How to preserve mill/lathe stored in unheated/unairconditioned garage

python50

python50

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Hi all,

I am a hobby machinist located in Ohio. I have a grizzly G4000 lathe and will soon have a G0755 Milling machine. Soon they will be moving to an unheated/unairconditioned garage that is subject to wild variations in temperature and humidity. The machines will be operated somewhat regularly in the garage.

I would like to know what I can do in order to protect my machines from rust.

The components I am most concerned with are:
  • The ways of my lathe
  • 3-jaw chuck , 4-jaw, and faceplate
  • The tailstock quill and chuck
  • The ways of the mill
  • The mill table
  • The mill's quill
  • The milling vise and rotary table
For the ways and the quills, the only thing I know I can do is to oil or grease them regularly. Is there a specific type of oil or grease product that would be best to protect against humidity?

With the mill table I will be working mostly with a vise and a rotary table rather than directly on the table surface. Would something like a removable paint or varnish be a good idea for protecting the table from rust?

Lastly, when a chuck is in service is there anything I can/should do beyond wiping it down with oil?

Thanks,
Jason White
 
python50 said:
Hi all,

I am a hobby machinist located in Ohio. I have a grizzly G4000 lathe and will soon have a G0755 Milling machine. Soon they will be moving to an unheated/unairconditioned garage that is subject to wild variations in temperature and humidity. The machines will be operated somewhat regularly in the garage.

I would like to know what I can do in order to protect my machines from rust.

The components I am most concerned with are:
  • The ways of my lathe
  • 3-jaw chuck , 4-jaw, and faceplate
  • The tailstock quill and chuck
  • The ways of the mill
  • The mill table
  • The mill's quill
  • The milling vise and rotary table
For the ways and the quills, the only thing I know I can do is to oil or grease them regularly. Is there a specific type of oil or grease product that would be best to protect against humidity?

With the mill table I will be working mostly with a vise and a rotary table rather than directly on the table surface. Would something like a removable paint or varnish be a good idea for protecting the table from rust?

Lastly, when a chuck is in service is there anything I can/should do beyond wiping it down with oil?

Thanks,
Jason White
Click to expand...
My shop is heated, but no air conditioning. I just wipe down everything with way oil, cover unused equipment with cloth sheets. No rust, but the machines get used regularly. The lathe needs the most attention, I use a paint brush to apply the way oil on all unpainted areas.
 
Oil it, oil it, and then oil it some more.
I'm using iso32 and iso68 from tractor supply.
and even then the rust gremlins sneak in and nail everything. Watch for extreme temperature changes where the iron is colder
that the ambient, and moisture forms.
I finally figured out that a heavy sheet or a blanket helps. (at least I think I have. we'll find out here soon.)
 
Get some covers made up and make some safely wired and earthed biscuit tins with low wattage incandescent bulbs inside to go under the covers, by doing this you will keep the machine above the dew point in your workshop.
The same trick will work in a steel cabinet with thin insulation on the inside surfaces cabinet for storage of tools and accessories,
Regards,
Nick
 
I've heard people speak highly of "fluid film" spray. I've used LPS-3 for bare metal that isn't a wear surface.
I've never found WD-40 to be of any use for long-term bare metal protection.

For ways I've been using Mobil Vactra #2. From what I understand this used to be much tackier in the past
but was reformulated a while back. I probably will just buy ISO 68 from Tractor Supply when I run out. For
someone who uses their machines professionally it might make a difference, but I don't think it is worth it for
what I do.

My Dad's South Bend 9C spent 50 years or more in an unheated/uncooled garage, but was well oiled and it
came through ok. There isn't any rust pitting, but all of the cast iron has that sort of red/brown patina I would
imagine is extremely fine surface rust coated with oil. The cast iron on my new lathe and mill are still silver gray.
 
The lathe in my shop doesn't seem to need any special treatment. The shop is insulated, heated only when I work in it, and the temp varies from -35C in the winter to +35C in the summer. The only time I've had rust form on it was when I was using cutting oil that was mixed with water (as in, it specified being diluted with X amount of water), and I didn't wipe/clean off the whole lathe after using it. I've since switched to using TapForm cutting fluid and no rust anymore.
 
LPS-2 works very well. It provides a nice lubricated film without becoming something you have to remove before use like LPS-3.

As long as your messing with the lathe every couple months is should be perfect.
 
One not mentioned is CRC 3-33, basically the same stuff as LPS-3. The CRC 3-33 will leave a waxy film that gives you a fairly good protection for at good 6 months. After a while the film will more or less harden on the surface making it a pain to remove without some kind solvent. But no rust!
 
dave_r_1 said:
The lathe in my shop doesn't seem to need any special treatment. The shop is insulated, heated only when I work in it, and the temp varies from -35C in the winter to +35C in the summer. The only time I've had rust form on it was when I was using cutting oil that was mixed with water (as in, it specified being diluted with X amount of water), and I didn't wipe/clean off the whole lathe after using it. I've since switched to using TapForm cutting fluid and no rust anymore.
Click to expand...

Holy crap that is cold!
 
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