Nowhere in my Jet manual did it talk about maintaining the saw (I must be missing a seperate manual?). As a previous BT3100 owner - I've never owned a cabinet saw with a cast iron top. What is the best way to clean and protect it and keep it lubed? What about the miter slots? Anything need to be done on the fence rails to lube? Thanks!
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Gary -
Wax, wax, wax. Use a good quality, non-silicon wax (like Johnson's Paste Wax) on the table top. It will help prevent corrosion and help the wood to glide over the table top. I have a Craftsman 22114 and the manual also recommended waxing the front/rear fence rails and the sides of the fence. All are aluminum. I clean the saw inside and out, once a week. On the inside I just use a small paint brush to knock all the sawdust off everything, then vaccum the bottom. Outside I use a microfiber cloth to clean the sides of the cabinet and the top. Once a month, do the wax thing. I don't lube anything as it just gums up the threaded rods and actually makes it worse. I always vaccum the top at the end of each day of use.
RAGS 
Raggy and Me in San Felipe
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Some rail systems react badly to wax, such as the BT3 setup. Waxing the rails will sometimes prevent proper alignment of the rip fence, or not allow the fence to lock down properly, I therefore do not wax my rails.
The top surface I clean with a cloth moist with mineral spirits, then I apply a coat of Boesheild T9, and then wax over top of that once it's dried and buffed.
I will use the air compressor from time to time to blow out dust from the hard to reach areas.Keith Z. Leonard
Go Steelers!Comment
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Well, just tried Johnson's & mineral spirits and a lot of elbow grease...the problem with mine (only 2 weeks old) is that there are some fingerprint/smudges & a glass ring where someone (not I) set a glass on...these wont come up (almost like its a slight corosion), and not sure how to clean them to get the table back to its original shine??
Where do you get the Boeshield Keith?GaryComment
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Gotta find culprit on that one!
Anyway, all I have to say is be careful on cleaning the top with anything other than MS and steel wool. That should take care of it. A lot of those top cleaning systems will discolor the cast iron. Which is of course no big deal, but then again finger prints are no big deal either (to me).
I know you are proud of that new saw, but I wouldn't worry about having a mirror finish. Rather I would worry about having a nice, smooth rust free surface. Boeshield works fine, though not sure about need for paste wax after Boeshield. Paste wax alone works fine. Both protect from rust very well.
I know that a lot of the Sears around here have Boesheild. Can be hard to find, but they may have it. Woodcraft, Rockler, etc all have it too.Comment
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Gary, you can get the Boesheild at Rockler or Woodcraft. I find that my combo of that and wax keeps my cast stuff rust free for a couple of months at a time. I usually clean it because sawdust has stuck into the wax enough that it looks too grungy for me, and then I redo it.
For small rust spots, there are some fine abrasive pads for taking care of those. I've only ever had 1 spot, tiny, but it took it off no worries, then my usual treatment.Keith Z. Leonard
Go Steelers!Comment
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Keeping up with your cast iron is one of the rights of passage in woodworking. We love this metal in our big tools but hate how it often respond to the atmosphere.
I have a story on this topic at the link below that shows how I have come to care fo cast iron. The other suggestions here work as well and you will find some combination of all that works best for you. the key though is to stay on it! If you let it go for any length of time rust and corrosion will take root.
http://www.newwoodworker.com/clncstirn.htmlTom Hintz
NewWoodworker.com LLCComment
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I too use Boeshield T9. Great stuff. It imparts a silky-smooth feel to Big Arn, bringing out its feminine side.
Always remember the woodworker's two-part mantra: wood always moves; rust never sleeps.LarryComment
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Excellent advice as always. Thanks guys...the WD & steel wool definitely made a big difference...in the top and the usability of my arm today!
Going to pick up some Boeshield!GaryComment
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