Durston's "magic" bottle stuff question

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi all - I am a printmaker and have a metal etching press. Wondered
if you thought this magic stuff would work on the rollers and bed of
the press also? I live in the very humid South, and have a terrible
time with damp and rust on my very expensive press!

If you think it would work, what do I call it when I contact
Durston, and do you have a phone number for them? I don’t have any
of their products currently.

Thanks!
Beth in SC

2

Have you tried real Camphor blocks under a press covering? I have a
leaky basement and this, plus a dehumidifier. leave me rust free. I
buy my camphor in the local hardware store . It comes from china and
is a little pricey but not excessively so. Bill from L.I.

3 
    I am a printmaker and have a metal etching press.  Wondered if
you thought this magic stuff would work on the rollers and bed of
the press also?  I live in the very humid South, and have a
terrible time with damp and rust on my very expensive press!

I’m not familiar with the equipment you’re using but I can tell you
that at this point I’ve trusted all my precious tools --rolling
mill, silversmithing hammers, hardened steel bench block, dapping
block and punches, disk cutter, etc-- to this “magic” Durston stuff.
Until I found this stuff I was spending at least an hour a day
polishing and re-polishing my steel tools. Don’t ask me why I was
having such a serious problem but I was … and now I’m not. I think
we all like to go with what works for us and I think that goes double
when you are desperate! I was.

    If you think it would work, what do I call it when I contact
Durston, and do you have a phone number for them?

In my conversations with them they’ve just called it “the rust
inhibitor”. FWIW, it’s the color of molasses, is thinned with and
smells like white spirits (or Varsol, or some such thing). I just
paint the stuff on --got the brush from Durston too :slight_smile: – and let it
“dry”. Once the thinner has evaporated it’s just a thin coat of
toffy coloured grease that’s left. This wipes off quite easily when
you’re ready to use you tools. A quick wipe down with white spirits
get rid of whatever slickness might be left.

Since this stuff in generating such an interest I’m going to contact
Durston again and see what more I can find out. I’ll report back
ASAP.

If you’d like to contact Durston you might want to try the “Contact
Us” page on their site (http://www.durston.com/contact.htm). There
are contact numbers for both the UK and the US. Rio Grande might
also be able to help since, as I understand it, they are the
“official” Durston distributor in the US.

Cheers,
Trevor F.

4

Dear Adrienne,

The magic stuff is “Shell Ensis fluid S”. (Well done Kevin). As
Trevor mentions it is good stuff. We have used it for many years. The
specifications for it are as follows:

24 months indoors 
12 months outdoors covered 
6 months outdoor uncovered

If you have difficulty obtaining this then let me know.

Sara Durston
Durston Rolling Mills

5

Dear Sara, I’m confused. According to Kevin and your post in 2001 —
both refered to Shell Ensis Fluid G Your new post refers to Fluid S
— is this the same thing ???

Could you find out from your supplier if this majic stuff is sold in
the US under another name and the distributor etc. I can’t beleive
it’s a secret to be kept on your side of the Pond only.

We all really appreicate your helpfulness , especiately me cause I
HATE RUST.

Best regards, Adrienne

6

I found this page at Shell’s US Lubricants site.
http://www.shell-lubricants.com/Metalworking/rust.php

It lists a number of rust inhibitors. #2971 Dasco Arc 1110, for
instance, sounds a lot like the Ensis Fluid we’ve been discussing but
that’s a wild guess. See details on it here

http://www.shell-lubricants.com/products/product_details.php?code=02967

Unfortunately the US pages do not mention the Ensis Fluids
specifically.

As to the “G” vs “S” question: there are a number of Ensis Fluid
formulations. It looks like S is a current product. G isn’t
mentioned so perhaps it’s an older, discontinued?, formulation.

For what it’s worth it looks like a 5 gallon pail of Fluid S runs
about US$75. That’s just a price I’ve found while surfing around
and thought it might be of interest.

Cheers,
Trevor F.

7

Hi Adrienne, Shell Ensis fluid “G” is now called Shell Ensis fluid
"S". They changed the name. I have spoken to Shell and they have
confirmed that this is not available in USA. There are similar
products but not as good. For instance, some of the products you can
buy are too waxy/greasy. These products can take too long to dry and
not as easy to wipe off - especially in the grooves. Where as “Shell
Ensis fluid S” is easy to apply with a brush, has a long life and is
fairly easy to remove.

The good news is, as from January, Rio Grande are going to stock
this and it will be in their new catalogue.

Sara Durston
Durston rolling mills

8

Dear Sara,

THANK YOU… and thank you to Rio Grande…

:I know you will have made a lot of us very happy come January.

Soon as I can get a hold of some “magic” stuff — I’ll let you all
know how well it works.

Thank you again, Adrienne