Storage looks like the easiest duty a machine can have. In practice it is one of the hardest. Equipment that stands still is exposed to humidity, day-night temperature swings that cause condensation, and, near the coast, salt in the air. Nothing moves to spread oil over the metal. Yet the equipment is expected to work on the first day it is needed. Good preservation is what makes that possible.
Clean and dry every surface, then protect it with a corrosion preventive compound: a soft film for indoor storage and parts that must be easy to clean, a hard film for outdoor storage and sea transport. Fill or treat enclosed gearboxes, engines and hydraulic systems as the maker's storage procedure says, seal openings, pack with desiccant where suitable, and inspect on a fixed schedule. Remove the preservative and relubricate before the equipment goes back into service.
Preservative applied over dirt, old grease or moisture locks the problem in.
| Protection | Typical use | Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Soft film compound | Indoor storage, machined surfaces, parts that need quick, easy cleaning before use | Wipes off or dissolves with a mild solvent |
| Hard film compound | Outdoor storage, sea freight, long periods, heavy exposure | Needs a solvent to remove |
| Preservative or operating oil | Internal surfaces of gearboxes, engines and hydraulic systems | Drained and replaced before service, as the maker specifies |
| Grease | Bearings, pins, slides and pivots | Purged with fresh grease before service |
Defence and depot work often names a specification such as MIL-PRF-16173, which covers several grades of solvent-cutback corrosion preventive, from hard films for outdoor exposure to soft films for indoor storage. Banesto's corrosion preventive compound is formulated to be compatible with MIL-PRF-16173 and DEF-STAN 68-12, in soft-film and hard-film grades, and is rated at 500 hours or more in the ASTM B117 salt-spray test. Always use the product and grade your specification names.
Set a fixed inspection schedule; humid and coastal sites need shorter intervals. At each inspection:
Remove the preservative completely from working surfaces, drain storage oils where the maker requires it, purge bearings with fresh grease, fill with operating lubricants and run the equipment up gradually. Never mix the storage and operating lubricant without checking compatibility; our guide on mixing greases explains why.
For every stored item, record what was used, when, by whom and when it was inspected. In an audit or before an urgent deployment, that record is what shows the item is ready.
For parts in shorter storage or between machining steps, our rust preventive oil guide covers the lighter options. For the full defence range, see our page on defence lubricants.
Soft film or hard film corrosion preventive: which should I use?A soft film for indoor storage and parts that must be cleaned quickly; a hard film for outdoor storage, sea freight and long periods of heavy exposure. Use the grade your specification names.
How often should stored equipment be inspected?On a fixed schedule set by the depot procedure; humid and coastal sites need shorter intervals. Check films, desiccant and moving parts, and record each inspection.
Do gearboxes need special oil for storage?Follow the maker's storage procedure. Many call for filling with fresh oil or a preservative oil so all internal surfaces stay coated, with breathers sealed.
How is a hard film preservative removed?With a suitable solvent, as the product data sheet describes, followed by relubrication with the operating lubricant.
Running a depot or a long-term storage programme? Send us the equipment types, storage conditions and specifications, and our team will map the right preservatives and lubricants with data sheets.