Do you put dust covers over your machines

[Robert Haas]

I am now the proud owner of a big 5 axis Mill and it will be homed in my dusty, dirty glass shop.

I was thinking I would keep a dust cover on it, and wondered if this is a common thing? (Never seen my buddies do it)

 

[PT Doc]

How big is this mill?

 

[red94chev]

In a glass shop? I would most likely cover it, or at least as best as you can. I would want to minimize any weird stuff getting into the machine/coolant.

 

[Toothaker]

I was thinking about all the smart alec responses I could give, but "glass shop"... yes, put a dust cover on it.

 

[48RON54]

fine......i'll be the one to let my lack of maturity show...........


Don't be a fool, wrap your tool

 

[APEowner]

I cover mine. I bought a gas grill cover for the lathe and I had an upholstery shop make a cover for the mill.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

I cover all machines that only see occasional use as we get a ton of aluminum oxide dust in the air from scotchbriteing aluminum.

 

[MadMechMaster]

I cover mine for dust too, but mostly for condensation control since my shop is not heated. Cold iron + damp air = rust

 

[57JoeFoMoPar]

Generally, No. But I do keep a dust cover on my new HTP Invertig211, mainly because I don't want dust/paint/etc getting on the circuitry. Any machines that are less complex, no way.

 

[larry_g]

I split the shop and have the machine tools separated from the 'dirty' area. I have one big horz mill that I have thrown a sheet over in the dirty area. I found that the sheet held moisture and left rust spots where it was touching bare steel. So damned if you do and damned if you don't kinda thing. I would not want any machine tool around glass particles, they would grind the ways into oblivion very quick I think.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[bob15]

How big is it? The 5-axis cnc machine's I've seen are a half million and up and are 10'+ long and 8'+ wide......

 

[apollo11]

fine......i'll be the one to let my lack of maturity show...........


Don't be a fool, wrap your tool

Wrap and Tap?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Because of problems with flash rust in my part of the country, I keep cut sheets of cardboard on the machined surfaces of my table saw, scroll saw, drill press and sander. The vises (when not in use) get covered, first with cloth, then a plastic bag on top of the cloth.

 

[22george]

I cover mine for condensation control and to keep dust off. I do sanding and grinding in my barn. Mark in Indiana, I like the idea of cardboard on the machine surfaces. I'm going to do it as well.

 

[leg17]

Have used shower curtains for machine covers.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

22:
I also coat the machined surfaces with furniture paste wax. Not only helps prevent the flash rust, but also keeps the surface slick to slide the workpiece.

 

[trekgod3]

I use black trash bags on all my equipment. Air compressor, drill press, sander, bench grinder and power washer

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All:
It's been my experience to put something between a plastic covering and the machine. Like a bed sheet. Otherwise, you may have a problem with condensation.

 

[Fretters]

I use/put cotton bedsheets over pretty much everything of mine, when not in use.

 

[ilovevocs]

How big is it? The 5-axis cnc machine's I've seen are a half million and up and are 10'+ long and 8'+ wide......

Guys are doing 5 axis machining on taig mills these days.

 

[tarmy]

Buy one of the good large covers for full size table saw with extension table. They have magnets to hold them on...and will reduce the settlement of moisture on the ground surfaces that can rust.

I cover all my large tools to keep them from rusting, getting **** on them....and paint if I am painting up a welding project...


You can see the cover over my saw in this...

 

[mikegt4]

I had some rust problems in my non-climate controlled shop. I started covering my lathe with a HF "moving blanket" and that has seemed to solve the problem. They are cheap, usually around $5-6 for a 72" x 80" on sale or with a coupon. They also have them in a 40" x 72" size. I get the blue ones.

 

[PelicanPines]

My issues are... two garage cats... I used to get paw print rust spots.

My X Y table is fluid filmed and covered with oil rags and a plastic bag. Table saw and cast iron router table get cardboard AND hf moving blanket. The blanket holds the cardboard on.

My articulating drill press head gets a camping bag over it... mostly because I don't want it visible when my doors are open....

 

[jonesg]

I am now the proud owner of a big 5 axis Mill and it will be homed in my dusty, dirty glass shop.

I was thinking I would keep a dust cover on it, and wondered if this is a common thing? (Never seen my buddies do it)

Worried about glass dust on a machine that generates metal dust and chips in its only purpose in life.?
I mean come on.

 

[larry_g]

Worried about glass dust on a machine that generates metal dust and chips in its only purpose in life.?
I mean come on.

You sir are not a machinist. On a machine tool with ways the glass dust or any other abrasive will soon grind the ways so that the precision of the machine is gone. Normal cuttings are huge compared to abrasive dust that does all the damage. Good machinists and machine tools go to extremes to keep the ways clean and lubed.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Hexen]

I had some rust problems in my non-climate controlled shop. I started covering my lathe with a HF "moving blanket" and that has seemed to solve the problem. They are cheap, usually around $5-6 for a 72" x 80" on sale or with a coupon. They also have them in a 40" x 72" size. I get the blue ones.

HF recently started offering a new free-with-purchase coupon for a new smaller size of moving blanket, too (40"x50" IIRC). I haven't managed to catch them in stock yet since apparently they've been very popular, flying off the shelves as soon as they get more in.

 

[davewo]

What is a glass shop? We have a shop at work we call the glass shop, but it's for machining ceramics and other like materials. All the machines have some sort of dust suppression. If you do a lot of blasting, I'd put money into controlling the dust.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Yes, yes, and yes. Dirt, dust, and grit has a way to get into the bearings and drives, anything that is worth protecting needs a cover. Especially around abrasives (and glass is an abrasive)... you gotta do what you can to keep your new baby clean, otherwise you throw your accuracy out the window.