Hello, I am doing a bit of research before getting a new table saw for Christmas. First, a little bit of background. I live in GA and I have a 10×20 lofted barn that the table saw will go in. My shop does not have a/c or thermostat, but I can add a small window unit, if necessary. I also have my hand tools (sockets, wrenches, clamps, screwdrivers) in the building as well. As far as other tools power tools, I have a drill press, existing table saw, air compressor, router, and various air tools. My current table saw developed some bad surface rust about 10 years ago and I never really got around to cleaning it up very well. It is also purchased back in 96 by my dad and he gave it to me back in 2006. Even when he had it, it was left out in the elements. Now that I am getting a new one, I want to start out on the right foot and start protecting it before initial usage.
Would it be a good idea to put a good coat of paste wax on the cast iron table to help protect it? I have a can of Johnson’s paste wax that I can apply to the top.
How would I protect my other tools, like my router, miter saw, and hand tools? Could the paste wax be used on the hand tools as well?
Thanks.
Replies
I use Johnson's paste wax. Others use Boeshield or CRC 3-36 or...
There are lots of options.
The Johnson's Paste Wax also helps wood slide better, which makes using the machine safer.
There recently was another post on rust prevention.
I would recommend reading all the comments in that post.
Any paste wax should work. Have similar problems in the PNW. Just keep adding wax throughout the year as it wears out and you will be ok.
Not sure if it happens down south but we get days here where its really cold at night, rain moves in from the pacific that is really really warm then the moisture in the air condenses on the cold metal. All the cast iron looks like a glass of ice water. Those are tough days.
Just to add my $.02, I've used the relatively new WD40 product for rust prevention on my cast iron tools with good luck so far. But I'm not living in super humid PNW or ASE (Atlantic South East).
Cheers,
Erick
My experience with waxes and other "rust preventers" is they don't work all that well. I have tools to prove it with pitting from rust. There are tools and motors that are hard or impossible to wax. There will be times you forget to apply the stuff and spots you may miss. It is like pushing a rope. If you can figure out a way to heat and cool your shop which will work both to keep your tools in good order and to keep you comfortable you will be better off. I have a propane Modene heater and a window unit for AC. It works well, no rust and great comfort. The heater is set at 45 when I am not in the shop and 70 when I work in the winter. The idea is to stay above the ambient dew point and avoid condensation on your equipment. However, if I was going to start over I would install a Mini-Split, easy to install, inexpensive and cheap to run.