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Die storage in the humid south.

So do you spray down your dies for storage. I was considering spraying a heavy coat of Break free or rem oil on the dies to keep them from rusting. I would like to prevent a huge mess in my safe, so putting them in a crazy amount of oil is out. The safe does have a moisture absorbing block in it but i would hate to not properly care for my investment. Is one product any better than another or one stand out as superior.
 
For short-term storage, BreakFree or RemOil's fine. Even plain old 30W engine oil if it's not been used.

Just coat 'em well then place into a Ziplock bag, push as much air out as you can then close the zipper.

Longer term get a refill tube of any kind of grease, coat 'em well & do the Ziplock thing.

In your safe those blocks need to be checked fairly often if you're in and out a lot; they absorb moisture but if of the Calcium Chloride kind the result can be a chemical soup that in itself is corrosive. Less you open the door, less opportunity for air exchange of the dried-out air inside for the moisture-laden stuff you're living in outside.

Silica gel - colored beads you can dry in the microwave or oven - don't have that soupy drawback, but still need to be attended to to maintain their moisture-collecting power. You know they're done when the color change goes from say blue to orange.
 
So do you spray down your dies for storage. I was considering spraying a heavy coat of Break free or rem oil on the dies to keep them from rusting. I would like to prevent a huge mess in my safe, so putting them in a crazy amount of oil is out. The safe does have a moisture absorbing block in it but i would hate to not properly care for my investment. Is one product any better than another or one stand out as superior.

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5/23/19 Checked AutoZone, Menards and Walmart. Nobody carries this product. Low demand. AutoZone has an anti rust in a spray can by a brand I never heard of.

You can but whats called fogging oil at any boating supply store. It's sprayed on engines for winter storage.

Product Description
Spray through carburetor intake of running engine to protect against internal corrosive acids or rust during storage. Protects all external areas from saltwater and moisture. Use on controls, connectors, linkages, and tools.
 
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I live in Florida on a saltwater marsh, and rust is a constant companion/curse. Birchwood-Casey's Barricade works pretty good for me. Though I may look into the WD-40 rust inhibitor posted above. I would however be reluctant to use it on my firearms for fear of it gumming stuff up. I don't hesitate to hose my weapons down with Barricade.
 
Dont know if it is something you can get but Lanox works very well for this purpose. It is Lanoline from sheep just like a WD40 but a real oil rather than a water displacement.
 
Corrosion inhibitors, like the WD-40 above, are usually a sticky coating that works well, but the die will require cleaning before use. Heavy oils can trap and hold moisture under them and cause problems long term. I have had excellent results storing dies in the house, in the original box, with vapor barrier, I will clean them and lightly coat with a moisture displacing oil like regular WD-40.
 
A good sticky oil that I use on the seldom used stuff is Chainsaw Bar oil. It cleans off easily its just like the dies were new, esp because it keeps the rust away.
 
For short-term storage, BreakFree or RemOil's fine. Even plain old 30W engine oil if it's not been used.

Just coat 'em well then place into a Ziplock bag, push as much air out as you can then close the zipper.

Longer term get a refill tube of any kind of grease, coat 'em well & do the Ziplock thing.

In your safe those blocks need to be checked fairly often if you're in and out a lot; they absorb moisture but if of the Calcium Chloride kind the result can be a chemical soup that in itself is corrosive. Less you open the door, less opportunity for air exchange of the dried-out air inside for the moisture-laden stuff you're living in outside.

Silica gel - colored beads you can dry in the microwave or oven - don't have that soupy drawback, but still need to be attended to to maintain their moisture-collecting power. You know they're done when the color change goes from say blue to orange.
Spoke to the owner/inventor of a safe heater. Told me to never use a moisture collector as they will attract vapor instead of repelling them. What do I know right?
 
Spoke to the owner/inventor of a safe heater. Told me to never use a moisture collector as they will attract vapor instead of repelling them.

That was my point about what those who use ‘em need to be aware of. I don’t personally use them for just those reasons, preferring instead to keep the safe interior warmer than outside.

And keep the door closed as much as possible.
 
lightly coat with a moisture displacing oil like regular WD-40.

Clean them, use them, clean them again before putting them away and hose them down with WD-40. An ammo can with a sealed lid OR dies sealed in Zip Lock bags works good. WD 40 is your friend. May get sticky over a loooong period of time as the carrier solvent dries out but cleaning them before using is part of the process. I have fishing reels that were hosed down with WD-40 before being put away and they still look as good as the day they were stored. Maybe 10 years? A light bit of gun/reel oil will remove dried out WD-40 and you're good to go again.
 

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