Rust prevention Cover

[woodmang]

I currently have a beginning shop in an I insulated garage in IL. With winter coming I am looking to protect my Table Saw, Band Saw, and Drill Press tables from corosion.

I watched Marc's Band Saw setup video in which he described the cleaning, Boeshield and wax. My quesion is, I saw on some other forums where it was suggested to also cover cast iron surfaces with something to prevent condensation. They had suggested moving blankets. I am looking for what material may be best for my wife to make at home.

Is a material that breathes better, or something that does not? I know the point is to keep moisture off in the form of condensation.

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[woodmang]

That's supposed to be UNinsulated garage. Sorry phone typing!

[Dave H]

IMO the uninsulated part isn't as important as a vapor barrier under the garage slab, I've fought the rust thing for years it's very frustrating. I've had many different shops in the past many of them in unisulated garages and it was always the same rust issues lots of moisture issues. Now fast forward to the future I built my new shop it's 36x36 when I poured the shop floor I made sure that I had a proper vapor barrier 6mil plastic sheeting taped at the seems when I set up the screeds for getting the slab at a constant grade I used steel stakes wherever they penitrated the vapor barrier I smeared roffing mastic around the stakes. Once the concrete was poured, and rodded off when the steel stakes where pulled the preasure of the concrete pushes the mastic into the penitration hole, and sealed the vapor barrier. I had this shop uninsulated for 3yrs befor I insulated, and rocked the inside of my shop. For those 3yrs I really didn't have the rusting issues that I've had in other shops. The difference was proper vapor barrier now maybe the moving blankets will help, but in my experience wherever something was sitting on a cast iron surface that spot was extra rusty sometimes even pitted at that location. So I know there is nothing you can do at this point to address the vapor barrier issue, but perhaps before winter come on seal your concrete slab with a good sealer, call a concrete supply co. in your area, and ask for the best sealer they have and apply it to the slab also make sure that the downspouts from the gutter system is directing the water away from the structure, in my new shop I've routed the water to some drywells that I dug away from my shop. Maybe even a dehumidifier inside the garage durring the winter months. Goodluck

[Dave H]

I should have said don't go to HD, or big blue for the sealer they have crap when it comes to sealers, or any concrete additives, or materials you want the company that supplys the concrete contractors they have the knowledge, and the products that are the latest, and greatest. When I use to do alot of concrete flat work Web Sheen was the best sealer on the market at that time, I'm not sure what the best product is now.

[woodmang]

I should have said don't go to HD, or big blue for the sealer they have crap when it comes to sealers, or any concrete additives, or materials you want the company that supplys the concrete contractors they have the knowledge, and the products that are the latest, and greatest. When I use to do alot of concrete flat work Web Sheen was the best sealer on the market at that time, I'm not sure what the best product is now.

Thank you for your response however, sealing really isn't an option for me either given money and the amount of stuff currently in my garage. I should also note that I park my tractor which carries a lot of snow back into the garage after plowing...I thought about a dehumidifier, but was worried that may dry out the wood that is already in there? I'm not sure what my best option is!