I am still in the process of buying a lathe and mill for the garage. I am concerned about the environment being conducive to rust. I frequently use the garage door so it will be hard to control the environment in there. A guy at work says that he lightly oils his and covers them when not in use. He also suggests a dehumidifier. Will this be adequate to prevent surface rust?
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Machine care for garage
- Thread starter Phils69
- Start date
The thing that causes rust to form is warmer moist air hitting a colder steel/iron object, causing condensation.
Anything to keep it warm will keep it rust-free - a block heater, a light bulb underneath.
Another possibility is a dehumidifier.
During the summer, an air conditioner will dehumidify the air.
And of course, keep it oiled, but don't use automotive motor oil which has additives to absorb & emulsify water.
ATF is OK though. I use medium way oil for almost everything.
Anything to keep it warm will keep it rust-free - a block heater, a light bulb underneath.
Another possibility is a dehumidifier.
During the summer, an air conditioner will dehumidify the air.
And of course, keep it oiled, but don't use automotive motor oil which has additives to absorb & emulsify water.
ATF is OK though. I use medium way oil for almost everything.
Both of my mills and both lathes have been in a South Central garage in the open air environment for the last 8 years. The have very little if any rust. But then again I manage to use each machine at least once every day. The oldest is a 10 year old bench drill press. It has some rust on the pole because the table doesn't get moved much.
Constant use of machining fluids helps.
Constant use of machining fluids helps.
I have a ceiling hung propane furnace that blows on my mill and when furnace is used in winter get l light rust/discoloration on my rotary table mounted on the mill. Wipes off easily with oily rag. Could be from moisture in the propane?
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Like 12bolts said, "toss a flannel sheet over the lathe"
I perfer cotton canvas like heavy denim "Levi pants" material. Make sure everything stays oiled, not with WD-40, either, before draping sheet over your machinery. This also keeps all of the airborn particles from settling on your machine, too.
Got mine from over runs from a local cotton mill.
I perfer cotton canvas like heavy denim "Levi pants" material. Make sure everything stays oiled, not with WD-40, either, before draping sheet over your machinery. This also keeps all of the airborn particles from settling on your machine, too.
Got mine from over runs from a local cotton mill.
Sounds like you will need to keep your machines well oiled. My garage only has a small electric heater for getting the chill out of the air when its chilly out there.
I have tried the light bulb thing in the base of the machines, with no differance that I could see. Mybe a slight increase in hydro. Over the yrs, I have found the oil works best. I just use AW32 and a paint brush to apply it. Area,s that I dont want the oil dripping from, just wipe with a oil soaked rag.
If you can put up with oily machines, thats about the only way Ive found it effective. Heaters just cost to much to keep the machines warm, and if your opening the doors and letting the cold damp air in, heaters wont help much.
I did at one time use propane to heat the shop, but I found it was a very moist heat, and still needed to slim the machines up. Though Im not really fond of the slimed machines, it works very well. Rust I can not handle, at all. It makes for to much work to remove it, and I cant stand to look at rusted equipment. So oil soaked machines it is.
On a final note, dont forget to oil the spots you dont normally see, as they will rust too. Just dont use WD-40. It wont help with rust. It will only attract moisture and help things rust over the long haul.
I have tried the light bulb thing in the base of the machines, with no differance that I could see. Mybe a slight increase in hydro. Over the yrs, I have found the oil works best. I just use AW32 and a paint brush to apply it. Area,s that I dont want the oil dripping from, just wipe with a oil soaked rag.
If you can put up with oily machines, thats about the only way Ive found it effective. Heaters just cost to much to keep the machines warm, and if your opening the doors and letting the cold damp air in, heaters wont help much.
I did at one time use propane to heat the shop, but I found it was a very moist heat, and still needed to slim the machines up. Though Im not really fond of the slimed machines, it works very well. Rust I can not handle, at all. It makes for to much work to remove it, and I cant stand to look at rusted equipment. So oil soaked machines it is.
On a final note, dont forget to oil the spots you dont normally see, as they will rust too. Just dont use WD-40. It wont help with rust. It will only attract moisture and help things rust over the long haul.
