MetalworkingFun Forum

I just purchased my first Lathe and Milling Machine. They are both used, (around 3 years old I think). But still in perfect condition. 

I don't have room in my shop for them until June 2017. Even though I don't have the space for them in my shop I didn't want to let them slip threw my fingers. I got both pieces of equipment and all the accessories he had for the same price I was going to spend on a new but smaller lathe. I just couldn't pass it up!!

That being said I have to store both pieces until next June. They will be staying in my enclosed trailer until then. I'm a bit worried about the humidity that might be in the trailer once the snow starts to melt in the spring.

What should I do to protect the equipment from rusting? 
I have been told to cover them in plastic. Then told not to cover in plastic as it traps in the humidity. 
I have also been told to grease everything. Then told not to grease but to use a sticky oil. 
I want to protect them so they don't rust, but also easy to clean up once I set the machines up. If possible I don't want to have to spend hours cleaning before I can start using them. 

I'm just curious as to what others have done and how successful it was at preventing rust?

Trevor

I have a friend who is a machinist, and lives just a few blocks from the beach in San Francisco... i.e. salt air, 100% of the time. His cars rust out in record time.

Anyway, he swears by BoeSheild T9. Apparently, it was developed by Boeing for their shop which is in damp, rainy Seattle.

You have dry prairie air on your side Trevor. I moved back to Ontario from Alberta and had to store my equipment in a container. On the prairies WD40 might have been adequate but back here I was getting rust. Don't cover them with plastic, It will trap moisture. I've heard of the BoeShield Al mentioned but have never seen it here, I bought a gallon of Fluid Film rust preventative. Its lanolin based, works great, brush it on and you get great protection. Wipes off easily when you want to bring the machines back in service. Its available in spray cans, not sure what the coverage would be.

Either one of these should work just fine.

http://www.corrosionx.com/max-wax.html
http://www.fluid-film.com/

I've used BoeShield for a couple of decades and use it to treat my cast iron table saw and jointer tables but wouldn't use it for long term storage. It's more of a maintenance film rather than a storage film.

Ed

When I was teaching at a vo-tech I used LPS 3 to preserve the machines over the summer.  Lived & worked in eastern OK just across from Ft. Smith AR so it was quite humid.  The masonry instructor was amazed at the lack of corrosion and started using it on his trowels etc.  Just had to wipe it off at the beginning of the school year and they were good to go.

http://www.lpslabs.com/product-details/612

Excellent.
Thanks for the info guys.
I have access to Fluid Flim where I live. I may also have access to LPS3. A friend of mine is a Aircraft Mechanic. I'm sure he uses LPS3 when he does the annual inspection on my aircraft.
I've never seen BoeShield in my area.
I should be able to protect my machines for sure now!!
Trevor