- WD-40’s fine for squeaks, but it’s not a cure-all. I’ve seen folks use it like holy water and then wonder why the rust comes back twice as fast.
- Space heater trick? Works in a pinch, but watch your electric bill... and don’t forget about fire risk if you’ve got clutter. I’d still lean on a good dehumidifier first.
- Tool finish—honestly, the newer chrome stuff holds up better for me. The old black oxide ones seem to pit if you even look at them funny. Maybe it’s just how I store ‘em, though.
WD-40’s fine for squeaks, but it’s not a cure-all. I’ve seen folks use it like holy water and then wonder why the rust comes back twice as fast.
That made me laugh—reminds me of a guy I worked with who’d basically bathe his old pipe wrenches in WD-40 every Friday. By Monday, they’d look shinier but still had those little rust freckles popping up again. I’ll use it for quick fixes, but if I’m honest, for tools that are gonna see some weather (which happens a lot on rooftops), I’m more about keeping ‘em dry and hitting ‘em with a real oil now and then. WD-40’s like duct tape: handy, but you can’t build your whole life around it.
On the space heater thing—yeah, that’s a slippery slope. I tried running one in my little tool shed one winter, thinking it’d keep everything from freezing up. All it did was jack up my bill and make the extension cords warm to the touch, which is not a good sign. Dehumidifier’s been a better call for me, especially since I’m in the habit of dragging in wet tarps and boots after a long day. Just gotta remember to empty the tank before it overflows all over your extension cords... ask me how I know.
As for tool finish, I’ve got a mishmash. The newer chrome ratchets seem to shrug off the weather better, but I’ve got some old black oxide sockets my dad gave me that look like they’ve been through a war. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but I keep ‘em around. I do notice if I forget to wipe ‘em down, they pit up pretty quick—could be the salty air here, too. Storage makes a difference, but sometimes you just can’t avoid a little rust if you’re working out of the back of a truck.
One thing I started doing is giving everything a quick once-over at the end of the week. If I see any orange fuzz, I scrub it off right away. It’s easy to let it slide, but next thing you know, you’re fighting to get a bolt loose and the wrench slips because it’s half rotted. Been there, done that, got the scraped knuckles to prove it.
Anyway, I guess it comes down to habits more than magic products. You can’t beat a little regular attention—even if it’s just five minutes before you crack a cold one.
I hear you on the WD-40. When I moved in here, I thought spraying it on my rusty garden shears would fix ‘em for good. Nope—next rain, they looked worse. Now I just wipe stuff down and use a bit of 3-in-1 oil if I remember. My shed’s not heated either, so I tried the heater trick once—tripped the breaker and freaked myself out. Dehumidifier’s been way less drama, but yeah, emptying that tank is a pain when you forget. Tools still get a little crusty sometimes, but at least they work.
“My shed’s not heated either, so I tried the heater trick once—tripped the breaker and freaked myself out.”
That’s exactly why I gave up on plugging anything in out there. Last winter, I tried running a little space heater in my shed to keep my paint from turning into a science experiment. The whole thing smelled like burning dust for an hour, then—click—darkness. Turns out, my “workshop” is really just a glorified garden closet with one sad outlet. Lesson learned.
WD-40 is like that friend who shows up to help but just makes things messier. I used to spray it on everything, thinking it was magic. My loppers got so slick I nearly lost a finger, and the rust came back twice as fast. Now I just wipe stuff down and use a dab of linseed oil if I’m feeling fancy. It smells better, at least.
I hear you on the dehumidifier. Mine’s basically a pet at this point—needs feeding (emptying) every couple days or it starts beeping at me. Still, it’s better than the time I tried those little silica gel packs everywhere. They lasted about a week before turning into sad, soggy lumps.
Honestly, I’ve just accepted that my tools are gonna look a little rough around the edges. As long as they open and close without a fight, I call it a win. If they get too crusty, I break out the wire brush and pretend I’m restoring some ancient artifact. Not sure if it helps, but it makes me feel productive.
If anyone’s cracked the code for keeping stuff pristine in a damp shed, I’d love to hear it. Until then, I’ll just keep wiping things down and hoping for the best...
I get where you’re coming from with the “glorified garden closet” vibe. Still, I’m not sure giving up on all electrical options is the only way. I’ve had similar issues with tripping breakers, but honestly, a dedicated outdoor-rated extension cord to a proper circuit (if you’ve got one) can make a difference. Not ideal, but better than risking a fire or total darkness every time you want a bit of heat.
About WD-40, I’ll push back a bit. It’s not a rust inhibitor, just a water displacer. I see a lot of folks use it like a cure-all, but it’s more of a quick fix. For actual rust prevention, something like a light machine oil or even a silicone spray works better in the long run. Linseed oil’s fine, but it can gum up if you overdo it.
“If they get too crusty, I break out the wire brush and pretend I’m restoring some ancient artifact.”
Wire brushes are handy, but if you’re dealing with tools that have any sort of edge, I’d be careful. Too much abrasion and you’re just wearing them down faster. I’d rather use a bit of fine steel wool and oil—less aggressive, same result.
Honestly, I think a little roughness is just part of the territory, but it’s worth trying a few tweaks before just accepting rust as inevitable.
