5/8”
Acetone works great but is too expensive for me to use until final clean up. Not very environmental, but gasoline does more cleaning ounce for ounce than anything. Disposing the rags is the problem. But you can let them dry out completely and then toss them. Or you could burn them once they don't feel wet. Careful.
I can’t seem to post pictures?
Thanks man.
Will the vinegar help loosen mill scale or cut the rust?
Vinegar will cut the rust, but for mill scale I've used muriatic acid. Then finish up with sanding discs on a 6in D/A.
This is done with a burnishing wheel. Then I treat the bare metal with Bostic Topcote. The same stuff I use on my cast iron table saw. Works great for years. As others said do not paint the top so you can tack things to it.If it's really just to control rust, do a quick wirebrushing to knock off the very worst of loose stuff and then wipe it down with pretty much any oil solvent. Gasoline, carb cleaner, acetone, whatever. Let it dry, brush or spray on some Rustoleum and proceed to get it dirty and scarred. The new paint will mostly hold any remaining loose flakes on and make it all look good enough.
This brings up a thought: If it did start rusting, how long would it take before structural failure? Unless it's by the ocean, I'd guess maybe the next century.
Nice table.
So tell me, just exactly why did you ask us what to do? It's pretty obvious you already know how to handle it. Get back to work, son.I’m wire brushing the loose paint off, scotch brite and wax on the top. Not going to get carried away with it. This bench will be pretty nasty most of the time. I’m new to this forum and surprised by all the replies. Thanks a lot guys for all the great suggestions. I’ll post a pic in the next couple days when I get it painted. I already have a nice bench for clean work.
I’ve never really dealt with metal this greasy. I know the photo doesn’t show it well, but it had a ton of grime on it before I started cleaning it. I try to keep my shop clean because it doubles as an area for my son to play in the winter. This bench will mainly be used to roll outside for welding and grinding projects. I know how to paint and preserve metal. Not so much how to clean it when it’s so grimy.
Off the top of my head, there are solvents like petroleum spirits, gasoline, brake cleaner and various methyl ethyl death chemicals. Then there are detergents like hot concentrated Tide or Dawn, and there are putty knives and wire brushes. It's heavy steel. You're not going to hurt it with any of those things. The main thing is what happens to the runoff. Don't kill the grass, the neighborhood pets or Little Johnny next door.
Both. Citric acid would work better and faster tho
You have no idea how much this site will cost you OP.I’m wire brushing the loose paint off, scotch brite and wax on the top. Not going to get carried away with it. This bench will be pretty nasty most of the time. I’m new to this forum and surprised by all the replies. Thanks a lot guys for all the great suggestions. I’ll post a pic in the next couple days when I get it painted. I already have a nice bench for clean work.
i had that problem last week, my welding table had paint on it so i could not get a good ground, took me six months to figure out the paint
