Un-airconditioned garage : suitable for machining workshop?

[Cowbell]

I've recently picked up a mini-mill and am poking my way through my new hobby. As I've tooled up, I've started wondering how sensitive your average metalworking tools to temperature and humidity conditions.

I live in the midwestern US with hot, fairly humid summers, and cold mostly dry winters. Up to this point, I've had a pretty standard selection of garage tools - mostly of the stainless, non-power variety. But with a lot of this new precision stuff (dial indicators, flat blocks and clamping kits, the mill itself, chucks and bits) I'm wondering how susceptible they will be to rust and other temperature related ailments.

Should I make an effort to store what I can indoors in a more climate controlled environment? Maybe just the various measuring devices? Or am I going to find that everything is pretty much indifferent?

[Ken_Shea]

Most garages are not air-conditioned, however if your garage is uninsulated and/or heat is not maintained in the winter you likely will have problems.
A dehumidifier in the summer months would be a good idea. It is standard procedure to warm up cutting machines prior to use anyway, starting with a low RPM say 500 increasing to max rpm in 1000rpm increments over a period of 5 to 10 minutes, some do this over much longer time increments.

Ken

EDIT:
I leraned a little late to always put just a light spray of a 50/50 mixture of kerosene and oil over the bed, tool holders and cutting tools, even perspiration from your hands will/can cause rust.

[Cowbell]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've got a spare room inside that I could theoretically convert to a shop, but it's a carpeted room, so....bleh

Do you recommend any maintenance/inspection on the innards of the mill? Gearbox/bushing rust, etc?

[Ken_Shea]

The term Mini-Mill is kinda generic so I don't really have any suggestions, although I would suggest contacting the manufacturer for a maintenance manual. They likely will suggest their own idea of the type of lube and intervals. Probably not much to be concerned about in the way of rust in the gear box if it used even semi-frequently.

If the equipment is noisy it will not be well received by those sharing the same inside household space..

[RotarySMP]

Visit www.mini-lathe.com, for all the detail on the Chinese mini mill and mini lathe.

[fpworks]

If you plan to air condition and/or heat your garage, your garage walls and doors will need insulation...you can buy garage door retrofit insulation kits fairly cheap (that work quite well) and you can have insulation blown into your walls rather than tearing down your drywall.

If you plan to use an unvented ng/lp heater, you will also need a dehumidifier in the wintertime as well. You may not need to use a dehumidifier in the summer, since your air conditioner will dehumidify.

Good luck,
Justin