scroll saw resto

[1930artdeco]

I am going to have to restore my old/new to me beaver scroll saw sooner than I thought. See earlier post about my new Beaver scroll saw. My question is how do I restore the table? It has surface rust that I don't believe is to deep. Should I wire wheel it off first and then use a wet/dry sandpaper or should I use phosphoric acid to convert and then sand? What grit sandpaper should I use, I would guess that I would start in the 300 range.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[jakemac]

If it's just surface, and not pitted, you can convert it and then remove and polish. I used EvapoRust sprayed onto a paper towel (re-applying as needed to keep wet). Then I used a fine wire wheel to clean it up. Finally, I applied 3 coats of past wax, leaving each coat to harden for 24hrs before hand buffing each coat.

If lightly pitted, you may be able to sand it down to minimize the damage.

If heavily pitted, you can "bondo" it with JB Weld, then sand smooth.

Before and After

 

[Outlawmws]

Dress in something you don't care about, put a braided cup wire wheel on a 4" mini grinder and do the oil and wirewheel trick. Messy, but the results can be very good.

A cardboard box on the off sides is also a good Idea to contain the spray...

 

[acdeucey]

This past fall I dragged my 1985 Delta 18" Scroll Saw out of my barn/garage and moved it to my basement workshop. I had this saw crammed back in a corner where it had been neglected for quite a few years. Big-time rust on the table.

Once I got it in the basement I started to clean it up. Tried my usual tricks with wire brushes, steel wool, sandpaper, and various oils/chemicals applied with rags -- being careful not to make the table look like I went ape-**** on it.

After toiling for awhile trying one thing and then another, areas that I had cleaned still had dark splotches that resisted my gentler approach. So, with my arthritic hands telling me this method wasn't working, I decided to go medieval on it.

But then, as luck would have it, I remembered I had some Naval Jelly in my chemical warfare stockpile. Hell, give it a try.

Globbed it on with a paintbrush and, because it's a jelly, I could slather it right up to the edge of the table without it running off. Let it set for awhile and then wiped it off. EUREKA! Table looked like new. Rust gone and the dark splotches too. Best of all, the table had the original machining marks on it and not those ugly scratches resulting from getting a little too aggressive with the wire wheel.

Anyway, it worked for me.

Good luck.

Don

 

[1930artdeco]

Ok, I bought some Naval Jelly and a wire wheel and flap wheel. My question is, the wire wheel looks to be a 'fine' wheel and the flap wheel is 80 grit. I looked at the table it looks like surface rust. which should I use the wire wheel with the drill or the angle grinder with the flap wheel?

I am planning to soak the top in jelly, clean and then use one of the wheels to lightly get rid of any lingering rust. Sound like a good plan of action?

Mike

 

[rsanter]

For light surface rust you can use krud cutter rust remover and it will make the surface look like new

Bob

 

[acdeucey]

Oops! Good thing this thread came back to the top. I had forgotten to post a picture of the saw AFTER my clean-up.

Too bad I don't have a "before" picture. You'll just have to take my word that the top was really bad. Rusty as hell with crust-cancer build-up. I think the build-up areas were responsible for the dark splotches.

Anyway, it looks good now, especially after applying Johnson Paste Wax.

Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Ok, I bought some Naval Jelly and a wire wheel and flap wheel. My question is, the wire wheel looks to be a 'fine' wheel and the flap wheel is 80 grit. I looked at the table it looks like surface rust. which should I use the wire wheel with the drill or the angle grinder with the flap wheel?

I am planning to soak the top in jelly, clean and then use one of the wheels to lightly get rid of any lingering rust. Sound like a good plan of action?

Mike

Don't use the flap wheel on the table it's more of a grinder that a fine finish tool.

I'd go with the fine wire wheel after the NJ. but I've also had really good luck on cast iron surfaces liek that with a 3-1/2" braided cup on a mini grinder and lubricating the surface with some oil. Its messy, (wear a shop coat/coveralls you don't care about) and a face shield, but it gives great results.

 

[DekeT]

Looks good after your cleanup. I would have recommended electrolysis.

 

[1930artdeco]

Hi Guys,

How did you all polish the tables? After I get done with derusting, I have a orbital polisher I can use or should just do it by hand as it is a small surface?

Mike