Setting up a Tormach in a garage

[mnm]

I am new to this site and am considering purchasing a Tormach.

One of my main concerns is that I would have to put it in my garage (no air conditioning). I live in the Houston (Texas) area where the environment can be harsh (high humidity).

Is anybody out there useing one of these machines in a garage without air conditioning? If so, have you had any problems with the electronics?

Thanks,

Mark

[NinerSevenTango]

Since nobody is answering, I'll give it a shot.

I haven't had mine through a summer yet, but it's in a non - air conditioned garage, sort of. It does have heat, though! I don't expect any problems with the electronics because of it. Most shops are garage environment anyway, all the heat and humidity of outdoors all summer long, without the fresh breezes! We use LOTS of power electronics in this environment. Shouldn't be a problem.

--97T--

[Willyb]

;-)

[dennisintex]

I had my shop (mill & lathe) in a typical garage in Houston for about 20 years. Biggest problem was dust. I had to put my car in each night and the opening of the garage doors let the dust enter.

On another note, at the Home Metal Shop Club of Houston meeting a cople of weeks ago there were several of us who had either Tomachs installed or on order. Mine is due in a couple of weeks. If you have any questions dlcranston at earthlink.net in the Cypress area.

[mnm]

Thanks for the replies.

I did talk with Bob (Robert) at Tormach and he said that high moisture environments "could" shorten the life of the electronoics (which makes sense). I was just wondering what the real world testing has shown to date.

My current manual lathe has a variable speed motor, and I have not had any issues with the electronics in the last 7 plus years since I have owned it. However, it is just one card, and nothing like what a computer will have in it or the machine itself.

The humidity is bad enough that I coat all of my machined surfaces on all of my equipment with a rust inhibitor (LP3). It works great. I have not had any rusting on my lathe, mill, english wheel, bending dies, etc.. if I coat the surfaces when I'm not using them. I have learned that they will begin to oxidize in a very short time if left uncoated.

Thanks again,

Mark

[MichaelHenry]

IMHO, putting a mill that costs as much as the Tormach into a garage that is not environmentally controlled is to be avoided and I went to some trouble to get mine moved to a basement - a piece at a time.

Mike

[NinerSevenTango]

The only way humidity would bother the electronics is if mold can grow on the surfaces. In tropical environments, that can be a problem (or some basements, maybe). If it's a worry, there are steps you can take. Ventilation or dessicants could be used. The opportunity for rust would be more of a worry, in my estimation. But that factor exists almost anywhere.

--97T--

[InspirationTool]

Why not add a dehumidifier?

-Jeff

[NinerSevenTango]

A dehumidifier is an air conditioner that blows its hot air back into the room. There are inexpensive models you can buy that use a hose to blow the hot air out the window, so it works as an air conditioner. When temps are cooler, you can just take it out of the window and it becomes a dehumidifier/heater. Might be the ideal solution.

--97T--

[mayhugh1]

My shop is in a detached garage. In the hot Texas summers down here it isn't unusual for the shop temperature to run the high 90's. I insulated the walls well in order to slow down the effects of the sudden temperature changes that we see alot of down here. Its not unusual to see a 20 degree drop in a half hour. The insulation reduces the chances of moisture condensing out on the surfaces of the tools. When I built the shop 10 years ago I de-oiled the surface of a piece of cold rolled steel and set it on one of my shelves unprotected. It has never shown any signs of surface rust. For many of those years I also parked 2 cars in the same enclosed area. Now there's only space for a motorcycle, but my Tormach sits in this shop with my other tools and seems to like it. I did install a fan in the electronics cabinet, though, since I was concerned about the electronics during those 95 degree summer days. Its very easy to do and anyway worthwhile as far as reliability goes. The only rust problem I seem to have is from sweat dropping off me and on to the tools during the summer. I'd say go for it...

[MichaelHenry]

One problem that we have here in the midwest this time of year is snow and ice brought into the garage by vehicles that get parked there, assuming there is room to park a vehicle. An old printer's saw that is kept in our garage is now showing some signs of rust on the table surface in a couple of places, though it isn't all that bad and wax or LPS would probably have prevented it.

The thought of working in a garage for any length of time during a Texas summer has me perspiring now, even though it is 20 def F outside <g>.

Mike

[Jim DuBois]

I just added a Tormach to my garage just north of Houston this week. I have had a smaller CNC mill out there for 11 years with no issues. It pays to hose down everything with anti rust of one sort or another, but I have not had any problems with the electronics at all. However, I did have a problem with lightening strikes last year that took out another machine contorller and computer, and it was off an protected by battery backup etc....