Machinery storage in Canadian garage - thoughts?

Oil it well so any condensation or "frost" does not wet the metal.

My Myford is in the un-heated attatched garage in Waterloo.

Well, *I* myself wouldn't do much at all.

But you could improvise cheap dry storage by wrapping and taping it with the heaviest polyethylene film you can find, with a 50 lb bucket of calcium chloride opened up inside.

I had my machine tools in long term storage while we built the shop. In our case, they were in surplus shipping containers.

I suggest to you that you buy a pail of cosmoline and cover all the exposed surfaces until such time that you use the machine. The problem you may experience is the machine condensing water when the machine cools off at night, then warmer daytime air comes in contact with the machine when the door(s) is/are opened. The mass of the machine makes the warming process take a lot more time than you have at your disposal, so the machine will condense water endlessly. We had a dreadful time with that very thing while our possessions were in storage. Certain surfaces actually dripped water in some instances. Bear in mind, we live in Western Washington, where it's quite damp. Your case may be different.

Harold

Hey Jeff,

You don't say what size the machine is, but even assuming it is the size of a Bridgeport you should have no trouble.

The "cold" itself won't hurt the machine of course, but if the machine gets cold and then there is a warm spell, you'll get condensation.

Set it in place in the garage up on a skid, or on some 2 X 4's. Oil all the ways good, then spray it all over with LPS 3. Get some refrigerator cartons or other large cardboard to make a box all around it, tighter fitting the better, and best if insulated with some styrofoam. Get two 100 watt light bulbs, and a small thermostat. Put the thermostat set to say 60 degrees on the machines table, and the two bulbs as low down as you can get them without touching anything (especially the cardboard or foam). Plug it in, and it will keep the machine from getting any condensation.

Take care. Good luck.

Brian Laws>Hello,

I would add that it helps to be able to inspect the equipment once a month or so. It would be far better to head off a problem with a little LPS than to discover a gigantic mess a year down the road.

If you happen by Kew Bridge museum in the UK, they have a very nice steam engine that they say sat outside for about 50 years IIRC with only Lanolin on the bare metal parts to protect them. The bare metal surfaces of that engine look like it was made yesterday.

A tube or two of Lanolin from MSC would at least protect the exposed metal..

OTOH, if you have any kind of enclosure around it, a 60 watt light bulb should keep the moisture away. OK, where you are, maybe 100 watts.

Hello,

Thanks all for the comments. Now I just have to go look at the mill and decide on it. Looks like it won't be as much of an issue being in my garage as I thought. I knew it was the condensation that would be the issue.

Thanks, Jeff

Jeff Williams wrote:

Replace 'pail of cosmoline' with "gallon of LPS-3 and I have to agree.

I would brush LPS-3 on all exposed metal surfaces, and probably put saran film on the bed and exposed ways once it had tacked up.

Then I would put a 60 watt incandescent trouble light inside the door on the machine (if it has one) or otherwise make an effort to put a bit of heat on it to prevent condensation.

A canvas cover (that breathes) is probably a good idea as well.

Cover any entry points for rodents, you don't want nests in there.

Jim

snip-

Way to go, Jim. Expose me for the ancient fool I am!

I'm not familiar with LPS-3, but I can tell you that removing cosmoline is one hell of a lot harder (messier) than putting it on. Very effective, though. The only place I found rust on my Bridgeport was on the table, where I had badgered the cosmoline. Not serious, just a slight stain now, but I think you know how I feel about rust.

Harold

Oh dear me. It's trash now, eh? I'll buy it off of you for the scrap value....

Jim

Hey, you can store it **FREE** in my heated garage. Please include a transformer if it doesn't run on 240VAC.

Make sure it has R8 or #40 taper.

Wouldn't want all the oil to puddle in the bottom of the bearings....

I got the idea of spray chain lube on it its a heavey oil .I do not think it evaporates so quickly

Yeah and it takes dynamite to get it off....