Wood for holding tools

Canopener · #1 10-13-2007, 09:38 PM

This has come up before and I cannot find the old thread. I just made a shelf out of oak flooring and would like to drill holes in it to hold some of my chisels and gouges.
Is oak OK for tool storage, or are all of the tannins in it bad for tool storage and will promote rust?
I know some one will staighten me out here so "thanks" in advance.
Jim

Canopener · #2 10-14-2007, 01:54 PM

Thanks, found an old thread about keeping tools in cedar box and Bob D mentioned his Father keeping tools in an oak rack and getting rusty. It seems oak, cedar, mahoganey and others containing tannic acid are bad for storing tools.
Jim

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #3 10-14-2007, 02:27 PM

No response because most of us don't have a clue lol.....glad you found something!

brian bailey · #4 10-14-2007, 02:52 PM

I know of a lot of machinist's tool boxes/chests that are made of red oak and haven't heard of any problems.

If your wood is dry and has a good finish on it, I don't believe you'll have a problem.

Kenny_S · #5 10-14-2007, 11:06 PM

Jim, there was a carver at the Bishop's class last year from Edmond Ok whose box was oak and walnut. No problems with rusting tools. But then he kept the box and tools in the house mostly.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #6 10-15-2007, 09:45 AM

I don't think its the wood as much as the humidity in the area you live....not sure what humidity is....they don't allow it here in Arizona

Canopener · #7 10-15-2007, 12:31 PM

Thanks for replies. I considered the cost of tools and figured better safe than sorry and still have a pretty cool looking shelf to match my carving work bench. The wood is leftover from a floor I installed about ten years ago. Talk about procrastinating, I finally got tired of moving it around.
I think I will go to plan B, which is drilling a bunch of holes in a piece of poplar. That should work and look good, for now.
Jim

brian bailey · #8 10-15-2007, 12:40 PM

I know it won't be the wood that's causing the rust if the wood is dry.

I've got nearly 6000 board feet of butternut and white oak lumber dead piled next to my planer and jointer. Its been piled there for several years and I haven't had any problems with rust, both woods are high in tannic acid.

But, I keep my shop's relative humidity below 50%.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #9 11-16-2007, 07:58 AM

I don't think I have ever seen a "Machinist's Chest" that wasn't oak? I agree with Brian, don't think the wood has anything to do with it......Hey Jim, move down the mountain, we don't have any of that there humadidity stuff here

Canopener · #10 11-20-2007, 01:42 PM

Dave,
We haven't been getting all that much humiditation lately any way; but I had a weird epidemic of rust not long ago on some tools I keep in a regular old Craftsman tool box. I keep some of my carving tools in the top 2 trays and the bottom is for mechanic tools. Either some oak or old wine corks I had up there must have caused the problem, so I am a bit leary. The wrenches are fine, but have years of oil to protect them. Any way I am working on a neat alternative.
As far as moving off the mountain; I still kind of enjoy the white stuff,[BRRRRRRRR] and heat makes me cranky. OK; crankier than normal. Plus; I just got a great deal on a snow blower and absolutely cannot wait to bundle up and blast away at a good snowstorm. YAY!
Jim