damp

[SteveF]

I have a fairly new built shed

my tools are dumped \ stored in it

they feel wet

can i do anything to avoid this?
the shed will get heated and used on a daily basis
in the interim what can I do to keep dry ?

it is not leaking

Steve

 

[Woodchips2]

Hi Steve
Give them a wipe over with an oily rag or a spray of WD40.

Are they in toolboxes? If not maybe get some cheap plastic boxes and some moisture absorbing crystals.

Regards Keith

 

[CHJ]

Arrange tool storage, draws-cupboards-racks so that you can keep them a couple of degrees warmer than the general shed air.
That way condensation will not settle on the tools.
A 7-9 watt long life bulb in the bottom of a set of draws or tool cabinet the size of a kitchen unit is more than adequate for this.

 

[Eric The Viking]

+1 for Chas' comments above.

I use small greenhouse heaters instead, as I have a couple of metal cabinets and they get colder inside than chipboard cupboards would.

It's a bit naughty, but you can wire them in series (if you know what you're doing!), to halve the rated output, if you think it's too much. You can do the same for lightbulb sockets incidentally, but in both cases, if a bulb/element blows, you won't know which without a test meter. Only do this if they're not accessible to people.

I tried one winter with a couple of 60W heaters wired in series (i.e. 30W). It wasn't enough, so I've rewired to use just one on its own.

I also use rust-inhibiting paper as drawer liners. It works, but has drawbacks: I'm not sure how long it works for, and it goes brittle with time. It's reasonably tough when new, but like tissue paper later, so tools destroy it if you're rough with opening/closing the drawers.

HTH,

E.

PS: Liberon lubricating wax is quite good as a water repellant, too. That gets used a lot on things like G- clamp threads, etc., as well as machine tables.