[willsken]

OH is clearing out his shed and some of the tools he is cleaning still have a little rust on them. Is this OK or do they have to be like new? Looking at spending a fortune if they do! :roll

[marcia]

Clean them up with a wire brush, one of the shipping companies said MAF don't like any flakey bits as insects or dirt could be underneath, maybe then just wipe them over with a bit of lubricant.

Copy of email we received from MAF -not specifically about rust though!

Marcia
There is no quarantine restriction on the importing of items listed & they can be sent as personal effects
They just need to be free of organic material & suggest you clean them down prior to shipment as they can often harbour insects & spiders (perhaps spray them with a residual flyspray)
Hope this is of assistance

Regards

Chris Spence
Duty Manager
MAF Quarantine Service
Christchurch
Ph 03 358 1872
027 6730422
fx 03 358 1854

[willsken]

Thanks Marcia. :nice1 I think his will be fine then. Has managed to get them pretty clean and we are only talking the odd rust spot or two

[StevieD]

I too am suffering with rust after my shed roof leaked. I'll give them a soak in WD40 and a wipe down, should be o.k.
I think it is more likely that spiders or insects would make a home inside power tools in all those little nooks and crannies by the motor.

[gotourvisa]

When customs came to inspect our items they were really looking for dirt on items that were used outdoors. ie golf clubs, bikes, kids toys, and of course garden tools. I do not even remember them looking at my tool box which had some rusty items in. But a quick brush with a wire brush to get the surface rust of would do.

[Park City Partner]

My partner was a builder in the States and has A LOT of tools. He made sure they were clean but I don't think he cleaned them with anything. A few got sprayed with a pressure washer but that would have been the extent of it...no problem when we got here.

[Brijan]

Hi, when we came over MAF were only interseted in anything that had been in contact with the ground, this included my steel toed boots that we brought in our luggage to enable me to start work, thankfully they accepted my explanation at Auckland airport and we didn't have to unpack.

Good luck with the move :)