redbate Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Hi guys, I'm relatively new here and has a question, I've just finished my forge build and I've had it left outside covered in a tarp for a few days due to heavy raining... I think winter is coming sadly. Anyways I was just wondering what you guys preferred method of rust prevention on equipment is? I saw lots of topics on preventing rust on protecting finished work but not much on stuff you make them with. I was planning to hit it with wire wheel to remove any surface rust and paint it with a layer of high temp spray paint, would this be fine? Or is there more economic or simply better way? Thanks in advance for your time fellas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 My stuff sits outside, and develops a patina, I don't worry about rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnBello Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 There is a thread with similar concerns in this section. It's called 'Condensation', and gives some ideas to prevent rust caused by condensation, as the name implies. You might find it useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 First: get it under a roof! Second: follow the thread on condensation... Third: move to the desert! (My local weather for today has a humidity high of 20% and low of 7%... Fourth: make it from non-rusting materials... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John in Oly, WA Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 I sprayed my forge with high temp paint - it hasn't burned off and the forge hasn't rusted. But I also keep it in my shop when I'm not using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 redbate, Keep in mind that if you're burning coal, the ash in your firepot can combine with water (rainwater, dew, condensation) to form sulfuric acid which will rust steel with extreme prejudice. I had a steel firepot outside but under a cover for one winter. By spring, it was bright orange with rust on all surfaces that had ash on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimmike Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 When I got and built my steel work table (5/8" plate), I found somewhere on the web that said spraying WD40 on it, then heating the steel with a torch basically created a good layer of rustproofing. I did that on the top of the plate probably 5 years ago and it's been great since. Granted it's in a garage....but it's a non-ac garage in FL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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