Benchwayze
Established Member
I have used an integral garage as a workshop for forty-odd years. Yesterday, I discovered that when my house was built, for some strange reason, the plumbers routed the overflow from the cold water tank into the garage. I became aware of this oversight when I went into the shop after a few days absence. I was met with a scene from Hell! I saw my planer/thicknesser covered in thick, red rust and water dripping down from the ceiling, all over my shelves and router bits. Also my Festool containers were soaked, and dripping with rust-coloured water. You can imagine my panic as I set to clearing up.
I have managed to clear up most of the mess, and my planer was not as bad as was first imagined. Most of the rust although thick, was fairly easily removed with the sharp edge of an old plane iron. Fortunately it seems the damage is limited to the in-feed and out-feed tables, and the cutter block, which I think I can sort. It just needs elbow grease, wet and dry, and plenty of WD40.
The systainers though are another matter. Now there was a time when I was considering ditching my systainers, and putting the machines in pigeon-hole storage on the wall; right under the site of the deluge! I’m so glad I didn’t get around to it. The systainers are absolutely watertight. A couple of them have been permanently stained with what looks like paprika! But the stuff inside was safe, and as dry as the proverbial bone. So, full marks to the systainers. They do what they were designed to do. Protect their contents.
I have taken steps to rectify the overflow problem of course, and a plumber friend is coming in tomorrow to fit a new valve in the tank, and re-route the overflow. I probably won’t need to worry about another flood once the plumber has finished, but to be honest, I don’t want to chance it again. The planer and systainers have to be moved for starters!
I have more or less cleaned up the mess, and all I have to do now is clear up the floor and let things dry out properly. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that there really isn’t any serious damage to the planer, because I really don’t want to strip it down. I would never get it back together!
I am going to attempt a WIP on sorting out this shop for once and all. Much moving of machines and benches is planned, so wish me luck please?
Cheers
.
I have managed to clear up most of the mess, and my planer was not as bad as was first imagined. Most of the rust although thick, was fairly easily removed with the sharp edge of an old plane iron. Fortunately it seems the damage is limited to the in-feed and out-feed tables, and the cutter block, which I think I can sort. It just needs elbow grease, wet and dry, and plenty of WD40.
The systainers though are another matter. Now there was a time when I was considering ditching my systainers, and putting the machines in pigeon-hole storage on the wall; right under the site of the deluge! I’m so glad I didn’t get around to it. The systainers are absolutely watertight. A couple of them have been permanently stained with what looks like paprika! But the stuff inside was safe, and as dry as the proverbial bone. So, full marks to the systainers. They do what they were designed to do. Protect their contents.
I have taken steps to rectify the overflow problem of course, and a plumber friend is coming in tomorrow to fit a new valve in the tank, and re-route the overflow. I probably won’t need to worry about another flood once the plumber has finished, but to be honest, I don’t want to chance it again. The planer and systainers have to be moved for starters!
I have more or less cleaned up the mess, and all I have to do now is clear up the floor and let things dry out properly. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that there really isn’t any serious damage to the planer, because I really don’t want to strip it down. I would never get it back together!
I am going to attempt a WIP on sorting out this shop for once and all. Much moving of machines and benches is planned, so wish me luck please?
Cheers
.
