Cast iron surface alert on East coast

[ear3]

If you are on the East Coast, today is one of those days where you might want to check up on your cast iron components or surfaces in the shop, if it is not climate controlled. The combination of a huge upward temperature swing, and significant humidity, has had me spending the last hour cleaning a thin coating of rust off of many of my cast-iron surfaces and planes in my garage shop, even though I noticed this morning that it was coming and took some prophylactic measures.

 

[rst]

Our glass storage bay where my Powermatic 68 lives looked like someone had power washed everything.  Opening the door the last two days has been like stepping into a refrigerator.  Cold glass or metal, 60% temps,and 100% humidity makes for mucho condensation.  I have a magnetic cover for my table saw which keeps the top pristine.

 

[lunchman]

Went through the same yesterday here in Mass., everything in my garage was dripping with condensation. I sprayed down all my cast iron tops, but they'll need a bit of TLC this morning. I couldn't believe how wet everything was.

60 degrees F here again this morning, by the time the Pats game starts this evening temps will be in the 20s, dropping into the teens. Crazy weather. 

-Dom

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

My woodworking shed is insulated, sealed good enough and controlled temp year round, with an elevated joist floor.

But my welding shed is not sealed and not controlled currently with a dirt floor. Moisture in there is a real issue weekly. I go with a multi approach to combat rust. I spray all steel with CRC 3-36 and have a box fan blowing constantly to circulate air. I think CRC 3-36 is much better than WD-40 and other products. I've seen thick condensation on steel parts, welding tables, drill press chucks, etc. and once that water evaporates, no rust. CRC provides an excellent barrier. Without that fan, evaporation takes so much longer on the large temp and humidity swings here in middle TN.

I'm slowly sealing in the welding shed, adding recycled denim insulation that comes in weekly food delivery boxes, a pile 6 ft high now. A few months and I'll have enough to do the whole shed. Then put up OSB sheets on the walls. Cheap, simple, and can get dirty from metal grinding. Lastly will be to put in a floor that seals out wicking moisture from the ground, but I don't want concrete. Just too tiring to stand on for long days.