Storing tools in cold weather

[Mark A]

hi i use a 10x12 metal shed as my "workshop" if you can call it that

however, i am concerned about the cold affecting my powertools i store in there - my smaller tools (drills, grinders, saws, router etc) are kept in a metal cabinet while my sliding mitre saw is on a shelf.

the temperature is around -3 to -5 at the moment but may get worse if it is anything like last year.

because the shed is metal it does suffer from condensation which has frozen and formed icicles on the roof!

i have heard about not storing batteries in the cold so they are kept in the house.

if anyone can advise me it would be much obliged

thanks, mark

 

[Harbo]

Insulate and get some heat in.

I use a few low voltage tubular electric heaters placed under my tool cabinets.
Have worked OK for the past few years?

This has been discussed many times - see if a search brings anything up?

Rod

 

[ondablade]

So far as my experience goes Mark there's not much choice but to as Rod says get some heat in there.

The problem in most cases is not the low temperature - the fun starts with the thaw when warmer, higher humidity air moves in because any decent sized chunk of metal about the place takes a lot of warming up.

These having stayed cool condense moisture out of the air and end up sopping wet - and rust like crazy. There's no oil or coating I know of that can be relied upon to stop all rusting.....

 

[Blister]

best to take small hand tools into the house

anything bigger you could try putting them into big plastic bags and use a vacuum to draw out the air , then seal the bag

or heating but it sounds like a hopeless situation up against ice cubes :?

 

[Mark A]

so its not the cold which is the problem, just the damp when it all defrosts??

i keep all my tools in their cases so would that help in protecting them?

 

[ondablade]

Probably not a great deal Mark unless the cases are sealed well enough to prevent air getting in.

Enclosing stuff can even make it worse if the air trapped in there with the item was as is likely pretty damp. Maybe some of those dessicant packs would help, but they will probably only have a limited effect if the cases leak air.

How pronounced the effects of this sort of thing are depends a lot on how humid the air is/was, how rapidly the shed warms up and/or fills with fresh air after the freeze, and how much mass there is in your metal items.

The worst case can leave stuff looking like it was sprayed with a hose...

 

[Mark A]

i think it is best if il take some photos so you can see what i mean because i don't really want to bring all my tools into the house if i can avoid it. also, there is no power in the shed, just an extension cable through a window so i can't have power in there all the time for a heater

thanks

 

[Fromey]

i think it is best if il take some photos so you can see what i mean because i don't really want to bring all my tools into the house if i can avoid it. also, there is no power in the shed, just an extension cable through a window so i can't have power in there all the time for a heater

thanks

I have the exact same situation.


I've been insulating my ceiling and door (more to go) and installed a blockout roller blind. What I intend to do is to use the shed (with heater) as normal, at which time it gets relatively snug. Then I'll give it a spell (all afternoon for example) with our dehumidifier which we've had for some years and is invaluable for drying clothes/house during the winter.

Although they are an initial investment, I highly rate these for use in the UK climate;

http://www.mitsubishi-dehumidifiers.co.uk/

 

[devonwoody]

Only solution would be to take your tools into the house, perhaps commandeer one of the kitchen cupboards. :wink:

Need lady softening up first tho.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

An oil-filled electric radiator is usually declared the best for woodworking sheds. As I've just put a load of old British hand tools into my 8x6ft shed, I think I need to be buying one now before it warms up! I'm keeping my limited edition Clifton No.51/2 in the kitchen at the moment!

Cheers

Nick

 

[Mark A]

i can't put any heating in the shed because there isn't an electricity supply - just an extension cable from the kitchen door.

i think i might have to take the tools out then and store them somewhere in the house, i'll just commandeer some cupboards and postpone getting a thicknesser/planer and a bandsaw until after the freeze (they probably won't fit under my bed!!)

 

[Nick Gibbs]

i think i might have to take the tools out then and store them somewhere in the house, i'll just commandeer some cupboards and postpone getting a thicknesser/planer and a bandsaw until after the freeze (they probably won't fit under my bed!!)

What about making a chair-shaped toolbox which you can use at a table when you're in the house, and carry out to the shed when you want to be there!???!!! That way you won't have to hi-jack some cupboards (which in my experience is costly, family-wise).

 

[Fromey]

Yep, I was just about to say, why not build a tasteful tool box to store your tools in. One that children can't get in to and can serve some type of table service or at least look nice in a corner. I might just do this myself.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Yep, I was just about to say, why not build a tasteful tool box to store your tools in. One that children can't get in to and can serve some type of table service or at least look nice in a corner. I might just do this myself.

Likewise. Let's patent some clever design. What about a TV screen on the front so that there would be no chance of the cabinet being filled with children's toys and pens and games when you're out in the workshop (playing).

 

[devonwoody]

I like the sound of that chair. How about a pool of drawn designs?


My computer chair could become redundant.

I think it needs to have separate sections that come together so that weight will not be a problem when dismantling for the return of tools to shed.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Sounds great. The back, being shallow, could hold the saws, perhaps with a drawer/removable box under the seat for planes. Chisels could be held in panels in the arms.

 

[devonwoody]

Waka would need a settee

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Waka would need a settee

Thinking of which, I was about to create a window seat in our kitchen. Perhaps I could remove even more of the wall and make it into a tool store. The slide-out boxes would have to be dust-tight so that I'm not trooping shavings into the house all the time. I'm going to spend today tidying the shed to get out of the snow, and am about to post a 'before' photo on my blog of how it looks now and and 'after' shot later. I have a rather lovely out toolbox that might become my portable box for valuable tools.

 

[devonwoody]

Window seat, accommodate an electric socket in there somewhere.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Window seat, accommodate an electric socket in there somewhere.

Why? Charging cordless tools?