Machine shop equipment sweating!!!

[Paperman]

To the the guys who have some iron that is not in a temperature controlled shop, how do you deal with it sweating? We are in a BAD temp swing right now and I have 3-4 machines that are taking it hard. They are inside but we went from 12 2 days ago to 49 today with heavy rain and fog. You could damn near drink the air, it’s heavy. I sprayed them down with WD until they were dropped with it. Any other help? The shop is coming this spring but other items stepped on front of it and time went away. Seems time and money never meet, one or the other.

 

[yaidunno]

I find that Fluid Film is a better product for protecting against and repelling water. My machines sat in the same situation for the better part of a year. I know its just machines and metal, but its a pretty helpless feeling. Best of luck getting that shop built soon!

 

[Cgantner5150]

Here in SE Louisiana I have that problem every year several times a year. I have found that real oil (I use hydraulic oil) on the South Bend and Bridgeport and keep air flowing seems to work well. I have two fans - one blowing on each machine from across the garage. They are repurposed AC fans. Use them in the summer to help with the heat also. One day I’ll mount them but for now just sitting on the floor propped up at about a 20 degree angle (piece of 4x4 under the front.

 

[DenisG]

If the metal surface of the machine is below the dew point, then condensation will form on the metal surface. If you keep a lit incandescent light bulb inside the machine, usually it provides enough heat to keep the temperature of the machine above the dew point and it prevents condensation from forming. Old trick.

 

[ndnchf]

I use Boeshield T-9 for all the machines in my garage. It was developed with Boeing for the aerospace industry, but has been very popular for this purpose.

https://boeshield.com/

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I have some heavy plate tables and fixtures. I use CRC 3-36 as a replacement for WD, which I thought was somewhat useless.

 

[Fbmoose48]

Boeshield and breathable machine covers.

 

[Smallblock]

I feel your pain. 11am yesterday it was 63 degrees. At 11am today it's 19.



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[larry_g]

If the metal surface of the machine is below the dew point, then condensation will form on the metal surface. If you keep a lit incandescent light bulb inside the machine, usually it provides enough heat to keep the temperature of the machine above the dew point and it prevents condensation from forming. Old trick.

X2 on this. Keep the machine warmer than the air and it will not condensate. This is one of the big advantages of in floor heat, it keeps the machines warm.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Druder]

I just opened my garage door and pretty much everything metal condensed within five minutes so I feel your pain. Along with the light a fan is a great suggestion. Air moving with get the evap process started.

 

[gtr1999]

Oh man, I am at work today till 5:00 and it's the same crappy weather in CT. A few days ago in the teens, yesterday and today in the 50's. My garage is insulated and sheetrocked but I have to get home to check it. When ever I bring in bare metal, like a chuck or machine I spray them down with Fluid Film and leave it on. If I am going to leave them a while I leave it wet,otherwise I wipe them down after 30 minutes. I have a furnance in there so I might kick it on to dry out the shop.

 

[Chicken]

I just opened my garage door and pretty much everything metal condensed within five minutes so I feel your pain. Along with the light a fan is a great suggestion. Air moving with get the evap process started.

me too, last night. All the tools I spent hours rust removing/restoring INSTANTLY get surface rust. Vice, drill press, band saw are the big ones...bummer.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Light bulb or heat lamp in or next to the machine, keeps the machine above the dew point. Frequent application of machine oil on exposed metal.

 

[supersaiyan93]

Here in SE Louisiana I have that problem every year several times a year. I have found that real oil (I use hydraulic oil) on the South Bend and Bridgeport and keep air flowing seems to work well. I have two fans - one blowing on each machine from across the garage. They are repurposed AC fans. Use them in the summer to help with the heat also. One day I’ll mount them but for now just sitting on the floor propped up at about a 20 degree angle (piece of 4x4 under the front.

Did you find your shop condensed real bad the last few days or so? My new-to-me shop in Houma gets water on the slab occasionally, and I'm really trying to find out if it's condensation or seepage. Pretty sure it's condensation since it's an uninsulated steel building.

 

[larry_g]

Did you find your shop condensed real bad the last few days or so? My new-to-me shop in Houma gets water on the slab occasionally, and I'm really trying to find out if it's condensation or seepage. Pretty sure it's condensation since it's an uninsulated steel building.

Tape a piece of visqueen to the floor sealing all 4 edges. If it get wet underneath then it's seepage. If it stays dry under then it's condensation.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[My Old Tools]

CEILING FAN! Move some air.

 

[CKS1955]

CEILING FAN! Move some air.

Boeshield and breathable machine covers.

Ditto on the above two responses.

Jay

 

[manwithtools]

Air circulation, as much as you can get. Even if it's cheap box fans blowing across the equipment, they will prevent most condensation.

 

[supersaiyan93]

Tape a piece of visqueen to the floor sealing all 4 edges. If it get wet underneath then it's seepage. If it stays dry under then it's condensation.

lg
no neat sig line

Ugh, I think I know how this one goes then. I had a piece of plywood laying flat on the concrete for a few months with some equipment set on it. When I finally got around to picking up the plywood, it was all moldy underneath. Sounds like I likely have a seepage problem them. That really *****. This is a 60x45 slab that's like a foot thick. In the middle of a flat field in Louisiana where we're lucky if the water table starts underground.