Recommended lathe outside protection?

ACF50, as already advised, used liberally once every couple of months and be sure that no water gets through the tarp. If possible leave an air gap between the tarp and the lathe.

Our drill mill at the museum was left in a back garden for THREE years under a tarp, and was very rusty as a result. It was stripped right down, and I had to replace the lower spindle bearing. The rust was scraped carefully off the bed, which although stained, is none the worse for its treatment, as is the column. The motor was the only part which was kept in a dry place. There is a small ammount of pitting inside the R8 spindle, but not enough to seriously damage it.

For rusting to take place, two things are necessary, water and oxygen.

Coating with grease or oil (Which can wick itself into places that grease cannot ) will exclude both water and oxygen. If the tarp, is open at the bottom, moist air can fall out and the whole thing can "breathe".

In my old, uninsulated, unheated, workshop. the liberal coating of oil on the ML7 would go grey, but the lathe never rusted. The part emulsified oil was wiped off and replaced with clean oil.

Howard

Have I missed something? This thread is from 2017, the op wants to know how to remove the rust protection not which rust protection to use.

I'm not familiar with the stuff you want removing, but I'd be cautious about petrol on the original paint if it's in nice condition and you don't want to remove it.

Petrol will do the job fine . It does not attack paint. But personally i would try white spirit. No fags in the mouth either.

If that is no good then good old Gunk.

Steve.

Edited By Steviegtr on 07/08/2021 22:23:44

If you vigorously test a small inconspicuous patch with a solvent-dampened rag, you will be able to see straight away whether there is dissolved paint on the rag..

If you do use a strong solvent like petrol, work a bit of oil into exposed surfaces as you go - the solvent action seems to strip all oily residues from bare metal completely and rust starts to form on them with more-or-less immediate results, otherwise..

As a 'spray-on ', Dinitrol 77B , will be there long after the Waxoil has gone.

Are you sure both petrol and white spirit do *not* attack hardened paint, Steve? I've read contradictory advice elsewhere...! Obvs want to be sure before slapping it on.

Edited By choochoo_baloo on 09/08/2021 00:30:53

I personally wouldn’t recommend you get anywhere near flammable liquids. Try traffic film removers, etc.

Given the lathe may have been repainted or wearing different types of paint (instruction plates not excluded) the only reliable answer to the question is check on an inconspicuous area.

Robert Butler