I really need to be doing stuff outside in the yard. The weather, however, has other ideas. So, I am downstairs in the workshop setting up my new Incra miter fence and generally giving the machinery some TLC. The table saw needed some adjustments so I got out the dial indicators and other stuff. I discover my poor depth micrometer set had rusted up despite being in the toolbox in the garage. I had to drop what I was doing to remedy this situation, besides, I needed the mike to set up the saw.
This is what I found:
Luckily, the working ends of the shafts were not rusted, or the shafts would be ruined. Just the rusted body needed some attention.
This is after a few minutes' time spent with a tiny Scotchbrite wheel mounted in a Dremel tool:
I had this set for over 25 years, but I have only used the 0-1" and 1-2" shafts. The rest still have the factory calibration seals on them. Everything got a nice coating of oil and I will pack a silica gel sachet in the box. Apparently the felt in the top of the box is a moisture attractant. I'm no longer keeping these sorts of precision tools in the garage, the environment in there is rough on things.