Metal Rust Protection - Interior

For the protection of interior forge work Johnson Paste Wax seems to work pretty good for protection against rust. It seems to be effective for 2-3 months indoors. I apply it with cloth rag or small paint brush. It’s available at Home Depot in the cleaning supplies aisle for about 5-6 dollars for a 1 pound can. Before I started using Johnson Paste Wax I used Carnauba car wax but when I ran out I checked on the Net and that wax is now very expensive.

I guess you really aren’t a “real” blacksmith if you worry much about rust on unfinished stock. I don’t worry much about rust on hot roll although I try to store it out of the weather but have a fairly large supply of tool steel and I just don’t like the thought of if rusting away in my unheated smithy. I have tried motor oil and “rust inhibiting” oil neither of which worked very well for me but Johnson Paste Wax is inexpensive and seems to protect for several months. I have also used clear spray paint to protect tools steel stock. I get it at WalMart? for about a dollar a can. It seems to be permanent protection indoors if I power wire brush the metal first but generates a burnoff when heated in the forge.

-- TpCurtis - 09 Feb 2008