Light Aircraft Association

Any tips on the best way to stop rust during construction?

I could oil or paint it, but that will need removing each time I wish to tack on the next cross member, fitting or whatever. I've only built wooden airframes in the past, where metal fittings were made and protected immediately. So what do you do with an ongoing steel tube project if you don't want to keep removing paint or oil that will interfere with a weld?

It's not the cheapest solution, but I did my best to insulate my workshop, then I leave a little fan heater, with a 'frost guard' setting to keep the worst of the chill off. This has stopped both my 4130 stock and my lathe from going rusty!

If you can stop the drafts, try a de-humidifier. Worked very well for me and much cheaper that heating

Richard