Shop Disaster

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Russianwolf

Russianwolf

Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2007
Messages
5,690
Location
Martinsburg, WV, USA.
I have problems with water during heavy rains getting into my basement shop, but I am used to dealing with it. The HD dehumidifier and checking the sump pump to make sure I don't have any flooding.

Well, today I was working out in the back yard and decided to wash/scrub our deck. Turned on the hose and the pressure was low but I didn't worry about it. Came in a bit later to get a drink and check IAP and hear this noise like water running (the computer room is directly above the shop and the yard faucet). I run to the basement and sure enough everything is being sprayed in one corner. :eek: I killed the water to the house and start accessing the damage.

My lathe and the Ryobi sander I just got from Jimmy were soaked. :mad: One bench was covered in water, and about an inch on the floor in that area. So I turn on a portable heater to help with evap, and a fan to get the air blowing and dry off the lathe and sander as best I can. I'm always amazed at how fast things start to rust, the bed of the lathe already has the beginnings on it in less than two hours.

After running to Tractor Supply to buy a torch and some supplies I got the pipe patched and the water is back on. At least I didn't have to call a plumber. I'll let the lathe and sander dry a couple days before I turn them on and make sure that they are fine. I'm sure they will be, but with the way my luck runs..........
 
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Get a can of diesel fuel and rub it on all exposed steel surfaces...... It will help slow down or stop the rust..... Also, using rags soaked in diesel to cover harder to reach areas will help keep rust from forming in those areas....
 
I think I've got it under control. I've gotten the lathe and sander dry on the outside, now to just let everything dry good on the inside and it should be fine.

I've got a fair bit of water soaked wood that'll need longer to dry out, but I restacked it and that process is started too.

It's more of an inconvenience than anything.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.
 
Immediately get to Home Depot or Lowes - someplace - and buy a gallon of WD40 and sprayer. Spray everything - wet or dry - and wash off the water.

WD40 was designed for situations like the one you have experienced. WD BTW stands for water displacement and was originally used by NASA to prevent water condensation damage on the engine components of the rockets as they were being fueled prior to launching.

You can - and probably should - run your motors to get them hot and dried out from the inside out. You can actually spray them with WD40 while running as long as the motor is not really all that hot. WD40 will burn but I have washed out for cleaning purposes many motors and never had the slightest problem.

When all is good and dry, spray all metal surfaces and let them soak until you are ready to use them again. WD40 is wonderful stuff and I wouldn't think of working without it in my shop. It is great for winterizing tools and such.

After a long day sawing with my table saw I clean off the saw blade with WD40 and cover the table to with a fine spray. Not nary a drop of rush anywhere ever. The WD40 even is good for cleaning your hands of grease, pine sap, etc. and does a far superior job in less time. About the only 'bad' thing is if it gets on leather or a good piece of clothing, er, well the stain is there for good.

If you have a sluggish drill or anything with a small motor, place them into a bucket and cover the motor with WD40 and turn the device on and let it run for a bit. The WD40 will clean and lubricate everything inside.

Diesel fuel is OK in a pinch, but it sure stinks and has much higher risk of fire than WD40. Try this as I am sure you will be very pleased with the end results. Be sure to ALWAYS lay out and open any rags you use with these cleaners as in time a wadded up oily raga can catch fire ... and that ain't a good thing at all.

Another trick for you all ... pour a bit of WD40 - new or used - into a five gallon bucket full of sand. Plunge your metal tools, shovels, scissors, axes, etc. into the mixture and coat the metal with the WD40. This will prevent rust developing in damp basements or shops. If you have really dirty wrenches or sockets, put them into a small electric cement mixer and tumble them in the same sand and WD40 mixture until they are clean. Takes but a little time to clean and lubricate everything. Pour onto a screen and lift up and leave the oily sand behind. Collect the sand and use it again and again ... adding more WD40 as is felt necessary. You will soon have the cleanest and well oiled tools around! Excess sand can be blown off using an air gun if necessary.

Now that you have used up the entire gallon of WD40, go get another gallon as you will find more and more uses of one of the best kept secrets around. :biggrin:
 
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Mike, think what would have happened if you were gone on vacation!!! Sounds like a minimum of damage was done, sounds like you might have been lucky!

I thought about adding a sink to my shop, decided against it as the utility sink in the laundry room is 10 feet away, but isolated from flooding. I'm happier now with that decision.

Keep smilin',
Dale
 
Sorry to hear this. Hope all your equipment turns ok.

I second the hair dyer especially before turning on anything with electronics.
 
wdcav1952 said:
Lots of good suggestions, but one was skipped. Buy a fifth of Captain Morgan!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, then it won't be hard to pretend those are waves splashing up on a Caribbean beach! Hell, dump some sand in there and this could be a bonus!!!
 
Put furniture wax on the unpainted parts to keep them from rusting. I do this with my scroll saw and have never had a problem with rust or staining the wood. Rust is hard to clean off of wood. Mike
 
the floor is mostly dry, except where there are piles of sawdust (don't know where those came from :rolleyes:) Fired the lathe up and she's fine. I will have a light sanding to do on the ways and a rewax, and she'll be all good. I had to work the chuck a bit to get everything inside to free up a bit. I'll likely be doing that every time I go in for a couple weeks.

All in all, things are getting back to normal.

I did go ahead and cut and drill 3 blanks for Jr's.

thanks again guys.

Oh and Cav, I'm more of a Single Malt guy.
 
You might want to use breakclean on the chuck, as well as a good soaking in a thin oil. Once the rust has been stopped, you can clean the oil from the areas of the check that contact the wood.
While I was driving truck, we used to soak the rachetting boomers in diesel fuel to make sure that they didt rust closed or open on us, as well as rusting up the rachetting mechanism. We used to soak them in pieces for about a week after they were bought, and then reassemble them. They woudl last for about 6 months under really bad weather befre we had to resoak them. Other companies were throwing them away after 4 months cause they were rusted to the point of being useless.....
Just a thought....
 
Mike,
What an awful thing to happen, I feel for you. I'm not too far away so if there is anything I can do to help out just let me know.
 
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