Wood: Enemy of Metal?

[ThinWoodsman]

I built an enclosed shop room inside my 40x50 metal building last fall and it houses my shiny new PM lathe and a bit less shiny and much less new Bridgeport mill. I built it out of wood, all stuff you get from the Depot. It's a lot of wood, including the sheathing on the walls (chipboard). Where it contacts the concrete floor it's treated, otherwise all pine/fir stuff. ...

Heh, sounds like we went through the same experience, only mine was built in a wood barn. I picked up a GE dehumidifier at Lowes or Home Depot or something, around a hundred bucks. Plugged it into a timer, so it kicks in for an hour twice a day: at 3pm and 3am. Those times seem to be when the temperature in the air changes the most drastically. The hit to the power bill wasn't that bad (we're talking a couple dollars a month) and it sure did the trick.

I like LPS as well, but made some of (Bob's) Ed's Red and have been using that in a Sure Shot mister. Leaves things a bit less sticky.

 

[bill70j]

A potential problem with using wood storage boxes is the type of adhesive you use on the joints. Regardless of the wood you use, If you use a yellow glue (Titebond, for example), it's important to apply a good sealer, like polyurethane, to cover the joints.

Yellow glue is a polyvinyl acetate adhesive. And acetate is an ester of acetic acid, which will stain un-coated metal in an instant.

 

[john.k]

oak is notorious for causing rust of steel/iron,as well as splitting ........this is why oak pegs were used to secure oak frames ,not bolts or nails..........one time a GTD tap and die set came in a wood box,with a little compartment for every piece.......oregon pine.or red spruce ?......100 years on the steel is still unrusted ,and the box has held together unlike plastic,which disintegrates into corrosive crumble.

 

[yendor]

Lots of stories here about Wood & Rust from both sides.

As concept I haven't gotten to it yet but I plan is to make a couple of storage boxes for a few of my tools out of TREX Trim material.
It is essentially recycled plastics but machines a lot like wood. I am hoping to avoid the wood = rust problem.

The trim peices come in nice 3/4" thickness and can be glued together.

 

[stupoty]

Randomly I had to use my surface plate which I havn't used for about 6 monthes maybe a little longer(yeah I should do more high precision stuff ), the wood cover is 1/2 inch ply wood I have oild with mineral oil (baby oil) the edge pieces are glued and nailed (PVA glue). Their wasnn't any rust issues with it (phew).

My workshop is in a below ground room which is open to the elements (their is a door but it doesn't air seal, like a lose barn door situation).



Stu

 

[MarkM]

Crafty. Never thought but makes total sense and mineral oil can be had so cheap when you buy it in non scented baby oil. Very impressive knowing your weather. Spent a year in Basingstoke.
Did you seal the bottom perimeter at all or just rest on as is?

 

[stupoty]

Crafty. Never thought but makes total sense and mineral oil can be had so cheap when you buy it in non scented baby oil. Very impressive knowing your weather. Spent a year in Basingstoke.
Did you seal the bottom perimeter at all or just rest on as is?

I oiled the ply in side and out , was left to soak in a bit and gave it a bit of a rub with a cloth.

The wood top just rests on the top of the surface plate. I use the height gauge on the ply for low precision marking sometimes.

Stu

 

[ThinWoodsman]

I made a wood cover for my granite surface plate. Put a felt lining on both top and bottom: bottom to act as a sort of duster for the surface plate, top to give me a safe place to park delicate instruments, newly-polished parts, etc.

I forget where I saw the idea about making a wooden felt-lined tray with a key for holding in the vise. Gave me the idea for the cover, though I still haven't got around to making just a tray.

 

[benmychree]

I just lay a well oiled rag on the surface plate then put the plywood cover over that; the plywood having been varnished.

 

[KBeitz]

I'm both into wood and metal working. I save my lathe and mill metal chips for staining my wood slab benches.
I sprinkle on the chips and water it down for the night. The next day I brush the chips off. Great looking stain..