Removing rust on a shopsmith

[BetterDays]

I recently acquired this shopsmith for my small garage workshop. I see the surface rust that needs removed. What is the best / easiest way to remove and then keep it gone?

Vinegar and a brush to scrape it off, WD40 to keep it away?
Just a wire wheel and then some kind of oil or wax?

After derusting it, I plan to build a caster set for it (need it mobile) and start learning how to use it.

Thanks!

 

[LeonardY]

Since it's just surface rust, I would use steel wool. Start with the course stuff and move to the finer. If it doesn't come off to your satisfaction, I would get some Boeshield Rust free. If it's more than surface rust you may need to go down the the Evapo-rust route.
After you remove the rust I would coat the tables with Bostik glidecote. I don't use anything that might containment raw wood you are working with. It can effect your finishes. Even wax will. Silicone sprays are a no no for any surfaces that will come in contact with wood.
WD40 is a water displacement lubricant. It will attract dust. As far as bearings and such I grease all of mine.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Have you gone to YouTube and looked at some of the videos there? The channel MyGrowthRings is full of content by Scott (who was a Shopsmith store manager in Massachusetts in years past).
This is what has worked well for me in the rust removal area:

1. use a stiff brass brush to get all the loose stuff off
2. Use Rustoleum Rust Reformer on the rusty areas
3. once the Rust Reformer has dried (which is about 15 minutes) you might try to chip/scrape off the crust that formed. It seems that the conversion process will pull some of the oxidation into the Rust Reformer product and become part of that crust.
4. In those YT videos Scott does a major rust removal effort on a rusty SS jointer. In a subsequent episode he mentions someone recommending Penetrol as a way to put a protective coating on the bare metal.

How about posting up a picture of your machine?

 

[BetterDays]

I thought I had attached...

 

[BetterDays]

 

[BetterDays]

I have the original manuals, self-study course, and a lot of different things that I need to figure out how to install.. I even have what I think is a band saw which I was not expecting. Can't wait to start learning how to use this thing for some relaxing time in my small garage shop

 

[BetterDays]

I'm just now trying to put things in place to understand what I have and don't have since it is been in storage for 6 years and probably not used for several years prior to that.

 

[BillK]

That rust is almost nothing. Take some scotchbrite and WD40 and rub it off. The stuff on the dust collector almost looks like sawdust ? I thought that piece was aluminum and really shoudnt rust anyway.

 

[BetterDays]

That rust is almost nothing. Take some scotchbrite and WD40 and rub it off. The stuff on the dust collector almost looks like sawdust ? I thought that piece was aluminum and really shoudnt rust anyway.

It was probably scratched and then tons of moisture and not being cared for. Very mich surface.

Going to order some replacement parts since it turns 45 this year.

 

[rharman]

ShopSmith has always recommended just plain old paste wax on the tubes.
I attended some SS workshops and those guys were always waxing them. Headstock and table moved like they were on rollers.