Shop Garden Storage Shed

[architect]

Are there tools/machines/materials that you wouldn't store in one of those plastic shed kids from Home Depot, and would be better suited in an attached garage?

I'm re-organizing things a bit and decluttering, and wondering if I should left my table saw in the garden shed over the last year

 

[Susquatch]

In Southern Ontario, I wouldn't leave anything in a garden shed that might get damaged by rust. Such things need to go into a dehumidified garage or shop. That pretty much means the garden shed only contains garden tools, a wheelbarrow, some garden hose, potting soil and potting supplies, etc.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I've learned the lesson the hard way about not storing things I care about in unconditioned spaces. If you don't coat that saw in oil or wax, I wouldn't expect to see it in the same condition as when you put it in there.

 

[skippyelwell]

Because of lack of room I've had to store my table saw out in the storage tent, however before it goes out there I soak the table with any kind of oil that is handy, a thick film is needed then Saran Wrap over top pushing out the air bubbles, then a layer of cardboard on top, a couple of turns of packing tape and it's good for the winter.

I've left it like that for 2yrs sometimes and the surface is perfect when the Saran wrap is removed.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

Once I started filling up the garage with machine tools, the woodworking tools had to find a new space. They went out to the barn in the enclosed, but unconditioned tack room. I made sure to wax all the bare cast iron surfaces, but that wasn't enough . Opening that door in the spring, I was greeted by a table saw and jointer with nice evenly rusted surfaces all over . Apparently the roof was leaky and I parked my saw directly under it. I got the majority of the rust off, using a ROS and scotch bright pad, and re coated it, but it's an ever occurring thing that I just deal with on an as needed basis. They're not high dollar tools (delta), and once cleaned up don't affect the function, so I'm not that heartbroken anymore, but man that first time seeing them was a piss off for sure.

Not as bad as the time I stored my Wife's motorcycle in what's now my blacksmith shed one spring....2 months was all it took that time to take that bike from a perfect specimen, to a tarnished blister. Everything in there rusts badly, partly due to the dirt floor. All my blacksmith tools made to date have rusted badly. It's a war I'm not going to win, so I just live with it. I should go back and take pics of them now to update the thread where I made them.....

 

[Susquatch]

I've left it like that for 2yrs sometimes and the surface is perfect when the Saran wrap is removed.

Ya, I can see that working quite well on the table surface.

But what about the motor winding, shaft, bearings, the electrical, the miter gears, wheels, axles, underside, sheet metal....

 

[architect]

Because of lack of room I've had to store my table saw out in the storage tent, however before it goes out there I soak the table with any kind of oil that is handy, a thick film is needed then Saran Wrap over top pushing out the air bubbles, then a layer of cardboard on top, a couple of turns of packing tape and it's good for the winter.

I've left it like that for 2yrs sometimes and the surface is perfect when the Saran wrap is removed.

I've got some Minwax finishing wax I'll try your method for blade and table surface this winter. I got one of those jobsite ones on a buit-in dolly.

 

[skippyelwell]

Ya, I can see that working quite well on the table surface.

But what about the motor winding, shaft, bearings, the electrical, the miter gears, wheels, axles, underside, sheet metal....

Actually it spends all of its time out in the storage tent unless I bring it up to the shop to cut wood, never had a problem with it. The adjustment screws all well greased.
I'm north of TO so it's humid in the summer but probably not as bad as where you live.

I've got some Minwax finishing wax I'll try your method for blade and table surface this winter. I got one of those jobsite ones on a buit-in dolly.

The only reason the Saran wrap works is the oil contacts the whole surface keeping air out and not letting the oil evaporate, not sure finishing wax is going to do that.

 

[DPittman]

I've learned the lesson the hard way about not storing things I care about in unconditioned spaces. If you don't coat that saw in oil or wax, I wouldn't expect to see it in the same condition as when you put it in there.

You folks in the east have made me realize how lucky we are out in the drier parts for not having to worry about rust.
I have a cold storage section on my new shop and it has a dirt floor and a16ftx16ft opening that has yet to get a door on. I store a saw,etc and my newest totally rust free steel in there and never have had any rust other than when snow blew in deep and sat on stuff.