Surface rust

[Luckbox]

What is the best way to remove surface rust?
Is it bets to use steel wool, the synthetic stuff, or just sand paper?
If you use sand paper should it be done by hand or would a power sander work better?

My table saw, band saw, and jointer has some rust on them from my move and being stored for 8 months so I want to get them back into shape. I have some of the top saver solution and plan on finishing the tops with some Johnson’s paste wax, unless there is a better solution.

[Uncle Cracker]

Do not use steel wool... It will leave steel particles imbedded in the surface which will themselves rust. A "fake" wool pad, some WD-40 and lots of elbow grease will remove the rust, but then you should clean the WD-40 off with acetone or denatured alcohol, so it won't stain your work. After that, you can use paste wax, Empire Table-Saver, or Boeshield T-9 to seal the table. I prefer to use the Empire, because it is made specifically for this purpose, and does not leave wax on the surface (this may or may not be a problem for you). Also, be prepared to repeat the process periodically, especially if the tool is in use.

[Dale In Corona]

I like to use the T9 product "Rust Free" to remove the rust. I find that after I apply it and let it sit for a minute or two that most surface rust just wipes off with a soft cloth or paper shop towel. I have occasionally taken a green scrubby pad to some areas of heavier rust before removing the Rust Free with a soft cloth (wear gloves, a respirator or at least a mask and eye protection if you start scrubbing away).

After I have thoroughly wiped off the Rust Free and let the material in question dry I apply a coat (or two) of T9 Boeshield. Whether I let it dry completely or wipe it off between coats depends entirely on the item being protected and the likelihood for it to rust again.

You can pick both items up at sears in a kit for about $20 and you will get many applications out of it.

Here is a link: Sears T9 Kit

Dale

PS It should be noted that I have no affiliation with ANY of the products or compnies mentioned and that the oppinions expressed are solely my own. I take no responsibility either expressed or implied for anything. YMMV.

[crokett]

I just derusted my jointer. I used the plastic scrubby pads and some WD-40. Wiped off the excess then wiped the whole thing down with mineral spirits. Once that evaporated I went back over it with Johnson's paste wax.

[Holbren]

Boeshield works good for my tops.

I was in the garage the other day only to find that everything is rusted. Every handle and nut on my combo machine. table saw blade plates, bandsaw blades, allen wrenches, handplanes ... What a mess.

What do you do Cracker? You live in the most humid place on earth too.

[Uncle Cracker]

What do you do Cracker? You live in the most humid place on earth too.

I re-coat a lot. And I make a habit not to touch anything I don't need to work with. Can't do much else... I do have a de-humidifier in my shop, and the sawdust on the floor seems to help...

[Holbren]

I re-coat a lot. And I make a habit not to touch anything I don't need to work with. Can't do much else... I do have a de-humidifier in my shop, and the sawdust on the floor seems to help...

A de-humifiier helps I'm sure. My family comes and goes through the garage door so that's not really a good option and I catch **** for the sawdust. Hmm, time to insulate the garage door, add A/C and tell them to use the darn front door that's probalby rusted shut from not being used.

[Uncle Cracker]

A de-humifiier helps I'm sure. My family comes and goes through the garage door so that's not really a good option and I catch **** for the sawdust. Hmm, time to insulate the garage door, add A/C and tell them to use the darn front door that's probalby rusted shut from not being used.

Yeah, the wife told me either the sawdust goes, or she does... I'm gonna miss her...

[Crash2510]

I use a rust remover that I use on guns before Instant gun blue

[dlminehart]

That's one thing I'll miss about my BT3: no rusting tops!

[eezlock]

rust removal?

I use scotchbrite pads on the ros and wd-40, then clean that off and apply a couple of coats of minwax and buff it out, really does a good job for me!
eezlock

[p8ntblr]

T9 works well but will discolor the material. WD-40 takes alot more elbow grease but doesn't stain. I've also heard good things about a product called TC11 but have never used it.

[Pappy]

Dupont rubbing and polishing compounds work. Neither of them contain silicones.

I use very fine (maroon) and ultra fine (grey) 5" Scotch Brite pads on my ROS to clean and polish. If you go this route, buy an extra H&L pad just for this purpose.

[Tarhead]

You may want to consider Mother's aluminum wheel/metal polish and a big can of elbow grease if WD40 and a Scotchbrite pad don't give you satisfaction. I used this to rehab and old saw top and it worked well.

I've had excellent results keeping rust away with a mineral spirits/Gulfwax mixture. I grate 1/2 of a bar of Gulfwax pariffin (found in the canning section of your grocery store) and disolve this in ~6-8oz of mineral spirits. I store this mix in a spray bottle and spray my cast iron surfaces once/month. when the mineral spirits evaporate I buff with an old towel. I figure that the expensive snake oils are basically the same stuff. I only pay about $0.55 for 8ozs.

Note: Keep this in a heated space. It turns solid when it gets to ~45 degrees.

Mark

[Luckbox]

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I found that scotchbrite pads on the ros with the top cleaner starting with course all the way up to fine, and then finishing with Minwax pastwax left the top very clean and smooth. It tok two coats of the pastwax before the cloth was comming up faily clean. I might put another coat of wax on jut to make sure.