I am surprised by the fight you have to do against rust in NZ and in
southern countries.
G’day Guy; I think you misunderstood me. The Province of Nelson where I
live is noted for it’s temperate weather and gets the record most years
for the most hours of sunshine in NZ. It’s never too hot in summer (never
above 30C) and has only occasional high humidity. It’s never too cold in
winter, with day temperatures around 7-14C. (many nights go below freezing
however, but the frost has burned off by 10 in the morning.) We do get
enough rain - for which we and the surrounding orchidists and vintners are
duly thankful. We do however live close enough to Tasman Bay to hear the
sea quite often, and so we do get a certain amount of salt-laden air after
storms. So one needs to take reasonable precautions with the maintenance
of one’s tools. But any properly trained tool user of any sort will care
for hisher tools. In Japan you better not let your shadow or actually step
over a craftsman’s tools - or else. - shudder -!!
I noticed that it is humid when I have been there
I reckon you must have spent most of your time around Auckland and in the
North! It does get very humid North of Lake Taupo. Which is why we
seldom go North in mid summer!
Finally you commented about skin being acid.
Most human skin will have a layer of salt and moisture and fatty acids,
which include acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid and
many more.
Did you realise that beef fat, for instance is an acid? Pure beef fat is
stearic acid, and most of the vegetable oils are acids, like palm oil -
palmitic acid. Which is why you can react them with caustic soda (sodium
hydroxide) to make soaps - sodium stearate, sodium palimitate, etc.
Here endeth yet another lesson - and it isn’t even Sunday! Think I will
just go and anoint my hands with sodium palimitate and water before tea.
Cheers, Johnb
