Protecting Table saw outside.

[Rorschach]

Ok so my new Draper tablesaw won't fit in the workshop for now (or possibly ever) so it going to be an outside table saw :lol:

Plenty of room on the patio for it and loads of infeed/outfeed!

Question though is what is the best way to keep it rust free? I accept that a tool that lives outside is never going to stay in pristine condition, I can live with that. The base will get rusty eventually as do all metal things, that's fine as it can easily be replaced. I am focusing my efforts on the table top and the internals.
I have ordered a patio furniture cover which should fit very nicely, that will keep dirt and rain off the saw. I plan on waxing the table heavily and regularly. What else can I do?

 

[Steve Maskery]

I fear you will have a constant battle on your hands.
I have a little SCMS which lives outside, I use it for firewood. It is permanently covered with a large builder's bag, but it is still going a bit rusty. Moisture gets in from condensation, no matter how thoroughly it is covered.
For the top itself you could keep it covered with some of that table-top protector stuff, that might help.

 

[ScaredyCat]

Can't you build a small storage shed for it?

What about a Keter plastic shed thing?

My motorcycle sits outside all year round, doesn't have a cover on it but it does get cleaned and sprayed with ACF50 before winter. I'm not recommending it as a solution for a table saw, just suggesting that it might be worth looking at.

Are you actually going to use it over autumn / winter ?




.

 

[deema]

Not familiar with saw, however if it’s a cast iron top apply Boiled Linseed oil in thin layers wiping off any excess after 10 mins until it won’t soak in any more. Them use Liberian machine wax over the top initially and then after every use. Place a couple of spacers on top of the table, preferably some plastic that’s not porous to create air pace and then a plastic sheet when your not using it. An outdoor barby cover is ideal

 

[Rorschach]

Can't build a shed nor buy one, especially since any shed would cost many times more than the saw cost. Also an unheated plastic shed isn't going to do much in the way of stopping condensation I wouldn't think.
Yes I plan to use it over the winter. It's not a tool I will use regularly so I can save jobs for nice days.

I have ordered a cover, found a good sized furniture cover on ebay I think will work. I like the idea of separating the cover from the surface and will look into that.

Will do the linseed oil and wax treatment for certain.

 

[Ttrees]

Is it the saw gonna be hooked to the mains or a nice cap...
That's how I would protect it ....
Alternatively, you could turn it into a "sawstart TM"

The question is ... how much strain can those disposable barby covers take?

 

[mbartlett99]

As you say, a cover and a good dose of wax will go a long way but you could add a good spray down of the internals with something like boeshield - try and avoid sprays with silicone though as it will really mess up your finishing. My dad has his site saw outside and it seems to do ok.

I don't know that any of the specialist waxes are worth more than any other - I use Johnsons furniture wax from the supermarket on my cast iron and it works fine.

 

[Rorschach]

As you say, a cover and a good dose of wax will go a long way but you could add a good spray down of the internals with something like boeshield - try and avoid sprays with silicone though as it will really mess up your finishing. My dad has his site saw outside and it seems to do ok.

I don't know that any of the specialist waxes are worth more than any other - I use Johnsons furniture wax from the supermarket on my cast iron and it works fine.

Thanks for the info there, glad to hear about your dad's saw being ok.

I was probably going to get some machine wax from axminster, seems to be about the cheapest paste wax anyway and is well recommended and silicone free.

 

[AJB Temple]

You are aware the instructions say do not use the machine in damp conditions? Stored outside condensation is inevitable, including inside the cabinet.

 

[Rorschach]

You are aware the instructions say do not use the machine in damp conditions? Stored outside condensation is inevitable, including inside the cabinet.

Damp conditions, why do they sell it in the UK, it's always bloody damp here! :lol:

 

[Ttrees]

Did you think about knocking together a quick shed like Jim Hendricks one ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmXAggdR0mc
Would be pretty quick with your new saw
Or a Dick Proenneke type if funds are low?

 

[Rorschach]

Did you think about knocking together a quick shed like Jim Hendricks one ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmXAggdR0mc
Would be pretty quick with your new saw
Or a Dick Proenneke type if funds are low?

I don't have space for a shed that could accommodate the saw unfortunately.

 

[Ttrees]

What about some sort of foldable hinged panel wall system on castors kinda shed
What ground is the saw gonna be on?
Just trying some food for thought.
Tom

 

[Bodgers]

It isn't an outside tool. Site saw would have been more appropriate.

 

[Ttrees]

Just because its the hard way things has to be done, doesn't mean its not a better idea

 

[Rorschach]

What about some sort of foldable hinged panel wall system on castors kinda shed
What ground is the saw gonna be on?
Just trying some food for thought.
Tom

It's going out on a concrete patio type area.

 

[Bodgers]

It is going to die. Rust will kill it. Not double insulated so you might as well.

 

[AES]

I'm not so sure outside will kill it. I've not used paste wax on outside stuff, but plenty of WD 40 and ordinary Vaseline from the chemist smeared on ways, the table, etc on stuff stored outside. IMO there's a lot of pure rubbish spoken about WD 40, but in my experience, one thing it really is good for is dispersing water and dampness. It's correct to have an air gap between the cover and the main surfaces if you can possibly arrange it, but assuming it's really in the open on concrete it would also be good if it could stand up off the ground on a couple of bits of timber - when it rains hard splashes will get up inside under the cover unless only the wheel/s protrude below the bottom of the cover.

Also not sure if it applies in your case but our gas BBQ stands outside in all weathers and is fully in the sun for about 6+ hours/day. In 20 years we've gone through "3 or 10" separate "official" BBQ covers (I've lost count) - all having rotted due to UV exposure. That problem is now solved as I have a mate who has an industrial sewing machine and has made me a custom cover from the "plastic" material that covers the trailers on the back of artic trucks. That solution is probably not open to you so IF direct sunshine will be a problem for you I suggest buying the cheapest possible cover you can find - as above, the only difference we found with very expensive BBQ covers and dead cheapies (Aldi, etc) was that the expensive ones lasted 2 to 3 perhaps 4 years max, the cheapos 1! And the expensive ones were about 10 times the price of the cheapos!

HTH

 

[Rorschach]

It is going to die. Rust will kill it. Not double insulated so you might as well.

You might be right, I am willing to chance it. I don't plan on sawing in the rain BTW and also it is earthed :lol:

 

[Ttrees]

Sounds do-able, insulate the section where its going to stay when not in use, wheel the saw out and extend the foldable shed out and saw away whatever the weather
You can buy clear sheets of perspex like material, can't remember the exact name, for carports and the like
It does make a rather nice working environment.