering a bunch of small things rather than relying on one magic fix.
Man, I hear you on the salt air. I’m about a mile from the coast and it’s just relentless. You can wipe something down and it’ll start to get that orange haze again in a week if you’re not on top of it. I’ve tried a bunch of stuff too—those VCI papers are decent, but like you said, not a miracle. I’ve had better luck with silica gel packs in the drawers, but they fill up quick when it’s humid, so it’s kind of a pain to keep swapping them out.
I’m the same way with oils. I’ll do a big clean and oil everything, then forget about it for months. Next thing I know, my pliers are sticking together. The t-shirt wrap is clever, though. I’ve just been using old socks for some of my smaller stuff, but it’s not perfect either.
Honestly, I think you’ve got the right idea with layering up a bunch of little tricks. There’s no one thing that’s gonna stop rust out here. I’ve even tried keeping a box fan running on low in the garage just to keep air moving, and it seems to help a bit. Still, it’s a losing battle sometimes. At least you’re paying attention and trying different things—beats just letting everything rot.
If you ever figure out a real fix, let us know. Until then, I guess we just keep fighting the good fight against the salt.
I hear you on the salt—my tools in the shed basically age in dog years. Tried those “rust-proof” sprays, but they just made everything greasy and didn’t really stop the orange creep. Anyone else notice stainless still gets that weird film, too?
Yeah, that salty air just eats everything up. I’ve had “stainless” fasteners on jobs near the coast start showing that cloudy film after just a couple seasons—definitely not immune. I tried those sprays too, but honestly, they just made my hammer slippery and didn’t do much else. These days, I wipe my tools down with WD-40 every week or so, but it’s still a losing battle. Even the hinges on my truck box get crusty if I don’t stay on top of it.
