Hey everyone! I just moved from dry Colorado to a much more humid area and I'm concerned about keeping my lathe in good shape. Back in Colorado, I didn't have to worry about rust at all, but now I want to make sure my Jet 1221 stays rust-free. I've been using a custom table and a grill cover for protection, but any tips on specific measures I should take would be really appreciated! What do you recommend?
3 Answers
I generally wax the bed too, but the times I worry most about rust are those damp spring days when the concrete sweats. When that happens, I just turn the heat up to dry everything out fast.
To keep your lathe safe from rust, a great tip is to coat the ways and any exposed cast iron with paste wax. Just make sure to reapply it every few months. It really helps create a barrier against moisture!
Definitely! If you do happen to get rust, don't stress—just use something like evaporust. The key is to tackle it as soon as you see any signs of rust, which often comes from neglect.
Have you tried Boeshield? It’s a spray-on protector that leaves a thin film over the surface. It’s great in humid conditions since moisture beads up on it, rather than soaking in. Just make sure to reapply it after using your lathe, especially if there’s a lot of wood dust around.
Thanks for the advice! Is there a specific paste wax you recommend? I’ve mainly used car wax, so I'm not too familiar with the right types for this.