Towels on tools rub out rust problem

After years of frequent scraping, scouring, sanding, rubbing, and waxing to maintain rust-free cast-iron tool tables in my shop near humid Houston, I found a very simple way to keep the rust from forming in the first place: Lay heavy cotton bath towels over the tools. A large bath towel on my saw table, held in place by the fence, and one spread over the ways of my lathe keep rust at bay and save me countless hours of cleaning.

My wife has sewn towels into fitted covers for my planer, jointer, and other tools. Of course, they also keep out dust. I started out with ragbag towels, but now have bought nice fluffy new ones to keep my tools dust- and rust-free.
—Joe Marsh, Spring, Texas