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+-- Thread: rust on table top (/showthread.php?tid=7345625)
rust on table top - Wild Turkey - 01-11-2019
I found an old (art deco era) sliding table Unisaw that has been poorly stored so there's rust on the surface.
I plan to take the rust off with a right angle grinder and Scotchbrite or wire wheel.
Once the gross rust is gone do I need to use Navel Jelly or something similar to remove any "hidden" rust or can I just give it a good cleaning and waxing?
Machine is in good shape considering
RE: rust on table top - Cooler - 01-11-2019
A right angle grinder might take off too much of the good steel. I would try using a brush to remove the rust and as random oribital sand to get a smooth surface.
My right angle grinder will dig right into the surface of steel. I think it is too agressive for this.
You might also try a chemical rust remover.
Here is a good article on the subject: https://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/how-to-remove-rust/view-all/
RE: rust on table top - brianwelch - 01-11-2019
(01-11-2019, 11:32 AM)Wild Turkey Wrote: I found an old (art deco era) sliding table Unisaw that has been poorly stored so there's rust on the surface.
I plan to take the rust off with a right angle grinder and Scotchbrite or wire wheel.
Once the gross rust is gone do I need to use Navel Jelly or something similar to remove any "hidden" rust or can I just give it a good cleaning and waxing?
Machine is in good shape considering
Try scraping with a razor blade to get the thick/heavy stuff off...Then follow up with an ROS/WD40 (or other sim solvent) rather than grinder.
Worked well for me...
Grinder would probably work, but I would def use Scotchbrite, not the wire wheel...
RE: rust on table top - Stwood_ - 01-11-2019
I wipe down with WD-40 and then ROS with about 180 grit or so.
Then wax and polish.
I use half and half mixture of paraffin wax and bees wax, with a little turpentine mixed in.
RE: rust on table top - fredhargis - 01-11-2019
If you have a Scotchbrite or wire wheel on that grinder you'll be fine. You will probably see any leftover rust, if you can't I'd just wax it and go from there. But if you need more clean up after the grinder thing, the ROS trick will do a nice job of getting you finished up.
RE: rust on table top - toolmiser - 01-11-2019
How about soaking it with something and letting it sit for a day or two then going after it? It will loosen up the rust a bit, and there won't be as much dust when you remove it.
I wouldn't use a grinder.
RE: rust on table top - Bill Holt - 01-12-2019
I'm in the NO grinder school.
I've never tried the "WD40 soak over-night" trick, but it sounds like a good idea if the whole top is rusted.
RE: rust on table top - Bluepine - 01-12-2019
I've used a ROS with a course piece of sandpaper with a green shotchbrite pad under it.
That way it left a nice even finish across the whole top without swirl marks from the ROS.
RE: rust on table top - Redman - 01-12-2019
I'm in the NO grinder school also. I use a sheet of 220 grit glued to a flattened board or a green non-woven pad and WD-40 or similar. Use a paint scraper if you need to. Do not try to remove the patina that cast iron gets, that seems to help delay rusting and that's what CI is supposed to do. Clean and wax. My tables have only gotten slicker doing this periodically.
RE: rust on table top - ez-duzit - 01-12-2019
You do NOT want the marks from a ROS or grinder in the top. Use a Razor blade to remove the bulk of the rust. Then steel wool and brown Scotchbright pad. Finish by cleaning with acetone an d apply a layer of paste wax.