Any way to waterproof my equipment?

[Joseph DiNatale]

Due to space, my gym HAS to be outside on my deck. And no, I CAN'T go to a gym, so don't even ask.

Is there anything I could coat the bench, weights, and barbells with so that they won't rust or ruin?

I can't afford to roof in the deck, or anything like that.

Any ideas?

[Blue Blazer]

Due to space, my gym HAS to be outside on my deck. And no, I CAN'T go to a gym, so don't even ask.

Is there anything I could coat the bench, weights, and barbells with so that they won't rust or ruin?

I can't afford to roof in the deck, or anything like that.

Any ideas?

Get a big tarp and cover your stuff and tie it down somehow...this is just an idea that came off the top of my head...

I think it would work well...or buy a car cover at a canadian tire and use that to cover it and somehow tie it down....this would be easier than using a tarp...just an idea though

[need2eat]

Your equipment should be powdercoated, unless you chip or nick it, the metal shouldnt rust.

Make sure you keep the cushion part of your equipment covered though. If the plywood backing gets wet, it will rot all to hell. There is a small chance it will warp slightly from sitting outside with all the moisture, but should be fine if covered.

Biggest problem is anything chrome like your bars and your weights, if they are new condition, then they should be fine, just think about cars when they used to have chrome bumpers...haha. If its scratched or nicked, then it will rust. When chrome is painted, normal paint will just wear or chip off easily, as chrome isnt the easiest to paint, that and your looking to paint high wear items. You can use automotive primers such as epoxy primer which are super strong but dangerous, pay attention to the warnings. Then coat with an industrial paint. John deere blitz black is some durable chit and its cheap. cheaper alternative, clean your bars and wrap in duct tape. Just play around with different combinations on a small section, test for effectiveness before you paint everything.

Your plates will rust easily too, they seem to wanna retain moisture, very porous cast material, just from the atmosphere and in the least, flash rust, if they get wet, watch out. It doesnt bother me much but Ive considered spraying truck bedliner (now comes in aerosol cans) onto them, that stuff is obviously very durable. Just pay attention to the holes when you spray, if you get too much build up inside, they may not slide onto your bars easily, then youll be spending some time trying to remove the material.

I use two tarps over my stuff, if it rains hard enough, it soaks through the plastic mesh......not that bad though.

Biggest hastle is covering and uncovering chit but its not that big of a deal. Easiest solution is to just keep everything as dry as possible, which is tough, cause morning condensation will get on everything, covered or not. A sealed container for your plates, and anything you can fit in it, would work great but not sure its practical, large rubbermaid tub maybe.

Good luck

[JRT6]

This is probably impractical because of the size of the job in your case but I use Rain-X on some small stuff that gets wet all the time. As long as the stuff is re-applied occasionaly it works good. Silicon works good to as long it isn't on anything you're gripping. Maybe a trip to Home Depo can find you something practical.

[QUALITYGUY1]

A tarp and a few bungees is the answer. No matter what the coating, weights will rust out in the elements...and powder coat is really no better than a good paint job no matter what the hype you hear..and it also entirely depends on the prep of the material prior to painting or coating.

[need2eat]

also forgot to mention por-15, either that or truck bedliner would be about the only two full proof coatings.

[Brother Steel]

Due to space, my gym HAS to be outside on my deck. And no, I CAN'T go to a gym, so don't even ask.

Is there anything I could coat the bench, weights, and barbells with so that they won't rust or ruin?

I can't afford to roof in the deck, or anything like that.

Any ideas?

Use some WD-40 on your equipment. I use it on mine. (You can get it at any Walmart store.)
Then after you have sprayed your equipment with WD-40 cover everything with a tarp, like Joey Mo and QUALITYGUY1 has suggested.

Here is a link to the WD-40 web site:
http://www.wd40.com/Brands/wd40_faqs.html

Here is a link to WD-40 two thousand uses:
http://www.wd40.com/pdfs/WD-40_2000UsesList.pdf

This article is from About.com.
http://inventors.about.com/od/wstart...a/WDFourty.htm

WD-40 was invented in 1953.
According to the company that makes WD-40: WD-40 literally stands for water displacement 40th attempt. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who helped develop WD-40 back in 1953. Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion, a task which is done by displacing water. Norm's persistence paid off when he perfected the formula for WD-40 on his 40th try.

Rocket Chemical Company
WD-40 was invented by the three founders of the Rocket Chemical Company of San Diego, California. The team of inventors were working on a line of industrial rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry. WD-40 was first used to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion. Norm Larsen repackaged WD-40 into aerosol cans for consumer use and the product was sold to the general public in 1958. In 1969, the Rocket Chemical Company was renamed after its only product WD-40.

[Joseph DiNatale]

So how does the WD-40 combo work for you? And do I just pour it all over my stuff then cover with a tarp?

[Brother Steel]

So how does the WD-40 combo work for you? And do I just pour it all over my stuff then cover with a tarp?

Joseph,

I don't do the combo (no tarp). All my equipment is in my basement gym. While my basement is dry, I sweat like a pig when working out and drip sweat on my equipment. Sweat is like salt water and enough of it will eat the chrome off your bars and the paint off steel (paint needs to be cracked or chipped, chrome don't).

What I do is spray WD-40 on a terry cloth rag (you can get them at Wal-Marts or any auto parts store) then wipe down all metal surfaces. (Spraying it on the rag keeps it from going everywhere.) You can also spray it on your machine cables, pulleys and tracks. Just be careful and don't spray / wipe it on everything because it will stain fabrics. Also don't breathe it or spray it in yours eyes. Remember to wash your hands after you use it. Wearing rubber gloves is recommended when using WD-40. If you get too much on any surface that you need to grasp / hold don't worry just take a clean cloth and wipe any excess off. Make sure you wipe all the excess off any weight plates you spray it on. (If not you may have a plate slide through your hand and drop on your foot! Ouch!)

I have kept my equipment in good shape for years using the method described. I hope this answer has helped.

Good luck,
Brother Steel

[Joseph DiNatale]

Joseph,

I don't do the combo (no tarp). All my equipment is in my basement gym. While my basement is dry, I sweat like a pig when working out and drip sweat on my equipment. Sweat is like salt water and enough of it will eat the chrome off your bars and the paint off steel (paint needs to be cracked or chipped, chrome don't).

What I do is spray WD-40 on a terry cloth rag (you can get them at Wal-Marts or any auto parts store) then wipe down all metal surfaces. (Spraying it on the rag keeps it from going everywhere.) You can also spray it on your machine cables, pulleys and tracks. Just be careful and don't spray / wipe it on everything because it will stain fabrics. Also don't breathe it or spray it in yours eyes. Remember to wash your hands after you use it. Wearing rubber gloves is recommended when using WD-40. If you get too much on any surface that you need to grasp / hold don't worry just take a clean cloth and wipe any excess off. Make sure you wipe all the excess off any weight plates you spray it on. (If not you may have a plate slide through your hand and drop on your foot! Ouch!)

I have kept my equipment in good shape for years using the method described. I hope this answer has helped.

Good luck,
Brother Steel

So do you think that if I put WD-40 on my stuff, then cover it good with a tarp, that should prevent any major rust or damage?

[Blue Blazer]

So do you think that if I put WD-40 on my stuff, then cover it good with a tarp, that should prevent any major rust or damage?

It should prevent "MAJOR" rust but this won't do miracles...if you live like where there isn't much rain and it's usally always a hot day and where there's no winter (season where this is snow) (snow: something people in the deep south aren't familiar with)

If this is your case it should be alright, and if you live in a town far from the sea, it will help as well...

Damn you gave one hell of a story on the wd-40...I imagine everyone is familiar with wd-40 on this site? lol

Joey...

[Brother Steel]

So do you think that if I put WD-40 on my stuff, then cover it good with a tarp, that should prevent any major rust or damage?

Joseph,

What Joey said was a very good answer there is not much that I can add to that. The only way you can keep your equipment in a rust proof manner is to keep it in the dry, which means that you have to put it inside. You indicated that this was not an option with your first post so the tarp and WD-40 is the best and cheapest idea I can think of. In a few years, you will be out on your own and hopefully then you will have a place where you can keep your equipment in the dry. Short of keeping your equipment high and dry you will have to do constant upkeep on your equipment to make it last.

At 16 years old, your life is just starting out. Good things should be ahead for you. Keep lifting and growing stronger. Take care of the equipment that you have the best you can under the circumstance you are living in now. Have heart and try to persevere. I worked out many years in my workshop which was very hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. I built my new house last year and finally got my "Dream Gym". I hope it doesn't take you as long.

Best wishes and good luck
Brother Steel.

To Joey,

You said, "Damn you gave one hell of a story on the wd-40...I imagine everyone is familiar with wd-40 on this site? Lol"

Just trying to give the young man good information and a helping hand, I grew up the hard way and know where the kid is coming from.

[need2eat]

buy rubbercoated weights...haha