Building a shed and ensuring tools etc don't go rusty

[benmc]

All

There have been a number of great garden sheds built in recent threads.

This has got me thinking, I have loads of nice tools (mitre saw, circular saw etc etc) that we used when renovating the house and I don't really have anywhere to store them.

So I would like to build a nice shed in the garden to store all of them and the usual garden stuff.

The question I have is what do I need to do to ensure the tools don't rust because of the usual dampish shed. I guess I need to almost built it like an office room with dpc etc and then greenhouse heater in the closest damp months? Any other ideas?

Thanks
Ben

[ColinM50]

That's about the strength of it Ben. you've got to heat the shed during the coldest and dampest times, though there's a simpler option. Give the tools to me and I'll store them for you.

Insulation and heat, about the only things that will keep rust off them plus of course a good spray of WD40 when you put them away

[Simpo Two]

I gave all mine a light wipe with 3-in-1 oil and it's working well in an unheated garage with up/over door.

[Wacky Racer]

Just give all the vunerable parts a liberal coating of clear grease or vaseline and they won't rust, much cheaper than heating a shed over the winter months.

[Eggman]

As long as the shed is dry, why would anything rust? Tools don't mind a bit of cold.

My shed is plywood lined and insulated but not heated. I haven't noticed any deterioration even in things that have been in there for years. Even paper survives without cockling or discolouration - if it didn't I'd take that as a sign that there was a leak that required investigation.

[freecar]

Eggman said:

As long as the shed is dry, why would anything rust? Tools don't mind a bit of cold.

My shed is plywood lined and insulated but not heated. I haven't noticed any deterioration even in things that have been in there for years. Even paper survives without cockling or discolouration - if it didn't I'd take that as a sign that there was a leak that required investigation.

This! Moisture causes rust not cold, keeping the inside dry is your priority.

[Simpo Two]

But when you open the door on a humid/wet day, external water vapour enters. Then it gets cold at night and moisture condenses on cold surfaces. In a house this is driven off by heating; in an unheated shed, not so.

[freecar]

Simpo Two said:

But when you open the door on a humid/wet day, external water vapour enters. Then it gets cold at night and moisture condenses on cold surfaces. In a house this is driven off by heating; in an unheated shed, not so.

Doesn't happen in my garage which is unheated so I would say BLUFF!

[Simpo Two]

freecar said:

Doesn't happen in my garage which is unheated so I would say BLUFF!

TRUE - my tools developed surface rust within a year

[eliot]

My shed is full off stuff that rusts. I find not heating the shed at as all, as that cold metal just condensates and then goes rusty. Avoid gas heaters at all costs - they will rust your kit in a matter of hours!

[benmc]

Sounds like I need to keep the damp out.

So shed built on DPC and potentially with vapour barrier built into the walls will help

Ben

[eliot]

Mine has cavity wall insulation with some 3mm ply over it.

[MJG280]

My shed with a concrete floor has been a lot drier since I painted the floor

[hman]

My workshop is a shed with polystyrene insulation in the walls roof and doors, ply lined and painted.

The floor has that thermal padded foil on top of the wooden floor and carpet on top of that.

To top it all off I have an oil rad in there set to basically just off minimum.

Toasty all year (adjust heat as required via oil rad) and no corrosion on the tools, bikes, model planes etc.

[eliot]

Rustie said:

Tubular heater i refered to earlier is electric not gas just for reference.

Yes I know. My dad had them in his old shed - they ran 24x7 for 20 years!

[S70JPS]

I have a similar problem. I've just finished my house and need to move my tools. I already have a shed which seems dry. However this will be knoced down to make way for garages next year. I was thinking about silica gel in all the boxes. The other thing i have read is that Lithium Ion batteries don't like the cold so plan to store them in the house.