Rusting due to dew/humidity?

[6869704x4]

I've nothing to add but I can vouch for the humidity. I"ve been to Zagreb a few times back in the 90s. Pretty country.

 

[Nicksacco]

Before I built my current barn (concrete floor), the building it was in was vented very well. Basically tarps covering the "door". But it had a gravel floor.

When it rained, not much would enter the building but the floor would feel damp and things inside would rust.

My new building has a concrete floor and regular garage door and is sealed rather well. I also have a small dehumidifier in the building which really helps with the NC humidity. No dampness and no rust on anything.

My guess is that a lot of dampness is coming from the ground, getting trapped inside (possibly the felt) and creating a "greenhouse".

My thought for you is why not try some thick (maybe 10 mil) plastic sheeting on the floor under the machine? It would be a fairly cheap test to see if the rust was forming due to the dampness of the ground coming through the gaps in the floor boards.

if you can't get the plastic under the shed, then lay it on the floor and use a few staples or similar on the periphery to hold it down.

Another good chemical you can use that actually dries to a film is

CRC® Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor, 10 Wt Oz

A long term, flexible corrosion inhibitor that protects & preserves metal surfaces, electrical connections, engine components & fasteners, subject to salt spray and high humidity. Also provides effective protection for steering & throttle linkages.

www.crcindustries.com

 

[fried1765]

Before I built my current barn (concrete floor), the building it was in was vented very well. Basically tarps covering the "door". But it had a gravel floor.

When it rained, not much would enter the building but the floor would feel damp and things inside would rust.

My new building has a concrete floor and regular garage door and is sealed rather well. I also have a small dehumidifier in the building which really helps with the NC humidity. No dampness and no rust on anything.

My guess is that a lot of dampness is coming from the ground, getting trapped inside (possibly the felt) and creating a "greenhouse".

My thought for you is why not try some thick (maybe 10 mil) plastic sheeting on the floor under the machine? It would be a fairly cheap test to see if the rust was forming due to the dampness of the ground coming through the gaps in the floor boards.

if you can't get the plastic under the shed, then lay it on the floor and use a few staples or similar on the periphery to hold it down.

Another good chemical you can use that actually dries to a film is

CRC® Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor, 10 Wt Oz

A long term, flexible corrosion inhibitor that protects & preserves metal surfaces, electrical connections, engine components & fasteners, subject to salt spray and high humidity. Also provides effective protection for steering & throttle linkages.

www.crcindustries.com

I have used LPS-3 for many years.
Dries to tacky touch.
Much like military Cosmoline

 

[Nicksacco]

Yes LPS -3 is another great one!

 

[mcmxi]

Yes LPS -3 is another great one!

In my previous career as a commercial diver and welder we despised LPS 3 and we were around or on salt water most of the time. We used LPS 2 on all manner of equipment that might be sitting on a tug for weeks on end. Tri-Flow proved to be even better than LPS 2 on 10XX steels exposed to 3.15 wt% NaCl (similar to seawater).

If you don't need to use the stuff that you want to protect, then a thick, gummy film might do the trick, but it sucks if you plan on using your equipment. Who's going to use a rifle covered in cosmoline. Now it makes sense.

The cheapest way to protect equipment is a diesel and oil mix. Been there, done that.

 

[Rosohatica]

Before I built my current barn (concrete floor), the building it was in was vented very well. Basically tarps covering the "door". But it had a gravel floor.

When it rained, not much would enter the building but the floor would feel damp and things inside would rust.

My new building has a concrete floor and regular garage door and is sealed rather well. I also have a small dehumidifier in the building which really helps with the NC humidity. No dampness and no rust on anything.

My guess is that a lot of dampness is coming from the ground, getting trapped inside (possibly the felt) and creating a "greenhouse".

My thought for you is why not try some thick (maybe 10 mil) plastic sheeting on the floor under the machine? It would be a fairly cheap test to see if the rust was forming due to the dampness of the ground coming through the gaps in the floor boards.

if you can't get the plastic under the shed, then lay it on the floor and use a few staples or similar on the periphery to hold it down.

Another good chemical you can use that actually dries to a film is

CRC® Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor, 10 Wt Oz

A long term, flexible corrosion inhibitor that protects & preserves metal surfaces, electrical connections, engine components & fasteners, subject to salt spray and high humidity. Also provides effective protection for steering & throttle linkages.

www.crcindustries.com

I have a wooden floor but its in the air, on wooden beams several feet above ground. I will try an put some sort of foil on it and see if that helps. It just came to my mind that I built that shed out od totally fresh timber. It was soaking wet. And I put tractor in it since I couldnt elsewhere. Maybe majority of rust was caused during the period the shed has been drying.

 

[Russell King]

Don’t know if you have it in Croatia but there is a barrier that is similar to bubble wrap made from silver plastic that is used under metal roofs to help with condensation. I would assume you can get it. I think that would work well for both the roof and floor.

Here is a link to the material

Bubble Insulation – Radiant Barrier USA

 

[Rosohatica]

Ok, thanks

 

[Rosohatica]

Don’t know if you have it in Croatia but there is a barrier that is similar to bubble wrap made from silver plastic that is used under metal roofs to help with condensation. I would assume you can get it. I think that would work well for both the roof and floor.

Here is a link to the material

Bubble Insulation – Radiant Barrier USA

Thanks, will search for it at the hardware store around here.

 

[Rosohatica]

Hi again! Since my last post, I’ve acquired a new tractor and checked on it today in the barn. I’m attaching some images to show its current condition. We’ve had nighttime temperatures drop below freezing for the past couple of nights, and you can see frost covering the entire tractor. During the day, temperatures rise above freezing, causing condensation to form on the metal surfaces, which then refreezes overnight. As a result, the tractor is constantly wet. And in long term I am sure it will cause unwanted rust.

I’ve placed a plastic sheet under the floor, so I know the moisture isn’t coming from the ground—it must be from the air. The barn is wooden, as shown in the photos. Does anyone have suggestions on preventing this issue? Would installing Styrofoam on the inside walls help reduce or this recurring condensation problem by reducing temperature oscilation?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Unless you can completely control temp and humidity your not going to stop it from happening.

I think your being overly worried about something that's not going to hurt the tractor one bit.
I have several 30 and 40 year old tractors that live outside in the rain snow, frost, temp changes and they really don't have any real rust issues.

But I get it, you want it to stay nice.
Making the walls vapor resistant will help a little till Humidity goes up, then you'll wish you didn't do it as it will work the opposite.

Don't worry about it now as there is not a lot you can do till it gets warm again.
But when it does, wash the tractor completely, they apply spray wax.
Or you can apply a rust preventer.

 

[Nicksacco]

Are the walls and floor wet too? If so there must be a huge amount of humidity where you are.
You might want to purchase an inexpensive hygrometer to confirm.

If you want to try something else, consider a box fan with the air directed on the tractor.
That's a nice shed you have, however not being insulated from the elements it appears it's trapping moisture.

With a fan or two circulating air, maybe that will cause rapid evaporation of water. Of course you've got to have a place for the air to go. Again, an inexpensive test to see what happens.

 

[Rosohatica]

Yeah I think I cant fight condensation while in wooden barn. I do think that if I had brick or concrete garage that this wouldn`t be happening.
As you guessed, I am more concerned about aesthetic part than being worried about actual harm done to the tractor. Especially since I could really see the difference on before/after images of my previous B series tractor, after only 3 years sitting in the same barn. However that was older tractor to begin with so the paint was more chipped and therefore more prone to rusting.

Thanks for the tip. I will follow the advice in late spring.

Unless you can completely control temp and humidity your not going to stop it from happening.

I think your being overly worried about something that's not going to hurt the tractor one bit.
I have several 30 and 40 year old tractors that live outside in the rain snow, frost, temp changes and they really don't have any real rust issues.

But I get it, you want it to stay nice.
Making the walls vapor resistant will help a little till Humidity goes up, then you'll wish you didn't do it as it will work the opposite.

Don't worry about it now as there is not a lot you can do till it gets warm again.
But when it does, wash the tractor completely, they apply spray wax.
Or you can apply a rust preventer.

 

[Rosohatica]

Well the walls and the floor are wooden so it is hard to tell about how wet they are. I don`t think they are, probably because wood is insulating material so it never gets as cold as tractor iron.

Fan wouldn`t work because I don`t live there, I just come occasionally several times per month so I wouldn`t dare to leave electricity on.

Thanks for the hygrometer idea. I might do that.

Are the walls and floor wet too? If so there must be a huge amount of humidity where you are.
You might want to purchase an inexpensive hygrometer to confirm.

If you want to try something else, consider a box fan with the air directed on the tractor.
That's a nice shed you have, however not being insulated from the elements it appears it's trapping moisture.

With a fan or two circulating air, maybe that will cause rapid evaporation of water. Of course you've got to have a place for the air to go. Again, an inexpensive test to see what happens.

View attachment 145132

 

[Elliott in GA]

I previously suggested Corrosion X rust/corrosion inhibitor - spray all metal parts and electrical system once or twice a year. However as you are in Croatia, you may not be able to get it.

However given your country's coastline, there should be marine supply stores that carry a similar product. Boats that are used in salt water need to have their metal surfaces and electrical systems protected.