Putting tools into storage

Hi all, This August we are moving our family from Sacramento,
California to either Columbia, South Carolina, or Columbia, Maryland

  • depending on which job my wife accepts. So, I need to prepare all
    of my jewelry stuff for up to a year of storage in one of these humid
    places while we search for a house. What is the best way to prepare
    my rolling mill, hand tools, anvils, flexshaft, etc. so that they
    are not a mass of rust when I am finally able to get them out of
    storage. How do I pack the rolling mill? (The original box is long
    gone.) Also, I would be interested in hearing from any other “Orchid
    people” in these areas. Thanks for all your help. Eric Mort ericmort
    at surewest.net

Eric, Make sure the metallic items are generously treated with an oil
or some kind of fat. Gun shops often have good oils for this. Then wrap
them in paper and a lot of bubble-wrap. Use boxes from a professional
mover if you can find.

Alain

Eric - in SC, and probably in Maryland, if you are putting what you
describe in storage you really need to look into climate controlled
storage. Much more expensive, but worth it. You might consider
having only some things stored climate controlled. I would be really
concerned about having those things stored in the heat and humidity!
When I first moved to SC I lived in an old (pre Civil War) house, no
AC, no central heat. Leather belts would be covered in growing stuff
overnight. Shoes too! Slime on walls. Really, really not good!
Wood furniture got sticky overnight, started to grow things also.
Major yuck! You don’t have those problems in a house with AC, which
would be what you got with climate controlled storage. When we got
flooded several years ago insurance paid to put things in climate
controlled storage during repairs.

I live about 2 hours from Columbia, SC, so if that is where you end
up let me know - would love to get together!

Beth in SC (Cheraw)

I have alot of machinest tools and they rust real easy I use this
spray stuff from starret tools you can buy it at any of your local
machine tool supply stores look in the phone book under machine
shops and it will list suppliers and they will carry the stuff it
works great and lasts forever wd40 doesnt work your tools will still
rust.

sincerely Kevin

Whenever we place tools into storage we spary them with LPS Rust
inhibitor. Available form Grainger, MSC, McMaster-Carr etc. As far as
your rolling mill is concerned, How large is it ? How many pounds ?
Will require a lift to move ? Or 3 strong guys ?

Steve Guyot
Guyot Brothers Co Inc
Decorative jewelry findings & ornamental stampings since 1904
http://guyotbrothers.com

AC, no central heat. Leather belts would be covered in growing stuff
overnight. Shoes too!

Just a bit of advice:

For storing leather, treat said leather with neetsfoot oil/linseed
oil soap before hand (available at all tack shops, it comes in a
big tub for about $20 CDN) and you will not have any mold whatsoever
on your leather goods. Be generous with the stuff. It will work.
Guaranteed.

In our moldy humid basement, my tack has been sitting in a cardboard
box for 7 long years and hasn’t got a speck of mold on it whereas,
the leather scraps I have hanging on a wire hanger from the ceiling
(not treated) is covered with a luxuriant growth of green mold.

    Whenever we place tools into storage we spary them with LPS
Rust inhibitor. Available form Grainger, MSC, McMaster-Carr etc. 

Steve, List

Re: the LPS Rust inhibitors. It comes in three forms, LPS 1, LPS 2,
and LPS 3. Think of from light to heavy protection. LPS 1 is
thinnest, goes on and “dries” at room temp. LPS 2 stays oily.

For long term protection, you want the LPS 3. Builds an almost waxy
coat.

Most industrial supply houses carry it.

Gary W. Bourbonais