[TheForge] rust redux

[The Millers]

The mothballs do work, they "sublime" or vaporize and the vapor 
displaces the moisture rich air in the tool box. The tighter the 
container you keep the tools, the better it works.

Ray
Cincinnati
On Thursday, November 13, 2003, at 05:18 PM, Andy Vida wrote:

>
>
> Kevin Donahoe wrote:
>
>> How do you all finish your slightly rusty/patinated measuring sticks
>> in the shop?  I've several squares, rules, etc that have a varied and
>> light patina of rust that makes it hard to see the fricken marks.
>
> 	Steel wool will remove the flakey surface rust, leaving
> 	either a bright surface or the blue/black/ruddy oxide
> 	finish, which is a good preventative for further corrosion.
> 	As for witness marks etc. try either a white ink or even a
> 	silver pencil.  The silver pencil is good if there will be
> 	any heat applied (which I would hope is not the case, but
> 	things happen).
>
>> It hasn't been a
>> problem until 1-the winter light, 2-a couple of my shop halogen shop 
>> lights
>> crapped out and new bulbs didn't fix it and 3-the fact I've finally 
>> started
>> to have to use reading glasses in a long (3-4 year) procrasting 
>> attempt at
>> arm stretching.
>
> 	Sound like someone's flirting with 40.  My father, damn him,
> 	didn't need anything for his eyes until he was about 58.  I
> 	went blind right around 40.  It sucks.
>
>> I'd like to give the body of the ruler an even patina with
>> some contrast in the grooves.
>
> 	Cat pee will turn even stainless steel jet black.  It's an amazing
> 	patina, but VERY corrosive.  It'll pit the hell out of a nice tool
> 	in short order.  Having once had 12 cats, I learned this the hard
> 	way.  Nice kitty kitty kitty...
>>
>> I'm trying the mothballs in the tool box trick, but too late for 
>> preventive
>> measures.
>
> 	Is that really supposed to work?  Are they a dessicant or does the
> 	naphthalene coat the tools?
>
> 	One other thing:  I've also coated my framing square with
> 	linseed oil.  Not the sturdiest coating, but it has worked
> 	well enough.
>
>
> 	-A
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