Storing Machines Outside

A heavy layer of paste wax on all surfaces would be my choice. Won't hurt precision surfaces, can be cleaned up with solvent, and you can buff your new machine paint to a high shine afterwards

Yeah I use paste wax on my woodworking machine surfaces where oil/grease is forbidden. Never thought of it for outdoor storage but it makes sense.
 
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So I did a test, I mixed some WD-40 with some petroleum jelly and brushed it on half of a clean piece of angle, then sprayed the whole thing with salt water. After two days and about 6 more spray treatments the result is pretty clear.
Anyway tomorrow is the big day I'm picking up the mill and bringing it home. It will have to sit outside, slathered with above concoction and covered in tarps, till Labor Day weekend, when I will attempt to move it into the basement...
 
The thing with WD40 is, supposedly, that the formula that worked (no. 40) contained "fish oil" The rustoleum rust preventative paint also. If you can discover exactly what "fish oil" is involved, you could mix up a batch of your own formula !! Course you might have a problem with..mice...cats....bears..depending on where you're storing. :>))
 
Pass on the WD-40 and use petroleum jelly straight from the can.

I know what WD-40 did to my machinery many years ago. Never again!
 
What did it do?

Left a brownish tint on all bare metal surfaces. (RUST) The more WD-40 you applied the worse it got over time. You also have to remember I live in an area where the humidity is high and the temperature change nigh to day can vary as much as 35 degrees. And certain times of the year, the iron will sweat, too.
As others have said, use a paste wax for long term or the petroleum jelly like you were going to do. Just don't thin it, no need to, it's thin enough to use as is. Or keep coated with way oil or a ISO 46 or 68 hydraulic oil. The oils have inhibitors that will help prevent rust from happening. You have to keep applying the oil week to two weeks at a time so the metal stays coated. It won't stop the metal from sweating, but it will help repeal the water created from sweating.
 
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or paint gun

used motor oil works and cleans up
unless you plan really long term storage
 
Used motor oil! yuck!
It's what the previous owner of my Avey put on it while he had it outside (he planned to sell it for scrap but still couldn't stand to let it just rust). Cleaned up fairly easily. In fact, I think it made getting some of the fifty-year-old grime off easier.
 
The thing with WD40 is, supposedly, that the formula that worked (no. 40) contained "fish oil" The rustoleum rust preventative paint also. If you can discover exactly what "fish oil" is involved, you could mix up a batch of your own formula !! Course you might have a problem with..mice...cats....bears..depending on where you're storing. :>))
According to the WD-40 website the "Fish Oil" thing is just a myth. Never the less, it might actually be a good base for a rust proofing compound. Perhaps some experiments are in order.
 
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