Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys

I am fixing up my dad shop. He and I recently purchased some old equipment table saw, jointer, bandsaw, thickness planer etc. The table saw and jointer have some rust on them. I lightly sanded the rust off the the pieces and have been fixing them up. The shop is going to be in his heated garage.

I was wondering if there is anything used to treat the steel equipment to help prevent rust? My dad wanted to treat them with an oil but I was not certain that was a good idea.

Is there any rust prevention methods used by other garage shop owners.

thanks alot
matt

There are a number of product available but I alway use paste wax on my cast iron surfaces. I recoat pretty often.

Steve Brown

Matt-
My stationary power tools are in the garage (unheated but in PacificNW, so never too cold-or hot and humid either).
I don't find that rust buildup is much of a problem. In a heated space, I wouldn't worry about it.
I'm pretty careful about keeping stuff from contaminating surfaces that will be glued or finished later- no silicones anywhere near the wood shop, for example.
That said, I have used a very light and well-polished coat of 'old-fashioned' paste floor wax on the table saw on occasion, but more to reduce friction than to prevent rusting.

Cheers
John

What Steve said - my biddy Link told me to use wax too.

You know though Matt you and your Dad might want to deal with the issue of RH in your shop too. I mention this because I maintain a constant 42 - 48% RH in my shop (basement) and my tools never rust even when not pretreated. Just a thought.

After i cleaned the rust off a few tools i had that i never used i sprayed them with wd-40 thinking that would be enough and it didn't last to long. The thing that worked the best for me was butchers wax. I just happened to have an old can laying around. It's pretty thick material so i lightly soaked a rag with mineral spirits and rubbed it into the wax then applied it to the tables. Every once in a while i reapply it. It works better then the wd-40 and wax dries where the wd-40 never really did.

BoeShield. Invented by the Boeing airplane people.
http://www.theruststore.com/Boeshield-T ... agodI2E_mg
Iturra Design sells it too.
-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

BoeShield. Invented by the Boeing airplane people.
http://www.theruststore.com/Boeshield-T ... agodI2E_mg
Iturra Design sells it too.
-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Johnson's paste wax is the best i have found.

I have Boeshield but have yet to put it on. When I get the shop up and going again, that will be my rust preventative/sliding agent of choice. I have used TopCote and it is good, but so is a basic wax...Johnson's or Trewax.

Make sure that you DO NOT use automotive wax. Many contain silicone which will contaminate your wood and therefore your finish. Have fun and play safe.

Darrin

You guys rock. Thanks from my dad and me.

While we are on the rust topic. Do you guys treat your hand tools in any way.

Nope, just clean them.

I also wax my cast iron tops with Johnson's paste wax only because that's what I have a can of. Probably no more than once a year works for me.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I wipe the hand tools down with wd-40 to clean any gum or grime off them. Planes and chisels. Then i put them in their storage case or boxes.

I purchased this Renissance wax from woodcraft and it is amazing. It's expensive, but very little is needed so it will last a long time. This stuff is used in museums to preserve metal, wood, etc.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2003235/462/Renaissance-Wax.aspx

_________________
Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

I use this and love it: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17471