How to Stop Rust on Tools

Tools tend to be kept in basements, sheds or garages -- places where they're handy. Unfortunately all these places are more likely to contain moisture than the main living areas of your home, exacerbating a metal tool's natural tendency to rust. There are several ways to slow the rusting of your tools, although it is unlikely you will prevent rust, since moisture and oxygen are everywhere.

Automobile paste wax
Lubricating spray or aerosol rust preventer
Wooden box
Canvas tarp
Old cloth
Dehumidifier

Instructions

- 1
  Dry your metal tools with the cloth. Work a little automobile paste wax into the metal, using the cloth to spread it uniformly over the tool. The wax covering will prevent air and moisture from reaching the metal.
- 2
  Spray your smaller metal tools with a lubricating spray or aerosol rust preventer. Like the wax, the spray creates a barrier between the elements and metal.
- 3
  Keep your smaller tools in a wooden box. This simple storage technique can dramatically cut down on their exposure to the elements. Cover larger tools with a canvas tarp. Leave a gap between the bottom of the tarp and the floor, or the tarp will trap moisture and cause rusting.
- 4
  Install a dehumidifier to take moisture out of the air in the tool storage area to reduce the likelihood of your tools rusting. This solution is more suitable for dank basements than drafty sheds.

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