rust problem

That's my best guess also, Leon. Up here in the Pacific Northwest (Bonney
Lake, WA) we just had a ton of rain. Then, it warmed up to an unseasonably
55-60 degrees. I hadn't been out in the shop for about two weeks. When I
went out and uncovered my tools (unheated, un-insulated shop) everything
looked good but the bandsaw. I always cover all my tools with a cotton
painters tarp. I neglected to cover the bandsaw, which, coincidentally, was
closest to the large shop doors. Although coated with Topcoat, it had rust
totally covering the table. I think all the rain and then the warm
temperatures caused steam to form in the shop, probably more-so closer to
the larger doors. The rust comes off really easily with a razor blade, so
no harm done, but it was a sobering sight.

Phil
Visit my Web Site www.philsfun.com

"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Have you tried relocating the jointer to some where else in the shop? I
> could be a draft problem.
>
> "Jim & Sharon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> In my unheated garage i have 4 big tools with cast iron tops, a unisaw a
>> jet 18" bandsaw, a jet shaper and a powermatic 54a joiner. with a monthly
>> application of topcoat the unisaw bandsaw and the shaper
>> stay rust free but the joiner needs to be recoated at least once a week.

Jim & Sharon wrote:
>
> In my unheated garage i have 4 big tools with cast iron tops, a unisaw a
> jet 18" bandsaw, a jet shaper and a powermatic 54a joiner. with a monthly
> application of topcoat the unisaw bandsaw and the shaper
> stay rust free but the joiner needs to be recoated at least once a week. Any
> idea why the joiner is different than the other three?
...

Difference in metallurgy and finish probably...

Jim,

Others have stated about the cast iron being different and I'll leave it
there but ask - are you covering the jointer with any kind of cover? It
must be a breathable fabric so moisture does not get trapped. If you can't
breathe thru the cover - don't cover your cast iron with it either.

Have any rubber mats or other coverings laying on the cement floor? Pick
them up and see if there is any moisture trapped where they were laying. May
want to remove them and then seal your cement floor when the weather
permits.

About two years ago I ran a test (using my old 4" cast iron jointer) to see
what products really kept rust at bay when exposed to an unheated shop in
upstate NY area. I divided the jointer off into 4 sections and covered 3
sections with a different product.

I had Topcoat (or Boeshield - don't recall), SlipIt, Johnson's Paste Wax and
left one section unprotected as the reference. The entire top was cleaned
using WD40 and steel wool, then cleaned off with mineral spirits and allowed
to dry before applying each product. The benchtop jointer was then placed in
the corner of the shop - raised off the floor about 12" and left to rust for
about two months.

The untreated section had a nice, even but light coat of rust. The
difference between SlipIt and Topcoat was barely noticeable at the time with
the edge finally going to Topcoat after waiting another month. But at the
two month mark, SlipIt had the edge.

Rust was visible on both of those sections. The Johnson's wax section was
third but just barely. After the about 6 months - there was a clear winner
(Topcoat) but all sections had considerable rust - none of the products
prevented rust. So re-application every month or two at the most (depending
on humidity levels) is necessary.

Now it boiled down to cost-effectiveness. Topcoat/Boeshield loose there if
you can re-apply before rust starts. Wax based products (Johnson's and
SlipIt) slowly absorb moisture and will allow rust to start but are far less
expensive. Johnson's (Butcher's wax also works) wax was the most economical
and it's the product I use today.

I still purchase a can of Topcoat now and again for spraying router bits,
blades and hand-tools simply because it's easier but only slightly more
effective and longer-lived than the wax products.

Bob S.


"Jim & Sharon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In my unheated garage i have 4 big tools with cast iron tops, a unisaw a
> jet 18" bandsaw, a jet shaper and a powermatic 54a joiner. with a monthly
> application of topcoat the unisaw bandsaw and the shaper
> stay rust free but the joiner needs to be recoated at least once a week.
Any
> idea why the joiner is different than the other three?
>
> My shop goes pretty much unused in the winter.
>
> thanks; Jim
>
> by next winter the garage will be heated and insulated.
>
>

Have you tried relocating the jointer to some where else in the shop? I
could be a draft problem.

"Jim & Sharon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In my unheated garage i have 4 big tools with cast iron tops, a unisaw a
> jet 18" bandsaw, a jet shaper and a powermatic 54a joiner. with a monthly
> application of topcoat the unisaw bandsaw and the shaper
> stay rust free but the joiner needs to be recoated at least once a week.
> Any
> idea why the joiner is different than the other three?
>
> My shop goes pretty much unused in the winter.
>
> thanks; Jim
>
> by next winter the garage will be heated and insulated.
>
>

Probably different alloy compositions, even though listed as cast iron. I
have a rust problem, and my jointer is the worst case. I apply Minwax
furniture wax, and try to remember to cover the tool with a painters drop
cloth. I live in NC; we have very humid cold, and condensation on cold
metal is a problem. Horizontal surfaces are the worst.

Steve

"Jim & Sharon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In my unheated garage i have 4 big tools with cast iron tops, a unisaw a
> jet 18" bandsaw, a jet shaper and a powermatic 54a joiner. with a monthly
> application of topcoat the unisaw bandsaw and the shaper
> stay rust free but the joiner needs to be recoated at least once a week.
> Any
> idea why the joiner is different than the other three?
>
> My shop goes pretty much unused in the winter.
>
> thanks; Jim
>
> by next winter the garage will be heated and insulated.
>
>

"Phil Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> That's my best guess also, Leon. Up here in the Pacific Northwest (Bonney
> Lake, WA) we just had a ton of rain. Then, it warmed up to an
> unseasonably 55-60 degrees. I hadn't been out in the shop for about two
> weeks. When I went out and uncovered my tools (unheated, un-insulated
> shop) everything looked good but the bandsaw. I always cover all my tools
> with a cotton painters tarp. I neglected to cover the bandsaw, which,
> coincidentally, was closest to the large shop doors. Although coated with
> Topcoat, it had rust totally covering the table. I think all the rain and
> then the warm temperatures caused steam to form in the shop, probably
> more-so closer to the larger doors. The rust comes off really easily with
> a razor blade, so no harm done, but it was a sobering sight.

I find that my sweat or a drop of water will cause rust on my TopCote
covered TS top if I neglect to wipe it off before it dries. IIRC TopCote
which was originally developed by the guys now making and marketing Empire
products. Again IIRC when I first started buying TopCote, 1989, it was
marketed as a product that made the TS top more slippery and made no mention
of preventing rust. I discovered that after using the product that I was no
longer having rust problems after 5 years of fighting rust. I think that
nothing will permanently stop condensation from forming rust but IMHO
TopCote requires the least amount of effort for the most amount of
protection.