Woodwork Post

The top of my table saw was an accidental bystander when I was staining
the last project with a water-based stain. What can I safely use to
remove the half-dozen small stains without damaging the cast iron top?

TD Driver wrote:
> The top of my table saw was an accidental bystander when I was staining
> the last project with a water-based stain. What can I safely use to
> remove the half-dozen small stains without damaging the cast iron top?


Most thinners will remove it.
I keep a can of brake cleaner handy for spills and drops of just about
anything.

As for damaging the cast iron top. Am I missing something here?
Are you talking about protecting some kind of top coat you put on?

To keep from damaging cast iron, you're probably safe with just about
anything but thermite. :-)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com/
mike@mikedrumsDOT.com
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On Nov 18, 10:56 pm, -MIKE- wrote:
> TD Driver wrote:
> > The top of my table saw was an accidental bystander when I was staining
> > the last project with a water-based stain. What can I safely use to
> > remove the half-dozen small stains without damaging the cast iron top?
>
> Most thinners will remove it.
> I keep a can of brake cleaner handy for spills and drops of just about
> anything.
>
> As for damaging the cast iron top.  Am I missing something here?
> Are you talking about protecting some kind of top coat you put on?
>
> To keep from damaging cast iron, you're probably safe with just about
> anything but thermite.   :-)
>
> --

Not quite, but my guess is the OP is writing of stains. He can use
paint thinner, WD40 or similar substance to remove most of the stain,
but what's left is down in the iron and is going to remain there,
possibly short of regrinding the surface.

Whatever he uses should be followed, as soon as the top is dry, with
a thorough waxing and buffing of the top.

"TD Driver" wrote
> The top of my table saw was an accidental bystander when I was staining
> the last project with a water-based stain. What can I safely use to remove
> the half-dozen small stains without damaging the cast iron top?

You simply use mineral spirits or WD-40 as a solvent, and 0000 steel wool
(or better yet, the current high tech equivalent available at most hardware
stores, which lasts longer without shredding), to clean cast iron tops, then
apply a product like "TopCote", or Johnson's Paste Wax in some climates, to
protect them from rust and provide a slick surface.

That said, an *excellent* abrasive for cleaning cast iron surfaces are the
"sand-flex" blocks made by Klingspor, but a good deal pricier than the
above:

http://www.theruststore.com/Sandflex-Rust-Erase-3-Pack-P11C7.aspx

Sand-flex blocks take some elbow grease to clean a large area, but the
results can be pretty spectacular. Again, use a solvent, as above, at the
same time.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

"TD Driver" wrote in message
news:uuLUk.642$jZ1.249@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
> The top of my table saw was an accidental bystander when I was staining
> the last project with a water-based stain. What can I safely use to remove
> the half-dozen small stains without damaging the cast iron top?

To throw in yet another suggestion, I have used Empire Top Saver, original
makers of TopCote. I sprayed some of the Top Saver on the TS surface and
use a 3M Scotch Brite pad under a ROS to scrub the soaked surface. The once
brown but smooth patina stained surface of 8+ years was restored to pretty
darn shiny with little effort. Typically I keep a coat of TopCote on the
surface for normal protection.

"Leon" wrote

> makers of TopCote. I sprayed some of the Top Saver on the TS surface and
> use a 3M Scotch Brite pad under a ROS to scrub the soaked surface. The
> once brown but smooth patina stained surface of 8+ years was restored to
> pretty darn shiny with little effort. Typically I keep a coat of TopCote
> on the surface for normal protection.

Have you tried Evapo-Rust on anything?

http://www.evapo-rust.com/

I have a couple of old planes, and a steel square or two, that I've been
thinking about soaking in this stuff, but don't know anyone with firsthand
experience on its efficacy.

Locally, it's available at O'Reilly Auto Parts.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

WD-40 and synthetic steel wool(3m pads).

If you can stand the mess, a ROS with the very
aggressive pads will make it go a little faster.

If it's not too bad, I just use the 3M pads with
a old router push pad.

It's pretty quick and with a roll of paper towels,
it's done in a few minutes.

I always use TopCote on all my iron tops after
the clean up.





TD Driver wrote:
> The top of my table saw was an accidental bystander when I was staining
> the last project with a water-based stain. What can I safely use to
> remove the half-dozen small stains without damaging the cast iron top?

"Swingman" wrote in message
news:dtqdnRkb54TXv7nUnZ2dnUVZ_jWdnZ2d@giganews.com...
>
>
> "Leon" wrote
>
>> makers of TopCote. I sprayed some of the Top Saver on the TS surface and
>> use a 3M Scotch Brite pad under a ROS to scrub the soaked surface. The
>> once brown but smooth patina stained surface of 8+ years was restored to
>> pretty darn shiny with little effort. Typically I keep a coat of TopCote
>> on the surface for normal protection.
>
> Have you tried Evapo-Rust on anything?


No


> http://www.evapo-rust.com/
>
> I have a couple of old planes, and a steel square or two, that I've been
> thinking about soaking in this stuff, but don't know anyone with firsthand
> experience on its efficacy.
>
> Locally, it's available at O'Reilly Auto Parts.


Is it expensive? It looks like some pretty easy and save to use stuff.
Might be worth a test on a * driver before using on something more
expensive.

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:56:52 -0600, -MIKE- wrote:

> To keep from damaging cast iron, you're probably safe with just about
> anything but thermite. :-)

You took the words right out of my mouth :-).

"Larry Blanchard" wrote

> -MIKE- wrote:
>
>> To keep from damaging cast iron, you're probably safe with just about
>> anything but thermite. :-)
>
> You took the words right out of my mouth :-).
>
Thermites?

You need to call the exterminater for those.