Do tool covers prevent rust on cast iron?

[Roger Jensen]

I apologize if this has been asked/answered before, but do you folks recommend tool covers such as this to prevent rust on your tools (HTC cover on Amazon)?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZSKH086VL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Other threads say the rust is due to humidity, so I'd like to know if such a cover would help in that situation.

Thanks,

Roger

[Mike Cutler]

Roger.

I have never had much luck with those "BBQ covers". My Tablesaws have a layer of cardboard, covered with an old towel that has been sprayed with WD-40, and a piece of 3/8" plywood that cover the tops. Same with my bandsaws. They also have a few layers of Marine paste wax on them too.

My shop is an unheated, non climate controlled garage, I don't even store handtools in my shop because of rust problems. My jointer and planer are susceptible to rust, and I have to keep after them more so.

[Bob Rufener]

The covers like what you show will not positively prevent rust on cast iron. Only a coating on the surface will do the job. Many people use Boeshield products or paste wax. If you live in a climate with high humidity, you may have to recoat frequently.

[Mike Goetzke]

I have one of those covers on my TS and it does prevent rust - reminds others not to put things like drinking cups on my TS ;) .

I spray finish in my garage at times and it works great to protect the table top of the saw.

Mike

[Jason White]

Humidity is water vapor in the air, which condenses when it hits something cold (like a cast-iron table top).

I have one of those HTC covers. It works for light humidity, but not if I run the propane heater in the shop. Everything is soaking wet underneath the cover when I do that.

You're better off waxing everything or spray with WD-40, TopCote, Slip-It, etc.

JW


I apologize if this has been asked/answered before, but do you folks recommend tool covers such as this to prevent rust on your tools (HTC cover on Amazon)?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZSKH086VL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Other threads say the rust is due to humidity, so I'd like to know if such a cover would help in that situation.

Thanks,

Roger

[Tom Veatch]

...Other threads say the rust is due to humidity, so I'd like to know if such a cover would help in that situation.
...

My completely uninformed opinion, for what it's worth, is that such a cover looks more like a moisture trap than it does a moisture barrier.

[Brent Smith]

I've been using them for 4 years on all my machines. Along with TopCote, they have kept my stuff rust free. I recommend them.

[Frank Guerin]

I use old cotton bath towels. Of course these are not just ordinary towels. Each one has black marker on it showing which machine it goes on. I do wax everything on occasion also.

[Doug Shepard]

I've got one on my combo sander and BS. The crosscut sled covers most of the CI on the TS so I dont bother for that. They dont work on their own but they help. You'lll still have to periodically use your choice of protection (WD40, TopCoat, Talcum powder, TopSaver, Wax, etc) but I can notice a significant difference in how often I have to use that with the cover on vs. forgetting to cover it after use.

[Ron Bontz]

I have been using these on all my cast iron tools tops for about 7 years. Mainly during the summer when I am not doing much in the shop. No Rust. I also keep[ my tops waxed. However, if you lay pressure treated lumber on top of the cover the moister will get through and cause rust spots in a hurry. Not that I have ever done that.:D It also helps protect my tools from over spray. Take care.

[harry strasil]

A cotton sheet is the best cover for machine tools, it prevents dust which draws moisture from collecting on the tool, and any dust should be removed from the machine before its covered, plastic coated or non breathing covers will trap moisture under the cover where it will condense and accumulate on the machine, causing you know what. Waxing the surface on a regular basis will greatly help.

[Wilbur Pan]

I do think that these covers prevent rust, but not in the manner that you might think.

What these covers do is prevent wood dust from settling on your cast iron surfaces. Wood dust attracts moisture, so that wherever a wood dust particle is sitting is a relatively moist spot, which leads to rust.

[Benjimin Young]

I read somewhere that sawdust absorbs moisture and is a big cause of rust on tools. I usually blow the dust off my TS and cover it with a painters tarp but the tarp is for the same reason as Mike. My jointer is never covered and both the TS and jointer are equal condition. I do wax both periodically. Gee, I guess I never answered the question....

[Chip Lindley]

For what its worth, Twice in 25 years, after a very cold winter period, warm, moist foggy air moved in and condensed on my *very cold* cast iron tool surfaces. The parts that may have had something covering them survived unrusted. Open surfaces where moisture condensed, RUSTED post haste! I think any covering is better than none, under conditions like these. But that is only TWICE in 25 years. The rest of the time here in Missouri, my cast iron survived without immediately rusting!

[glenn bradley]

This is probably geographical/environmental as far as benefit. In my desert basin area of SoCal we have minimal humidity issues and I can only speak from my experience. My surfaces pick up rust when dust collects on them which traps the moisture.

There are not many times my machines would be left idle long enough for this to be a problem but prevention (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=83424&d=1204764391) beats restoral any day. In my case a brushing off of the surface and then covering it definitely prevents the rust that I used to get. The damage would be like an ink blot of the dust piles so it didn't take a genius (good thing) to figure out the cause.

[M. A. Espinoza]

For what its worth, Twice in 25 years, after a very cold winter period, warm, moist foggy air moved in and condensed on my *very cold* cast iron tool surfaces. The parts that may have had something covering them survived unrusted. Open surfaces where moisture condensed, RUSTED post haste! I think any covering is better than none, under conditions like these. But that is only TWICE in 25 years. The rest of the time here in Missouri, my cast iron survived without immediately rusting!

Any cover that breathes is a help. Sheets, towels, or the specially made covers.

I never had a problem with tables rusting in Kansas or Portland, OR. Just waxed them when they got sticky, but never saw any rust.

After moving to Hawaii tools which never had spec of rust on them looked like they were left outside uncovered for six months after one month here. High humidity, salt air, and sulfur from the volcanoes is murder on stuff here.

I now just throw an old towel over the iron when I'm done and I'm using Boeshield and then wax. Still seems like I have to wax every six weeks or so but its far better than scraping rust off the jointer with a razor blade every weekend.

[M Toupin]

For what its worth, Twice in 25 years, after a very cold winter period, warm, moist foggy air moved in and condensed on my *very cold* cast iron tool surfaces. The parts that may have had something covering them survived unrusted. Open surfaces where moisture condensed, RUSTED post haste!

Living on the coast and on a lake to boot, we have more than our share of humidity. That topped with wild temperature swings is a recipe for rust.

I've tired every gimmick on the planet and wasted so much money I don't even want to think about it. The only real solution I've found is liberal coats of paste wax and machine covers. I use old bath towels directly over the CI tops. I surmise the towels keep the humid air directly off the cold CI and buffer the temperature changes while it swings through the dew point.

Mike

[Wayne Ashing]

I use canvas drop cloths on all my cast iron tops, along with generous coatings of johnson's paste wax. We recently had a couple of weird days of weather, patio and most surfaces dripping wet. Friend asked me a few days later if I had any rust problems on my tools, his all looked like they had been left out in the rain, all he did was wax his equipment. I didn't get out to check mine for a day or two, but, almost all of mine were unscathed. One spot on my saw had a light patina of rust where the cover was tented on the fence and allowed air to get under the cover. Made me a believer! Bought 9' x 12' drop cloths at Big Lotts for $9.99 and cut to fit.

[Pat Keefe]

A plain cotton sheet, good cleaning and regular applications of Silverglide keep my TS top clear of rust - pretty good as I am within 1 Km of the ocean.