Thread: Who covers their machines and why

I use covers on my equipment (TS BS, Router table Thichnesser/planer, bandsaw and SCMS)... large table cloths and big blankets from the Op shop.

I do this because there are often large changes in humidity overnight ... any dust attracts moisture ... and moisture means rust.

I always do a compressed air blow out of the machines after use too, and wax the cast iron regularly.

The covers are great for underlays on the layout table to protect finished surfaces on projects.

Regards

Rob

I have never covered machinery which were still being used daily. I always cover machinery being put out to pasture. The covers won't stop rust, but at least it keeps the bird crap on the easily removed cover rather than in every nook and cranny of the machine.

Yep, just use old sheets layered over the machine. In saying that it's only because they're in storage at my parents place till I get my own workspace, I'd just give them a good waxing every now and again if they were in use.

I cover all but the bandsaw - it has a nice layer of oxide to protect it as long as I brush it down. Jointer, bobbin sander, thicknesser, get covered.
As my dust collection is well below par at the moment, I need to keep the dust off any iron surface as I find that's what gets the rust started.

Hand tools cope fine, which is surprising as I'm 300m from the beach.

I have a couple of small (mystery ?) leaks in my shed so if I go away in winter I do cover my table saw.

Caught me out last night though, 114 mm , shed floor awash in 3 spots and rust spots already starting on the TS.

Generally throw a few old towels/ sheets over my machines. I get a fair amount humidity here during the summer time as I learned that anything left on peg boards or uncovered will slowly develop a fine layer of rust. Also its handy as I have a few leaks in the roof and it keeps everything dry.

No leaky roof these days.
Shop is generally vacced free of dust.
Low humidity climate.
No covers on machines.
No rusty.

Only my long bed jointer has a cloth cover (an old single bed fitted sheet); this machine only comes out a couple of times a year so keeping it covered stops me having to clean it down prior to use. The tables also have a coating of Silber-Gleit.

My Triton Workcenter and Triton router table both have timber covers but that's because I will often use one or both as an assembly table. Or more likely another horizontal surface to put thing on...

Yes, it helps heaps in a humid environment, the dust that collects on them is hygroscopic & that cause rust faster.

I use anything that is being thrown out of the house, old plastic shower curtains a good, they aren't heavy or bulky.

I have some painting drop sheets & a couple of bits of soft cloth backed vinyl that are good covers but a bit heavy & bulky to store while the machine is in use.

Another cover convert. Old cotton bed sheets, as it keeps the dust of the cast iron and minimises the rust. I am about a k from the beach, so humidity and salt spray are a factor as well.

Have recycled old sheets to the workshop for many a year,always cover up before leaving for the day.It helps keep moisture content down moreover if doubling the layering.

Cheers

I use old blankets which I think are thick enough to keep any moisture in the air at bay.

I use a couple of HTC commercial covers on my bandsaw and 10" table saw, seems to keep the rust at bay (Sydney near a river). Most of the other tools manage as best they can, not much dust can accumulate of the drill press and just about everything else I use these days is hand portable. Mate of mine uses some old acrylic backed curtain liners on his big machinery and it seems to work for him (he's in Botany near the salt water). I think just about anything that keeps dust off and atmospheric condensation off will work.

I cover my machine with wood dust, does this count lol