removing laminate from cast iron table saw

[macs shop]

I just purchased a Powermatic 66 table saw, its a beast, but it needs a little TLC.

The PO was a cabinet shop, and they glued a piece of Formica onto the cast iron table. (I guess instead of the maintenance of polishing and waxing). Its old beat up, cracked, and needs to go.

I tried scraping, chiseling, heat, and blow torch, and it is not going to come off with anything I got.

Any ideas? Should find a machine shop and have them just remill the top, cut a .001 off?

 

[lardy1]

Heat should release it if it's applied with contact cement. Don't crack your cast iron though. Lacquer thinner under a corner if you can get it to lift at all. A sharp filet knife and lacquer thinner in a squeeze bottle.



Ask me how I know. lol

 

[rlitman]

I don't understand how you can't get it removed with a hammer and chisel. Unless it was attached with JB-Weld steel reinforced putty, it will peel up. Possibly in small chunks if the adhesive is REALLY good, but it will usually peel easier than that.

Wear your eye protection. And be careful not to gouge up the iron too much with the chisel.

If it's contact cement, that stuff is rubber. It has a lot of spring to it, and requires being cut. A sharp chisel would be my choice, but the knife above is an option too.

Better than an electric knife is a putty knife attachment in an oscillating multi-tool.

 

[macs shop]

I spent about 20 mins on it with a chisel, and got very little up. I dont know what kind of glue it is, but the guy said its been on there for close to 25yrs.

I didnt even think of the oscillating tool and putty knife type blade, I will give that a try also. I am hoping to find something simple/safe enough that I can pay my 13yr old $20 to sit and mess with.

 

[macs shop]

Heat should release it if it's applied with contact cement. Don't crack your cast iron though. Lacquer thinner under a corner if you can get it to lift at all. A sharp filet knife and lacquer thinner in a squeeze bottle.



Ask me how I know. lol

LOL,
and here I thought I was the only one

 

[OccupantRJ]

Use an oscillating tool with an old blade ground to a chisel point. If you can position a heat source obove the laminate such as a hair dryer or a heat lamp, this should help release the glue. Keep wood wedges driven under it to provide lift.

 

[BigMike782]

What about dry ice?

 

[RTM]

I would think a beater 2" chisel, (the one you keep to loan to the neighbors), would be an ideal choice, keep it at a low angle to avoid dinging the table top. Heat shouldn't hurt if done in moderation. Keeping the sheet intact as you remove might give you the ability to pull pieces with leverage, vs chipping it up.

My Fein with a putty knife was kind of awkward, and led to lots of chipping, for a similar task, but would probably be a simple method if you have one.

 

[gungatim]

try a heat gun, or if worse comes to worse, a propane torch (carefully obviously, don't cherry the CI table).

 

[Fatboy148]

My advise would be to wear a pair of gloves and be real careful. Formica can be sharp as a knife when you are removing it. Back in the day, I reskinned many hundreds/thousands of hotel room doors....

In my case, I just used a 2" Stanley wood chisel and most of it peeled off pretty easy. You could always go after it with your belt sander.... That's what I used to get the pieces off that didn't want to come easily.

 

[cderalow]

in a well ventilated area free from open flames:

flip it over and place top in tub of acetone and let it soak.

 

[Toolfool]

If it's contact cement, the best solvent is MEK. Second is acetone. Like mentioned, add some heat (hair dryer) to top surface as you work from one corner. If you don't dissolve or melt the glue some you'll fight it all day.

 

[macs shop]

it took several beers but I finally got it all off
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5k0mGi5cviPHkRc7A9kXKai5j_ao33DrKgKg9YG06FvIMvb9xqzsdC0Qtky846YhoBxhAsei74YjuX-SOfmpVvZfoh80g7a60vRA0gnwUASPkK8-YFfiIkDd-A-85_7CJDSCm5haHbwu3sdQ2IhkC5Ylrs5NbAvgQZLq-049TIJsJQqjM4DFHXjQKQ0Vq3MhCCTm_IDXjz9Zwul8-E2J2uWGvWFxX9AXtiEqEnQaWkWFydP_ii73S2cKnyZxaVnygLK8T_DhtQoSfmjBAQTp2wz4egGySOWIJGMfXAXei7r-IJwVP518FydaDddsowggrmd2pGbmiE1LXRcYWgbhjQ0sP38eWOzWOsjWfHcEwgyTG98bqcwISv3v1QfSt6cjp3gCDo-m59qCUaymHGVXpf9hTpHifD0WrSFO5J57MhIizXYsp07KnCfMAKW0ycoVgdchPsvBVkF_ApaEGvGEjdLjNuSfBf__jAw0PV9zjbCm64Rouo0yU8vwfBPjrlFQc0K_TcKD7ZlC2J0TVHu2cCLqcgdxYiXfVuwTWtQTCBthYAKmB6aWd5AY2NNYlcgi-OKyJixTcs_JZc8A-Y4u9KCeMXw86KaMLfPB99SqZFQxbA2MXykv9kTBzG-jH9oa31BetddAE3smMFHV_FW1inyPTf6K9FcG2vTPFp9q92eATLgZUkwacjR2=w1649-h888-no

 

[rlitman]

it took several beers but I finally got it all off
...

Wow, that's some good glue job! I see what you mean about it being difficult. So what method worked out best for you? Any takeaways we can learn from? What's the recommended beer for this task?

Now, about the remnants of the glue. Lay down a sheet of paper, soak it in acetone, and then put a trash bag on top to trap the solvent. Give it a few hours to soak, and a wire brush should then be able to do wonders.

 

[MoonRise]

it took several beers but I finally got it all off

Ah, you used the 'deluxe' HF OMT.

 

[KenC]

it took several beers but I finally got it all off

How long did you need to soak it? I would have used acetone.

 

[cvairwerks]

it took several beers but I finally got it all off

You need better beer.....

 

[bbbarracuda]

You need better beer.....

Sometimes it's the quantity not the quality that counts.