Removing Rust from band Saw Table?

[Stargeezer]

neighbor donated a Craftsman 10" bandsaw to me. Ordered a few parts (two tires and a blade) from Sears Parts Direct and am now ready to put it back into service.

However, the table (Cutting bed) is completely covered in a light, fine uniform layer of red rust. What is the recommended procedure to remove most of it please? Thought about attacking with an orbital sander. Must be a good chemical treatment? Any product recommendations?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[dankeenan]

I use scothbrite pads and wd-40. It will polish up like new.

 

[spongerich]

I've used steel wool and rubbing compound and it works pretty well.

Start with hand work first... you don't want to take off too much good metal if you can avoid it. Not that a thousandth of an inch is going to make much difference, but the flatter the better.

 

[Brad54]

I use scothbrite pads and wd-40. It will polish up like new.

This would be my recommendation as well.
Even better if you have an orbital sander--put a piece of scotchbrite pad down, set the orbital on it, and go to town.

-Brad

 

[yucholian]

All recommendations will work.
You can also use wet-dry sandpaper and WD-40.
When you're done, wipe the table with some sort of degreaser or solvent, and put 2 coats of minwax furniture wax. Prevents rust and material slides on it nice and smooth.

 

[hunter1151]

This would be my recommendation as well.
Even better if you have an orbital sander--put a piece of scotchbrite pad down, set the orbital on it, and go to town.

-Brad

Will it be done when he gets back..............???

 

[gj67stang]

I've had very good luck using Rust Free by Boeshield on rusty tablesaws, bandsaws, jointers, lathes and other equipment. It does require a little elbow grease, but not any more than WD40 or polishing compound.

Be sure to have decent ventilation when using the stuff as it is a little potent.

 

[Brad54]

Will it be done when he gets back..............???

Only if he pays his elves better than I do.

-Brad

 

[Stargeezer]

Thanks All: happen to have a box of Scotchbrite pads. I will give it a go; experimenting with the suggestions. Hopefully I can get my wife to do this task. ha Ha She seems to be willing to work on things in the garage more and more. Can't beat that!

 

[rlitman]

Keep this in mind. If you spray the rust with an oil (I prefer G96 gun oil, as it contains VCI), and use something to rub the rust off with (steel wool will NOT wear down the table, scotchbrite is a little harsher, but is still a very good choice), the resulting smooth surface will have brown to black staining all over it. This is GOOD. It's called "browning", and will leave the surface more resistant to new rusting. Older shotguns were treated this way.

If you're one of those people who just have to sand until they get a shiny surface, then you'll be battling rust all your life.

 

[BlindViper]

You can use electrolysis rust removal on it. But instead of using a tub of water use a nice towel soaked in the solution.
look towards to bottom
http://www.frets.com/homeshoptech/QuickTricks/RustRemoval/rustremoval.html

 

[spooler41]

Come on guys, Just use a knotted cup brush on a a 4.5" grinder. It'll take you about 3 min. to remove the rust, then given it a good shot of WD-40 and be done with it.
After you get it cleaned up, use it a lot ,you will never have to clean it again.

,..........................Jack

 

[Warrenator]

They make various grades of scotch-brite pads, the familiar green ones are more aggressive than some other colors. White as I recall is the finest, fine, and brown super aggressive.

I would start off with just a regular shop rag and some Barkeeper's Friend, it is a cleanser available at many home stores, grocery stores and hardware stores, it is a rust remover and polish par excellence and will shine up that table very safely without scarring or removing the flatness. Use a wax or the boeshield stuff after as suggested by gj67stang, keeps the table nice and smooth so it is easier to use.

 

[Crusty Nut]

The "Awesome" cleaner from Dollar store and a scotch brite does pretty damn good on stuff like that.

 

[HubbaBubba]

I use nylon mesh abrasive hand pads from McMaster and some type of solvent. Don't skimp on the elbow grease.

 

[BD1]

Vinegar! dump on, brush in, let soak, wipe off, and wire wheel. works wonders! bob

 

[A_Pmech]

This would be my recommendation as well.
Even better if you have an orbital sander--put a piece of scotchbrite pad down, set the orbital on it, and go to town.

-Brad

Yup, that's the ticket! Worked for me, along with some hand work:

 

[Brad Beam]

and put 2 coats of minwax furniture wax. Prevents rust and material slides on it nice and smooth.

Don't use wax it will contaminate the wood you are cutting and you will have a difficult time finishing

 

[tcianci]

I agree with not using the minwax there are dry lubes specifically for woodworking equipment that will leave a nice slick surface. No one has mentioned phosphoric acid treatments such as POR15 metal ready or good old Naval Jelly. Metal ready will clean it up in no time without any real work, just keep the surface wet and rub it lightly with some steel wool. I wouldn't be too concerned about preventing further rusting, chances are if you're using the tool it will be kept in an indoors environment, clean and dry.

 

[cnc-me]

Hit it with a DA sander with 80 Grit to start, then work it down as fine as
you like. Scotch-Brite is good stuff, but its kind of fine if there is much rust.
This from a guy that has cleaned up a LOT of antique machinery.
Blanchard grinder works wonders too, (kind of drastic though unless the
top is warped)

 

[A_Pmech]

There's nothing wrong with waxing woodworking machinery, provided the proper wax is used. Paste floor wax such as Johnson's has been the standard method of reducing friction and preventing rust on woodworking machinery for as long as woodworking machinery has existed.

The wax layer on the table is only a thousandth or so thick and wears fairly slowly. It causes no finishing problems that I've ever encountered and it reduces friction substantially, making machines easier to use.

 

[cnc-me]

There's nothing wrong with waxing woodworking machinery, provided the proper wax is used. Paste floor wax such as Johnson's has been the standard method of reducing friction and preventing rust on woodworking machinery for as long as woodworking machinery has existed.

The wax layer on the table is only a thousandth or so thick and wears fairly slowly. It causes no finishing problems that I've ever encountered and it reduces friction substantially, making machines easier to use.

Exactly, anyone thats stood at a bandsaw for hours on end, knows
how much of a difference a little wax can make.

 

[yucholian]

Woodworking furniture wax works great.
I am an avid woodworker and that is the "norm" for all cast iron surfaces among woodworkers. I've also used Boeshield spray. It works well for preventing rust but doesn't help with the smooth slide effect like the wax.

 

[bigblockford79]

A friend of mine was recently refinishing a coupler older Delta table saws that had rusty tops, the best and fastest method he found was using a standard razor blade. In about a minute he was able to clear the rust from a 1 ft square section of the table. From there he sprayed it with penetrating oil and wiped it with an old bath towel. Of course this method only works on tops that are smooth, not pitted or the cheaper milled cast stuff.

 

[Zeke]

Don't use wax it will contaminate the wood you are cutting and you will have a difficult time finishing

I'm glad others dispelled this. Could you elaborate about what kind of wood and work you do? Obviously anything with silicone in it like Pledge is a bad thing for wood projects.

I use household paste wax.