Keeping loading press in a garage

[alexcue]

My current RCBS Reloader Special press has lived in a garage since it was bought in 1979. A couple of times a decade, I disassemble the press, clean it, oil it and put it back together. The handle will occasionally start to rust, but I just buff it off with a wire wheel, lightly oil it and everything is good for a few more years.

OT: I have one of those too! use it for decapping currently. That's the one thing that sucker always does and will always do in my garage! The handle will always rust, it needs oil on it constantly. Everything else on it stays in good shape and some steel wool cleans it up nice.
My other gear really doesn't need as much care as that handle. Hornady dies are the other sensitive metal items that occasionally need some oil on them, but nothing like the handle.

 

[mstreddy]

I'm in South Florida and I reload in my garage. As many have said, keep an eye on rust prevention and humidity.
Some dies are more prone to rusting than others, but overall, I haven't had many issues with rust.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I load in my uninsulated, non-climate controlled garage, and it's fine. In the peak heat of the day...that's not where I'm at! I usually am out there after dark, so it's not an issue.
(I have loaded out there in the winter and could see my breath)
Humidity would be my main concern, but It's pretty arid where I'm at

 

[tcoz]

I'm in South Florida and I reload in my garage....

I can't begin to imagine what it would be like reloading in my garage. It's over 100 degrees out there every day from June through August.

 

[mdi]

As all others said it won't hurt it but it might get lonely.........

Lonely is safe! No interruptions...

 

[hdwhit]

alexcue wrote:

My other gear really doesn't need as much care as that handle.

I am surprised to hear that Los Angeles has the humidity for that kind of rusting (after all the old song says "It Never Rains in Southern California"), but I'm glad to read that you also find buffing the handle and oiling it to be enough to keep going.

 

[hdwhit]

I'm in South Florida and I reload in my garage. As many have said, keep an eye on rust prevention and humidity.

I was sent to live with my grandparents in Lighthouse Point, Florida, when my father went to Vietnam. Southern Florida is a sandbar with ideas above its lot in life, so it is all about humidity. If mstreddy hasn't had a problem with rust, the OP should be able to deal with whatever nature sends his way.

 

[wbbh]

Another South Carolina reloader, mid state on the Georgia border. I reload in a garage that keep relatively dry with a portable dehumidifier. I also favor CorrosionX oil and haven't much a problem with rust.

I recently installed, (cut an exhaust hole), a portable air conditioner. It works pretty well to keep the garage at a tolerable temperature on those 98 degree days. I keep my main supply of powder and primers in the house A/C and the current use containers in the garage.

 

[ny32182]

Thanks for the input all. I believe I'm going to give it a try. If it is intolerable for whatever reason I guess I'll figure out a way to move it inside.

 

[LeonCarr]

Here in beautiful DFW I load in the garage and other than running a dehumidifier 24 hours a day I have done no special rustproofing and have no rust issues. I lubricate the presses with red wheel bearing grease and Mobil 1 and have no issues. The primers are stored in 50 caliber ammo cans with silica gel and in 27 years of loading have never had a dud primer when properly seated.

It is truly amazing how much water a dehumidifier pulls out of the air. During our very rainy month of May this year I emptied about 2 gallons of water out of it every day. During the winter about every 3-4 days.

I use your typical oscillating fan when loading in the garage but have thought about kicking it up a notch to a port-a-cool or similar device. I have thought about running HVAC to the garage but it is a big area and would be cost prohibitive since it would involve getting a larger outside unit.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Gtscotty]

I reload in my garage, and did when I lived in Georgia as well. I wear a jacket in the winter and sweat a little in the summer. My components are stored in the garage as well, and I've never had any issues.

 

[mdi]

I delivered Dr. Pepper just south of Dallas (Ennis). One springtime, it was so humid I had to swim from my truck to the store to deliver the soda pop. I rusted daily in the heat, 90s and humidity, 98%+, and wilted by 3:00 in the afternoon. At first I thought it was smog like I was used to in LA, but it was just the wet air...

Under those conditions I think anything would rust, including stainless steel...

 

[hdwhit]

I have done no special rustproofing and have no rust issues.

What LeonCarr neglects to mention is that when someone is reloading in their garage in Dallas, in the summer, they need a sweatband to keep the perspiration from running off their head and contaminating the powder and primers. Other than that, no issues.

 

[LeonCarr]

Yeah hdwhit I have never used a sweatband but there are some summer days around here that it would really really come in handy.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[HankC]

I delivered Dr. Pepper just south of Dallas (Ennis). One springtime, it was so humid I had to swim from my truck to the store to deliver the soda pop. I rusted daily in the heat, 90s and humidity, 98%+, and wilted by 3:00 in the afternoon. At first I thought it was smog like I was used to in LA, but it was just the wet air...

Under those conditions I think anything would rust, including stainless steel...

Hey, at lest you don't need to worry statics!