Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

What oil do you use for stopping rust on the bare metal of your engines in your collection?
I've used all sorts of oils, from the highest quality gun oils, to engine oil applied different ways....with a rag and with a small artist paint brush. Eventually they all break down and you can see the tell tale signs of red rust beginning on the bare metal.
The humidity can be high here in Australia, that probably doesn't help long term.
So what's your go to protective oil?

Ballistol here, I know you hate the smell as much as I do, but they say it is safe?

You can supposedly use it on wounds!
I'm typing looking at my Stuart Beam (that's totally in the raw) that sits near my PC, probably the Ballistol *has* lasted a year and is starting to get rust
It does get touched by all and sundry being so visible.
In the next week or so I'll use 000 or 0000 steel wool and then a scotch Brite to rub it back and give it another oiling.

Now about dust.....who the bloody hell invented dust!!!!!

What oil do you use for stopping rust on the bare metal of your engines in your collection?
I've used all sorts of oils, from the highest quality gun oils, to engine oil applied different ways....with a rag and with a small artist paint brush. Eventually they all break down and you can see the tell tale signs of red rust beginning on the bare metal.
The humidity can be high here in Australia, that probably doesn't help long term.
So what's your go to protective oil?

More than just high humidity for you Jim, as where you live, so close to the ocean, there is also some salt content in the air at times, especially when large waves are pounding the coast, that "Salt Air" can travel inland quite a distance as an invisible clinging mist!

I mostly use PCL or CLP (from Break Free) which is the commercial or military version of the more popular branding. Seems to last years if not decades, but then I live in the High Desert with typically low to very low humidity levels, which may be the reason it works so well for me?!?!