Roller Bearing Storage

[BigLakeBob]

Does anyone have a good way to store roller bearings and keep them from corroding? Over the years I have bought small bulk quantities and have kept them submersed in 30wt oil sealed in old pill bottles. Over the weekend I noticed a little oxidation on some. Bearings have been in the container for 10+ years. Is there a better storage method? Thanks.

[Rubone]

I never put mine in oil. I don't trust the discoloration/oxidation. I keep them loose and dry with desiccant packs. But then I also live in a low humidity environment.

[sirhrmechanic]

Hi Bob:

Seems like that should have done the trick... but then again, some motor oils still have things like sulfur in them... maybe only in minute quantities... but maybe it only takes a bit.

You could try submerging them in kerosene. Or there is a product called "Prevent" which is an aerosol liquid Alox. We use it at the shop on crankshafts and bores to keep them rusting... but that's for weeks/months, not 10 years. Prevent does great on protecting things.

Might also use paraffin... but not all that convenient. You'd have to melt it to get the bearings out. But sealing bearings in paraffin would keep any O2 away from them. And of course there is cosmoline. Lasts for ever, but sticky, nasty and I think regarded largely as toxic these days.

I am surprised that bearings submerged in motor oil corroded! But that goes to show that even oil has some oxidants/corrosive elements.

I wonder if synthetic motor oil is any better? Seems synthetic would lack any kinds of corrosive elements that are found in 'rock oil' due to its purity.

Keep us in the loop. This is an interesting topic for those of us who hate/fear rust.

Cheers,

Sirhr

[DanM]

When I was a kid my father put things in different jars of oil, etc and they sat on a shelf for my whole life it seems. He decided automatic transmission fluid kept the parts in the best condition. I have all my balls and bearings in ATF. I had even been using it after parkerizing.

I also have only recently been exposed to Strong Arm and it does seem to be pretty amazing. They claim guns, etc wiped will store for decades. I recently used it after parkerizing and it worked great, appearance wise, and to clean off a little yellow/white film I got. I wiped my 13 down with it to preserve the bare or rusty parts and it has worked Since July when I got it. Bare tool box, exhaust pipe, etc. Not a spot of rust. And it can clean rust- the fender cleaned up- not like 100% bare metal, but amazingly and it looks perfect for the look I'm going for.

Dan

[BigLakeBob]

Thanks for the comments. I was going to try synthetic oil but I don't use it in anything. I think I'll try ATF. The only problem is if it takes 10 years for additional results I doubt anyone here will care. But I'll report back if they are rusted in a year. 10 years is a good rust free run I do have to admit, I just didn't expect the rust. Thanks again.

[sirhrmechanic]

Bob:

Dan is right on. I think ATF is the way to go.

Synthetic may be good, but ATF is proven.

Cheers,

Sirhr

[No Rush]

This is what the military uses:
http://www.cosmolinedirect.com/?gcli...FW5o7AodJzwAIg

[BigLakeBob]

I thought about cosmoline spray, but I wanted to be able to have access to the brgs without a major cleanup. I have used CRC SP 400 Corrosion Inhibitor (used to buy from McMaster but no longer sold by them), with very good results. Have sprayed it on bearing races, etc. and years later removed with mineral spirits and the race was like new. I may look into that spray instead of the CRC for other uses, but I want to store the bearings a different way. Thanks for the site info.

[RCamp]

Appropriate size zip lock bag, a little WD40 spay, seal, shake to coat rollers, store. Been doing this for 15+ years, high humidity here, but no rust, with no major clean up.

Have gears in open bins that have been coated with WD40 and sitting on shelf for 15+ years with no sign of rust.

Buy by the gallon and put in spray bottle, cost effective and works for me.

[duffeycycles]

I've seen lots of disassembly jobs with zip locks that split and the parts are lost-works for a short term not long
Baby food jars with ATF seems to work well

[Shaky Jake]

When storing parts in oil, remember that oil floats on water. Make sure that your container and parts are completely dry, otherwise the water will settle to the bottom and possibly cause corrosion.

Kevin

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[T. Cotten]

Petrolatum, Folks.

Its an ideal assembly lube, so I just put trial sets of rollers in a glob back in their labeled bag.

It doesn't hide dirt, its non-toxic, and lasts forever.

....Cotten

[exeric]

I thought about cosmoline spray, but I wanted to be able to have access to the brgs without a major cleanup. I have used CRC SP 400 Corrosion Inhibitor (used to buy from McMaster but no longer sold by them), with very good results. Have sprayed it on bearing races, etc. and years later removed with mineral spirits and the race was like new. I may look into that spray instead of the CRC for other uses, but I want to store the bearings a different way. Thanks for the site info.

LPS makes a product that leaves a dense semi-hard waxy coating on metal. I like Cotten's suggestion about Vaseline, and you sure can't beat the price