layout room

It doesn't sound like you are planning to use the equipment again.  If this is so, then consider listing the items on something like "Craigslist".  Things that don't sell could then go to the out building.

Bill

Cold does not damage equipment in my experience.  Humidity is a major problem and in Maine humidity should not be a problem.

Charlie

@ogaugenut posted:

It doesn't sound like you are planning to use the equipment again.  If this is so, then consider listing the items on something like "Craigslist".  Things that don't sell could then go to the out building.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I don't want to sell the equipment, I use it too much for other projects.  I probably should have said I need to move my shop out of my train room.

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

Cold does not damage equipment in my experience.  Humidity is a major problem and in Maine humidity should not be a problem.

Charlie

I think condensation, caused by temperature swings, is the problem.  I know it's not a good idea, but how bad of an idea is it?

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

Install a heat pump in the out building. They're not expensive (depending on the square footage) and provide heat and cooling. Just a suggestion.

Tom,

Is it possible to put the machinery under the layout?  It can't be that big or heavy or it would destroy the layout, right?

Francine

P.S.  I haven't got to Port Clinton to the 2102 yet.

I'd think it depends in part on how tight your outbuilding is. To have condensation issues you need an exchange of DAMP air from outdoors to the interior of the building. OR minor roof leaks. If the building is dry and reasonably tight I don't thing condensation on cold [metal] machinery will be an issue.

Example of a problem building is our two-car [unheated] detached garage. We need to garage the car in Winter and it dumps ice/slush/ rain-water on the garage floor. The car often releases enough residual heat to then evaporate some of the slop into the air. We learned first Winter NOT to store tools or indeed anything metal in that garage. The only thing worse for a car than an unheated garage is a heated garage because then ALL the slop gets evaporated into the air to then condense on/in anything including parts of the car (once it cools off).

Is this "machinery" something that can be damaged by mice? They love nooks and crannies to build nests and their pee and droppings could corrode stuff...or at the very least make it pretty gross if neglected for a while...or chew electrical wires.

Funny story about mice: My grandma had a mouse get in her car's engine and chew up a few wires. I jokingly named him "Mynock", after those bat-like creatures that Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia deal with in The Empire Strikes Back.

If condensation/humidity is a concern I’ve found that dehumidifiers work very well. I was shocked how quickly the rather large reservoir would fill up with water it removed from the air. I borrowed the unit and can’t remember the brand but recall it was a big name.

A lot of interesting comments, thanks.  Some of the machines are floor mounted so they can’t go under the layout.  I had to cut holes in the layout platform to accommodate some of the equipment.  Many are bench mounted but bigger than under the layout.  Besides under the table is already filled with boxes of trains.

Mice would be a major concern, they have inhabited this building almost since day one.  We now use a rodent repellent that actually works and they are gone for the moment.  But they would create havoc in all the neat nesting places the machinery would provide.

The heat pump is a possibility, however the building is just a shed… not insulated, overhead garage door that’s not super tight.  Insulating the floor would require lifting the building high enough to get under it.

We have a heat pump system for the house and it is very good for cooling and dehumidifying the air.  When the outdoor temperature gets below like 25°F you start pumping money rather than heat.  Sure they can extract heat down to -15°F but how much heat is there to extract from air that cold per dollar of electricity to pump it?  From experience we shut down the heat pumps when that temperature get below 25°F.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

My power tools with steel tables like a table saw, band saw, scroll or jig saws and an old Shop Smith have been stored in a Louisiana boat port (single car garage in other areas) for over 30 years.  This building has a window AC and space heater only when I am in the building.  South Louisiana has 70 inches of rain most years (not this one !)  and high humidity most of the year.  I have also stored power tools on a carport in Mobile, AL with the same weather for 5 years.

Rust has not been a problem as I coat the steel tables and lathe runners with paraffin wax (buy a box at Walmart, grocery store) by rubbing on a thick coat and spreading with a clean rag or paper towel.  I will also wax hand tools like planes, chisels and hand saw blades, etc. any thing I do not want to rust.  I never had a tool steel table rust.

Charlie

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

My power tools with steel tables like a table saw, band saw, scroll or jig saws and an old Shop Smith have been stored in a Louisiana boat port (single car garage in other areas) for over 30 years.  This building has a window AC and space heater only when I am in the building.  South Louisiana has 70 inches of rain most years (not this one !)  and high humidity most of the year.  I have also stored power tools on a carport in Mobile, AL with the same weather for 5 years.

Rust has not been a problem as I coat the steel tables and lathe runners with paraffin wax (buy a box at Walmart, grocery store) by rubbing on a thick coat and spreading with a clean rag or paper towel.  I will also wax hand tools like planes, chisels and hand saw blades, etc. any thing I do not want to rust.  I never had a tool steel table rust.

Charlie

Ya know, after reflecting on the metal/steel items that have lived in this building for 30 years, I agree with Charlie.  Corrosion has not been a major problem.  I just might have the answer.

However, this building has been our ‘attic/basement’ for those 30 years and clearing it out will be the biggest problem.  Mice too, though the rodent repellent we use is very effective in our other sheds.  I do think sander belts will probably be a problem, as will be getting 220V for the milling machine, but doable.  At least it has 110V already.

Thank you to everyone for you thoughts on this,

Tom Stoltz

in Maine