Lathe Cover

I have a South Bend Heavy 10 and I use a 4-Wheeler cover that you can get from Bass Pro, Cabelas, or Acadamy. It has elastic around the bottom so it seals up nice; and it is camoflauge to boot:). Seems like they are around $40.00.

Zach
 
Should these covers used on machine tools be airtight like plastic or should they be permeable (breathable)? I was concerned about a plastic cover holding in moisture when the temp/humidity changes and was going to make one out of light canvas. I am mostly concerned with keeping sawdust and grit off in my small multi-use shop. Anyone ever have a problem with one type or the other?
Greg
 
My garage door drips water on my lathe so I need water tight. I hope keeping the lathe slathered in way oil will keep it from rusting.
 
On this subject, my shop is unheated and out here it can get clear down into the twenties in winter.........sometimes it'll even get down to 30-40 degrees inside where my lathe sets. If I cover it should I run a 60watt bulb or something under the cover? I'm sure that the extra heat "can't hurt" but I really have no idea how prone a lathe is to rusting. I've seen them setting in open barns and shops for years. Any comments?


thanks


al
 
It will rust right in front of your eyes. Keep it slathered in way oil or at the very minimum 3in1 machine oil. In my experience automotive motor oil does not prevent rust.
 
WD40 works pretty good,

I've worked in shops where we used WD40 in the refillable spray bottles. Sprayed in on the unprotected surfaces of Bridgeports and lathes.
 
crb said:
I hope keeping the lathe slathered in way oil will keep it from rusting.
Click to expand...

That’s the best you can hope for. My G4003G is in a garage where the temp can reach 20-30 during the winter and 90+ during the summer. I keep it clean with WD40 and apply motor oil on the ways after each cleaning session or after every second or third use, no rust yet :D

Common sense will go a long way.
 
I worked in a shop years ago that always had a problem with flys. One of the apprentices brought in a barn fogger and ran it over the weekend to get the flys. Monday morning the place was solid red with rust. No flys.

Mike Swartz
 
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A small fan works wonders….Keep the air circulating especially when the air temp. outside is higher than the inside temp….I keep a small fan running all winter and spring…Just my 2 cents…Rick
 
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