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Thread: Do you cover your machine?
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12th May 2020, 02:41 PM #16Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2017
- Location
- Adelaide
- Age
- 56
- Posts
- 25
Do you cover your machine?
Yep, if it's not on, it's not on!
I always cover my machines when not in use, it helps to keep dust off them which aids with avoiding corrosion.
I've found that the cheap motorcycle covers available from Cheap As Chips work very nicely as machine covers and that a BBQ cover slips nicely over the single point t&c grinder.
I like the nice cheap alternatives.
Cheers,
Creedy
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12th May 2020, 03:15 PM #17Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2017
- Location
- Geelong, Australia
- Age
- 57
- Posts
- 2,651
Mine generally get covered - old doona covers or bed sheets. The Van Norman mill and the shaper prefer fitted sheets as they pull in around the base and don't leave you with excess material that drags on the floor, collects dirt and becomes a trip hazard when you stand on one end and then step through the drape...
Definitely need to make sure they have some form of oil etc on bare metal parts before covering. Don't wipe them down perfectly clean with a dry cloth (or any solvent) before covering as they end up too clean and will have fine surface rust after as little as a couple of weeks.
Steve
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12th May 2020, 08:54 PM #18Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2016
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 283
Dust
Sydney - humidity. Sawdust and 'other' dust holds moisture.
So I cover both the lathe and the mill bed with light plastic sheeting. Stuff accumulates on top of the plastic. No condensation underneath.
Incidentally, when I bought the lathe I clamped a number of square 10 W 'Fireproof' resistors to various places out of sight, to keep the lathe warm and above the condensation temperature. This has worked well over the last 20 years. Can't remember: about 20 W total power consumption.
Cheers
Roger
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13th May 2020, 12:52 AM #19Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Location
- N.W.Tasmania
- Posts
- 1,407
I like your idea using 10W resistors Roger, I have thought of doing the same thing, but never got around to doing anything about it. Fortunately rust is not too much of an issue for me, only 4 km from the coast, but must be far enough to keep salt away, but close enough to limit heavy frosts even though I am in NW Tasmania. Frosts nowhere near as bad here as at Bathurst where I grew up.
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13th May 2020, 03:10 AM #20
Hi Guys,
I have a tubular frost heater, about four feet long that I use in the workshop in winter time. Its basically a long 230 W 240 volt element inside a 50 mm diameter alloy tube. Originally intended to be put under your car in winter. I got mine from the junk pile. There is no makers name, rating label or anything else on it to identify the maker.
I do confess that the workshop air temperature has never dropped below 40F at any time since it was put up.
Even when it has been 20F outside.Best Regards:
Baron J.
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13th May 2020, 01:26 PM #21Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Athelstone, SA 5076
- Posts
- 4,255
I use old beach or large bathroom towels
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13th May 2020, 05:07 PM #22Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Location
- gold coast
- Posts
- 303
I cover my lathe and mini mill and all the other odd pieces of machinery with old bed sheets which have absorbed oil over the years and now have a lovely patina.
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14th May 2020, 09:27 AM #23
Cover mill & lathes metal & wood even 6x4 BS I use to use tge material backed tanle cloths from $2 shops but they no long sell them. These wprked best as moisture was kept on the surface no condensation under it. Since moving north have to put up with cheap plastic degradable tarps.
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