Protecting lathe over coming months?

[gasmansteve]

Hi folks
I have my Vicmarc stood on rubber matting in an unheated concrete garage with no insulation (its on the `to be done` list) and thought about some mild localized heating near it to keep off the condensation over the winter months even maybe just a low wattage light bulb left on underneath just to take the chill off. As its all cast I`m not unduly worried but the electronics concerns me a bit what do others use if anything?.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Jamesc]

Hi Steve,

I've had great success with a low wattage bulb, I covered the machine in several dust sheets, taking care to keep them off the surface (I used a couple of battens to make a tent. My theory was it created a micro climate with the machine warmer than the surrounding air so preventing condensation.

James

 

[cornucopia]

my lathe used to be in a small industrial shed type building with just a single skin of steel- between turning days which was normally a week- it was sprayed with wd40 and the coverd with a old sheet-never any problems.

 

[dickm]

I had to keep my Myford engineering lathe in a very leaky garage for a couple of years. It had a fitted Myford-made plastic cover, of some sort of opaque plastic. This seemed to do the trick, as there was never any rust on it - though admittedly, being an engineering lathe, it probably had a fine coating of oil on everything.
I guess the other thing was that the garage was pretty well ventilated, and probably didn't change temperature very suddenly to cause condensation.

 

[wizer]

Just coat all the exposed metal with wax or vaseline. It'll be fine.

 

[CHJ]

I was having trouble with machine tooling, chucks, rests etc. suffering condensation rust, I fitted a 9watt low energy bulb (for long life) in the base of the cabinet and it's left on 24/7.
Never had a problem since, and fittings have enough warmth in them to feel comfortable to handle whatever time of year.
I was prepared to do the same with the lathes which are loosely covered with heavy fabric when not in use but they get enough sun heat during the daytime to hold them above shed ambient during the night so do not suffer from condensation but I have no doubt that a similar heat source would be more than enough.

Did the same sort of thing way back in the 60's with a 7watt car bulb on a 12 volt transformer in my tool cupboard and never had a rust problem.

 

[gasmansteve]

What fabric did you use Chas?.
Can`t seem to find any purpose made covers and even thought about adapting a garden bench cover, maybe even sweet talk the wifes mother to knock one up on her sewing machine :lol:
Steve

 

[CHJ]

Just treat the other half to some new curtains Steve, that's what had been draped over my lathe for 9 yrs before I bought it, and continued in use my end until a couple of months ago when a fancy single bed matress protection cover found its way into the shed.

The metal lathe has a childs cot blanket/throw (circa £2 IKEA I think) which manages to soak up the surplus oil and prevent any condensation settling.

Don't see any point in making a custom fit cover, a loose cover gives the option to cover up partially completed projects left on machines overnight regardless of head or tailstock position.

 

[Dalboy]

I went for the other option fully insulated workshop and thermostatically controlled heater (nice and warm in winter) absolutely no condensation problems

 

[boysie39]

Well!! my workshop is a galvenised shed and I have had a lathe of some kind in it for the past couple of years.There is no insulation and it has a concrete floor.
My protection is a spray of WD40 when finished and cover with 3 bath towels and have never had a problem with rust. Hope this helps, REgards Boysie.

 

[Gordon T]

Hello all,
my memory is not what it was, and I think groundhog day is creeping in, but have I mentioned fitting a sun tube underneath lathes. I have had one for some years on a plank hanging at the front of mine, costs the same as a 100watt bulb to run, have it set on an electric timer, to come on overnight and I do not have any rust, it keeps my workshop well above freezing with little cost.

GT