Replies

1. 
   DonaldCBrown | Dec 22, 2002 10:32pm | #1

   Phosphoric acid (Home Depot is one source) will get the rust off and also help prevent further oxidation. Follow directions on the container.

   A coat of paste wax will further seal the cast iron and provide a good working surface.

1. 
   cheakamus | Dec 23, 2002 12:14am | #2

   Is phosphoric acid what's in Boshield T-29 (I think it's called)? I always thought it smelled acidic--sort of a mix between vinegar and lemon juice. It worked okay on my saw table when I first got it (haven't needed it since).

   Also, how corrosive is phosphoric acid? Do you need to flush it with (God forbid) water after applying it?

1. 
   DonaldCBrown | Dec 23, 2002 12:37am | #4

   Also, how corrosive is phosphoric acid? Do you need to flush it with (God forbid) water after applying it?

   In my limited experience (the tops of five tools that had been neglected for a long time), phosphoric acid does not seem to corrode the basic cast iron if used as directed. Rather, it reacts with the corrosion to form a crust. The crust can be wiped off (light corrosion) or removed with more aggressive action (scraper, abrasive paper, e.g.) for heavy corrosion. On really heavy stuff, I scraped off the initial crust, then brushed on a second coat of acid. After five or so minutes, I removed the remaining rust and the acid by wiping thoroughly with a wet sponge (per directions).

   The water is unsettling, I know, but that's what the label says to use. I dried with a cloth, then applied wax after I could see that all surface water had evaporated. After two months, I've not detected any reappearance of rust.

   The acid I got on my skin caused a slight tingling, but no visible damage. I rinsed with water and have not noticed any burning of my flesh.

2. 
   DonaldCBrown | Dec 23, 2002 01:11am | #5

   This just in!

   Here's an extract from a University of Wisconsin web site, where Prof. Shakhashiri's General Chemistry course has declared phosphoric acid Chemical of the Week (as Dave Barry would say, I'm not making this up).

   Phosphoric acid is used primarily in the manufacture of fertilizers, detergents, and pharmaceuticals. In the steel industry, it is used to clean and rust-proof the product (emphasis added). It is also used as a flavoring agent in carbonated beverages (read the ingredients list on a can of Coca-Cola), beer, jams and jellies, and cheeses. In foods, phosphoric acid provides a tart, acidic flavor.

   In celebration of this honor to my favorite acid, I am drinking a cold, tart, acidic beer.

   I have my people out tracking down the ingredients of Boeshield T-29.

2. 
   djmarro | Dec 23, 2002 12:21am | #3

   Here's what I did in a similiar situation- Scotch makes a synthetic steel wool, I think they are called Bear-Tex hand pads. Spray a light coating of W-D 40 on the table, then scrub with the pad. Let dry. Remove left over residue with a clean cloth. Then follow up with several coats of a good furniture paste wax. Repeat every 2-3 months. Good Luck.

                                                                   Dana

                                                                   Salmon Falls Housewrights

             

3. 
   MikeK50 | Dec 23, 2002 01:48am | #6

   I agree with Dana, except I remove the WD-40 with mineral spirits prior to applying the paste wax.  I use Trewax, or Johnsons hardwood floor paste wax.  I apply at least three coats, and buff the last coat with a car polisher.  I do this on my table saw, and jointer, but I only hand polish my bandsaw table due to it's small size.

   Mike

1. 
   lrayshack | Dec 23, 2002 05:24am | #7

   Thanks Don, and all others who replied with information on how to get my saw back into useable condition. I think I'll try the phosphoric acid first.

1. 
   cheakamus | Dec 23, 2002 06:00am | #8

   Thanks, Donald and Mike.

   I knew phosphoric acid seemed familiar somehow--it's the fourth-largest ingredient in Coca Cola! I wonder if Coke itself would do the trick?

   BTW, I believe Boeshield is so named because it has something to do with Boeing. Somehow, I don't think they're going to divulge the recipe if it's as simple as that!

1. 
   billyg83440 | Dec 23, 2002 07:20pm | #9

   Coke would probably work alright, but better if you could let it soak in coke for a day or so. It's gotta have a lower PH then straight acid.

   Nothing I know works better for cleaning up an old rusty dutch oven then filling it full of coke and letting it soak for a few days. Both a table saw top and the dutch oven are made of a solid piece of cast iron. Coke is just great at disolving rust.

   Just remembered an email my mom sent me about coke. Here it is, drink up:

   Some interesting tidbits here...

   Subject: Water -n- Coke - You make the choice ........

   First the Water......

   We all know that water is important but I've never seen it written down like this before. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world pop.) In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism

   is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

   Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%. One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington medical study.

   Lack of water,the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

   Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease your back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

   A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

   Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

   Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

   =================================================

   Now for the COKE (Coca-Cola)

   No wonder coke tastes soooo good:

   1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons

   of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

   2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

   3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and.......Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

   4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

   5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour ####can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. Just in case your out of baking soda.....

   6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

   7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, Remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

   8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, And run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield. But make sure you keep it off the paint.

   FYI a bit more details on this wonderful product.:

   1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its Ph is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

   2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial trucks must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

   3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

   Drink Up Folks ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

   P.S. Never tried any of this.

1. 
   cheakamus | Dec 23, 2002 08:28pm | #10

   More than I wanted to know about Coke!

   This past summer I replaced a roof (complete tear-off, 4 layers of asphalt). It seemed like I was losing about a gallon of water an hour. The first day, I drank Coke. After my sixth can, I didn't want to ever see the stuff again. I started carrying iced water to the worksite in a cooler. Drank at least a couple of gallons a day and never got tired of it. Now I keep a water pitcher in the fridge at home.

   BTW, the roof took me two weeks and I lost 20 lbs! (My wife says I should do at least one roof every year.)

2. 
   billyg83440 | Dec 23, 2002 11:12pm | #11

   Wow, if that's what it takes, I need to do a roof too. Maybe 2 roofs.

   Wonder if my bib overalls would still fit? <G>