I am maticulous about tackle so it frustrates me when I get rusty gear. I hate getting rust in my plano boxes. When that happens to all of you, do you just clean the rust out or replace the box. Rust spreads, so in my experience, once you get it, you are always cleaning it out at some point.

I hate never getting rust in my Plano Flambeau Zerust boxes.

Fixed it for you!

A tip: after a trip, set the boxes out open to dry. Never store them wet and cold. Dry them out first. Use the Rustex Capsules in your boxes, too.

I use a Q-tip with a little acetone or lacquer thinner. It cleans all the rust out. JMHE

Ronnie

I use a Q-tip with a little acetone or lacquer thinner. It cleans all the rust out. JMHE

Ronnie

X2 

I clean the rust out and continue to use them (I assume you are talking about the plastic plano style boxes).  Wash them out with mild soap/water and let them dry thoroughly.  Then wipe the inside with a very light coat of real magic or the like.

The best thing to do is to prevent the rust from getting in there in the first place.  Since I've done the following, I don't have any issues with rust:

When you get home from fishing, open all the boxes so they can dry out.  Best to do this in the driest environment possible.  If it is humid/rainy I move the dehumidifier from my basement into my garage where all my gear and boat is to facilitate drying.

Don't store plastic baits rigged or in the same box as hooks.  The salt in them attracts moisture and will rust a hook faster than anything.

I put the little desicant/silica pouches in planos, one for each divided section.  The kind you get when you buy a new pair of shoes and such.

If you don't have enough of those pouches, cut a Q tip in half and put a Q tip end in each compartment of the plano.  That absorbs moisture and prevents rust.  Change the Q tips if you fish in the rain or they get damp.

I have one box that has all my unpackaged hooks sinkers and terminal tackle in it.  (hooks still in original packaging are separate)  I spray a very small amount of reel magic on the loose terminal tackle.  This really helps keep it from rusting.

I try to keep any spare hooks, jigs, etc. in their original plastic.  For example I may only have 4 or 5 3/0 EWG in my terminal box loose.  The rest will stay stored in plastic.  I'll get more hooks out  of a particular size/style at the begging of the fishing day if I think I'll need them on hand, like for a tournament. 

I hate never getting rust in my Plano Flambeau Zerust boxes.

Fixed it for you!

A tip: after a trip, set the boxes out open to dry. Never store them wet and cold. Dry them out first. Use the Rustex Capsules in your boxes, too.

x2

Those boxes are awesome

go to a pharmacy and ask if they have any silica packets they don't want. They are the little bags that say "do not eat". put a few in your box in different areas and trays.They absorb moisture, and they help keep things dry

go to a pharmacy and ask if they have any silica packets they don't want. They are the little bags that say "do not eat". put a few in your box in different areas and trays.They absorb moisture, and they help keep things dry

Same thing I do.  My local CVS is more than happy to give me a bunch of them.  Work great.