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Anyone have a suggest about how to keep my on-board tools from getting rusty? I have a sealed toolbox, but even so the salt / wet seems to find it's way in and by the end of the season I've got rusty tools - again.

Tim

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Hi, other than takeing them out once a month and cleaning them and spraying them down with wd-40, or some such, is about all you can do. In my shop I use moth balls in the cabinets where I keep my precision tools and works quit well, other than the odor. Don't know if it would work in your t-box but you never know unless one tries. Good luck. Might try silica-gel or something like that.

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Empty your tool box and spray all your tools and box interior with corrosion block or WD-40 and wipe off. Then steal an old pair of your wifes nylons and cut the foot out and pour in a cup or two of minute rice. Tie the nylons in a knot and keep in your tool box. Works well as a desicant. If the box is sealed then you should only need to change once a season. Works well in hook and lure containers also. My .02

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A zip lock bag might help if you put the tool's in them after wiping them down with oil or WD-40, they come in many sizes.

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I have never heard of any remedy that acually works. Just keep cheap tools on your boat.

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Indeed, that is what I am finding. A canvas tool roll inside a dry bag seems to have protected my socket wrench, but the two screwdrivers are toast. I'll just toss them and get a couple more.

Tim

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Plastic tackle box...Just call it a tool box... spray your tools down with a marine protection spray and keep a small can in the box...

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I have tried the plastic boxes with gaskets. I found that they do not work well at all.

I now keep my tools in an old military ammo box. They can be found in army/navy surplus stores relatively cheap and are available in several sizes. These boxes have a heavy duty latches are gasketed. I keep two 50 cal boxes on my boat and have kept my tools from rusting. I do spray down the tools with WD40 every year.

I actually dropped one while boarding one time and it floated and kept the contents dry, so they are very watertight. I like the idea of using rice in the pantyhose; that would definitely help keep the moisture down.

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Afterexperiencing the same for years, I started using a large plastic pretzel container with a screw type lid. The mouth is 4" diameter and I keep folded paper chart, small tools, spare bulbs ect. I just put it in the console and for two years
have had no issues. Seems hillbilly, so it amazes me that I didn't think of it sooner. In a real need situation it will also hold gas for very short time. Since it is clear, seeing what is in it is easy too.

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I look around for whoever has a deal on a complete basic set in a plastic snap box - where all the tools snap into place. First it's really easy to see whan something is missing, and you get rid of stuff you don't need and add a few essentials things in a small box - a couple decent crescent wrenches, spark plugs, etc...

The last one I bought was a Harbor Freight set for $25, now the same set is $49 - the bad part is that the drawers fall out if you don't secure them - but the tools all click in.

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-too...-4030.html

Craftsman used to have some good deals, but has gotten pretty pricey anymore, especially with the chances of going over the side.

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I have to agree with using WD 40 but there is actually more to it than what is rather known. Not sure if a lot of you guys notice this as well but when they get in touch with dirt, they are sort of magnets that make it really tough to take out and that tends to work against their original work of actually lubricating the whole thing just right.

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WD40 isn't rust preventative, it is a water displacing compound or "penetrating oil".
There are so many good products out there, that when I read people using WD40 it makes me laugh. LPS 1, 2 or 3 are different in the way they cover the base material. LPS1 is light oil, LPS2 is a little heavier and does lots better than LPS1. LPS3 is a heavy waxy compound that is extremely effective in protecting against corrosion.
There are many good compounds out there, that beat the socks off of WD40.