Winterising tools

[brewdexta]

Now the weather has turned it was only a matter of time before I got condensation on the lathes and mills. The last couple of years I've tried various spray on oils and waxes with varying degrees of success in keeping rust caused by condensation away.

WD40 is next to useless unless you spray it very frequently. Gibbs is a bit better needing less frequent treatment and Bilt Hamber Dynax UC is better still needing just one coat.

Using a dust sheet definitely helps reduce condensation, probably because less damp air moves over the cold metal. NO point trying to use a dehumidifier as I would be dehumidifying Yorkshire.

But they all don't prevent it entirely and where water can pool for any length of time then it gets worse.

I was going to get a small pellet boiler with a built in thermostat but I'm a bit skint so that's for next year.

So this year I am trying high viscosity way oil, the kind used on vertical slides, it has the consistency of phlegm but doesn't take too long to brush on. I have covered the Colchester and Myford lathes both Tom Senior mills and the Warco mill/drill.

It is very sticky so I will have to give them a good clean off in the spring however I have loads of DIY on at the moment so I don't think I will need to use them until then.

 

[rtbcomp]

Have you tried Duck Oil? A firm I did some work for produced precision ground silver steel and the sprayed duck oil on it to stop it rusting.

 

[brewdexta]

Not yet but I would guess it would perform similar to WD40 or Gibbs, Fine on tools in the drawer but not big lumps of cold cast iron and steel where water can pool. I have tried a few different sprays, I keep saying I will do a back to back test of various products on an old cast iron table I have. Maybe this year.....

 

[gordon stephenson]

We always used Shell Ensis fluid for protecting any machined turbine parts, A bit like wax oil but much better.

 

[knighty]

what about spray on chain oil for forklifts ?

customer at work gave me a can out of his van for my forklift... it's magic stuff

sprays out like WD40, but as soon as it hits anything is turns into some kind of cobweb jizz stuff... sticks to everything you spray it onto and lasts for ages

when it's on you can rub it around a bit with your hand too spread it out a bit if you want

sticks on great, it won't run down verticals etc.

 

[Bill Edwards]

what about spray on chain oil for forklifts ?

customer at work gave me a can out of his van for my forklift... it's magic stuff

sprays out like WD40, but as soon as it hits anything is turns into some kind of cobweb jizz stuff... sticks to everything you spray it onto and lasts for ages

when it's on you can rub it around a bit with your hand too spread it out a bit if you want

sticks on great, it won't run down verticals etc.

I've started using chain lube a lot for things that would normally see an oilcan - locks, hinges/pivots etc.
You know it'll run in then turn to grease, good stuff.

 

[brewdexta]

I have a bucket loads of the gooey slide way oil so will use that for now and see how it goes. Never heard of the forklift stuff, what's it called?

 

[ronan]

What about those vp90 sachets that give off a vapour ? Anyone tried them ? I see them advertised for use in gun cabinets, and they do a spray as well.

 

[sardine]

Tool station spray wax. It works, and its cheap.

 

[wyn]

A small tubular heater with thermostat put somewhere in the machine casting would keep the chill off the metal.
I think some people may use lightbulbs as well to keep a bit of heat in the castings.

 

[Shox Dr]

Where's damp air getting in Andy. Sounds like you need to walk round with a cuppa in one hand and a big tin of expanding foam inthe other. You only have to do it once

 

[anjum]

Might be worth trying Phos-kleen B. Maybe some wd40 type stuff after it.

 

[anjum]

A very very sticky solution is Wynns viscotene, especially on threads and sliders etc. Be warned it is sticky!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wynns-1831028-80179-Viscotene-500/dp/B009T7ALJU

 

[brewdexta]

I don't think it will be possible to seal every hole given the wind around here, it isn't like a sieve though, I have filled all the obvious gaps. As soon as you open the door you have a new lot of damp air, its the Pennines, comes with the territory

The wife and kids are out and I'm painting the Dexta cylinder head on the kitchen table - what are rebel

 

[armalites]

Duck Oil is much better than WD40 at protecting stuff. I was watching a lathe on ebay recently that had been treated with some green protectant that looked really good, be useful to know what it was. It said 5yr protection.

The bit that bugs me is when you you've been keeping an eye on stuff regularly then you forget and check a couple weeks later and find surface rust

 

[mpats]

I'm not sure on cost, but ACF-50 is very good. I obtained a 5litre tub of it as it was out of date and use a normal garden sprayer to apply but it does come in aerosol cans.

 

[armalites]

Some interesting stuff here

http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/Finishes/Shield_Technology/shield_technology.html

 

[Bill Edwards]

Never heard of the forklift stuff, what's it called?

Chain lube, if it's what I'm thinking (think it must be). I use it on chains for farm equipment, probably exactly the same as is on motorbikes but that's a guess.

I use some stuff by specialist aerosols (you see how good it is when you spray a chain then take it apart afterwards to remove a link and see how gooey it really is in side) but this is probably as good and have used it:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Morri...975311?hash=item4b05dde4cf:g:utEAAOSwZVlXqJ-Q

 

[armalites]

Clear waxoyl applied with a brush is probably as good as anything else, not much use if you need to use the tool at short notice though

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Where's damp air getting in Andy. Sounds like you need to walk round with a cuppa in one hand and a big tin of expanding foam inthe other. You only have to do it once

I had a pal who wanted to use his small shed as a darkroom and tried that. He sprayed it round some 'light leaks' at the door and had to break his way out when it sealed the door solid.