Machine Shop Moisture

Good question. I'd guess it would depend on ambient temps, and the volume or air in the shop. I personally prefer to work in a heated shop, so the heater would be my first thought. I guess I'd have to ask, how many hours out of the day/week/month do you spend in the shop. If it is quite a bit, then I would go for the heater, out of pure comfort. If you don't spend much time in the shop, perhaps the dehumidifier would be a better bet from an economic standpoint.

Before you invest in a heater or dehumidifier, I'd try running a regular cheap box fan in the shop, maybe angled up towards the ceiling. Just circulating the air alone might stop water from condensing on your tools.

My basement gets damp and this method helps a lot.

Is your shop attached Ron?

a better vapor barrier and insulation would be more long term economical, provided your doors were not open too much of the time.

My machine shop is inside a larger shop.

The outside wall is insulated.

The other 3 walls are inside the larger shop

I spend about 4 hours a day in there

I have both a heater and dehumidifier

The temp gets down to <40° at night

The temp warms up to the 70's during the day

Hence the condensation

"dehumidifier or an electric heater. Which one would be the most effective and most economical?"

Why don't you tell us. I'll loan you my Kill-a-watt tester and you can give us your results.

If you want to take me up on the offer, PM a mailing address to me and I'll mail it to you.

if it's in the winter time, and there is moisture, I take it your location isn't in the northern states. Try an air conditioner instead of a dehumidifer. Takes a heavier load.

AC with a heat pump.

Wall fan to exchange air to the larger shop. Stagnant air is a condensate trap. You need circulation.

I put a 40 watt appliance bulb under my 16x40 lathe. Works like a charm until the bulb burns out.

Trick is to keep the equipment at or above ambient temperature so it cannot condense.

Dehumidification by heater is mainly is sensible heat process. Sometimes it creates itching problems . Dehumidification by dehumidifier using chemicals like silica is chemical process. Proper insulation combined with vapor barrier is the right solution.

Hello Ronseto,

I have a machine shop with lots of mills, lathes, grinders etc. No heavy moisture problem but I do the following to protect the ways on all machines and the vices and mill tables: I put a very light smearing of vaseline using paper towel while the machines are hot, eg, during the summer. Do not clean off areas that you do not need and re-apply when you wipe off. Do not use WD-40 as a lubricant on the ways. Do not use acetone or other stripper as they clean the pores of the metal and leave it open to rust. Many fellow machine shop owners do the following also. They put an old blanket over the machine--similar to blankets used by furniture movers or some have a plastic coating Military-duck type coating on the blanket. This works well and reduces rust. There are sprays available from Plastic injection machinery equipment suppliers for rust inhibition on injection mold surfaces. They work extremely well for extended storage. There is a heavy spray and a lighter spray, the latter is preferable for weekend or overnight coverage. They leave a clear dull coating that feels dry to the touch and is easy to remove. IMS Supply and many others carry them, maybe even Grainger or McMaster Carr.

Hope this helps.

2tinker and Ronseto,

In 12 2tinker recomends vaseline to stop rust. During WWII the establishment I, later, worked at used the cheaper brown vaseline to prevent rusting. When there was a shortage white vaseline was substituted. The metal rusted! At that time vaseline was bleached with sulphuric acid and 40 years later white vaseline was still forbidden. I still feel that it is best to play safe.

Put two 60 watt lamps in series instead of the 40 watt lamps heating under the blanket. They will last some 10 years.

Hi Ronseto,

I had the same problem on a somewhat lower temperature level.

I bought a primitive dehum for 100€, works good, but necessary to connect to the sink unless you drain it every day.

Heating is not very efficient unless you get warm air or else for free.

Condensing air-dehumidifiers will give you the heating according to the electric energy that is flowing into the device plus the heat from condensing the water from gaseous to liquid.

These dehumidifiers operate with the same principle as refrigerators, if you leave the door of the fridge open there will be condensing water on the cold plate. If not too cold the water will stay liquid and can be drained.

RHABE

I find the cheapest/most effective way is to spray the exposed surfaces with a fairly concentrated mix of water soluble cutting fluid, the condensate then mixes in with the solution rendering it harmless.

Try to get ACH-Anti Condensation Heater,Silica gel /crystal. Cheers

What kind of heater are you currently using. If you are using a un vented type of space heater you are putting water into your shop. I have had this problem with shotgun & radiant type heaters during Minnesota winters.

I have an electric heater. The shop is small; only 100sf. It contains an 11" lathe, a milling machine and storage for tooling and precision tools. Economy is a secondary concern. I want to prevent rust formation, but don't want to go to the inconvenience of using coatings that need to be removed and reapplied. I have a lot of woodworking machines in the main shop and moisture is also a problem, but my metal working tools are of major concern.

Hi Ron,

First, establish the origine of the excess of humidity!

When it's localized, act following the most efficient way or eliminate the origine.

To do it, use Deming's Plan, Do, Study, and Act cycle.

Plan: Find the origine of the trouble.

Do: Establish corrective action.

Study: Check the efficiency of the corrective system.

Act: When you are satisfied with the solution, just do it!

All the best, Gil.