Preparing for long period of disuse...

Hi folks...

So, I'm having surgery next week so the workshop is going to be out of use for possibly a few months. Is there any preparations I should be making, such as giving everything a heavy coat of way oil perhaps?

Thanks.

J

I hope the surgery goes well.

I guess how much prep you need to do in the workshop depends a little on how hard you normally have to work to keep things rust free. I can pretty much leave mine to its own devices. Never seen any signs of rust on my machines. Occasionally get a light surface corrosion on clean steel stock but generally that’s from sweaty hands. If the shop is closed up and dry it will probably look after itself better than if you are in and out breathing all that moist breath into it.

I would focus on having a good clear up so it’s all nice and welcoming for when you return. Have a think about what you will want to do when you get back to it so you have something to look forward to and everything is to hand.

I don’t know what your surgery is but if lifting is going to be an issue for a while get everything heavy stowed away or where you want it while you can.
Apart from that a general wipe over with the oily rag, lubricate your machines and bring anything really precious into the house.

I think you will find stuff will suggest itself to you as you tidy up.

Just my thoughts really.

Anyway as I say the best of luck with the surgery and I wish you a good and speedy recovery.

Best Wishes Martin

Much like Martin. In my case I would need to drill a hole through my garage wall and plumb in my dehumidifier drain (bypassing the normal 2 litre collection vessel). For several months you perhaps should be thinking of grease, rather than oil? It would need much more cleaning off, eventually, mind.

Security is a priority, too.

Good luck with the surgery.

I am also closing the workshop up for approximately three months, the dehumidifier will be left running with a drain running through the wall and everything will be given a generous spraying of WD40 or Duck Oil. Fortunately the house alarm system also links to the workshop so security shouldn’t be a problem.

..don't leave machine drive belts under tension..!

Diogenes I never gave that a thought, I shall slacken them all off this morning.

J

If you have time put everything away, clear the work bench and make room to move about. When you are recovering you will start using the workshop before others think you should do so (I did after my first hip replacement). Tidying allows the easy use of the workshop while room allows you to move around with ease.

All the best

JA

Thanks for the tips folks. I think I'll stick with the way oil rather than grease. It's elbow surgery so I may be able to potter a bit carefully. Will make sure to slacken all belts. The tidy up is a given, but I shall give some thought to making things a bit more accessible. Maybe some marking out I can do for upcoming projects. Certainly going to take advantage of the time building my F360 muscles!

Thanks for the well wishes.

J

The fan belts on my tractors spend their entire lives under tension and the tractors may set unused for 6 to 8 months at a time. I don't think modern belts need to be relieved of their tension. The only factor I see with drive belts left under tension (my larger lathe, 10 X 24) is that the belts may take a set on the curve of the pulleys and cause a slight uneveness at startup but that goes away in the first few seconds of operation. If it is reasonably easy to relieve the tension, go ahead and relieve them. It is very difficult on my lathe so it doesn't happen.

Get a bunch of old ME mags and PDFs together too, always handy for a good read and good for ideas

All the best

Someone made a suggestion in another thread of spraying ISO32 hydraulic oil using a discarded kitchen or laundry product spray bottle. Haven't tried it but it sounds like a quick easy way to spray down ways etc with a protective oil coating.

For three months I would not worry about belts. I worked for years on large air conditioning systems that sat unused for half the year or more and never saw a V belt that took a set in that time. Several years might be something to worry about but not several months.

For preventing corrosion on machined surfaces I've always found Loctite sf 7803 to be most effective. Not often stocked by most UK suppliers these days unfortunately.

Good luck with the surgery.