Non-Toxic Rust Remover

[bgavin]

My ancient table saw has finally moved into the garage after living outdoors under a tarp these last 17 years.
The tarp was helpful, but the saw still collected a bunch of rust. It was badly rusted.

I wanted a rust remover/solvent that isn't toxic and easy to clean up:
Vinegar does the trick.

Play-Doh made a nice dam at either end of the table grooves, which I filled with vinegar.
I sprayed a generous amount all over the table surface and left it for a couple days.

The vinegar takes the rust away entirely, and went right down clean cast iron.
It looks just like it did when it came from the factory.
A baking soda rinse neutralizes any acid left behind.

I figure to use Maguiar's or some other quality paste wax on the fresh metal.

[Harley]

My ancient table saw has finally moved into the garage after living outdoors under a tarp these last 17 years.
The tarp was helpful, but the saw still collected a bunch of rust. It was badly rusted.

I wanted a rust remover/solvent that isn't toxic and easy to clean up:
Vinegar does the trick.

Play-Doh made a nice dam at either end of the table grooves, which I filled with vinegar.
I sprayed a generous amount all over the table surface and left it for a couple days.

The vinegar takes the rust away entirely, and went right down clean cast iron.
It looks just like it did when it came from the factory.
A baking soda rinse neutralizes any acid left behind.

I figure to use Maguiar's or some other quality paste wax on the fresh metal.

Good tip Bruce.

I once refurbished a venetian blind making machine that had been in a fire in Australia, then left out side for 4 months.

I de-rusted all the key parts by using a battery charger with negative to the part and positive to a sacrificial St St plate all suspended into a bath of water and washing soda .....well the battery charger wasn't in the bath of course

[bgavin]

Cider vinegar did a better job than white.

The initial test was a puddle of cider vinegar on the cast iron top.
I left it a couple days undisturbed. Surface tension kept the puddle together.
This went all the way down to bright iron.

The next try was a spray bottle full of white vinegar.
I sprayed the entire top surface several times over 24 hours.
Results are ok to good, not close to the cider vinegar.

I finished with 100 grit in the orbital sander, then applied a liberal amount of Meguiar's liquid car wax to the cast iron.
Good enough, I guess.
Spray painted the steel wings with flat black.

Both adjustment mechanisms are still rusted frozen. I have a spray penetrating solvent on these to see if they will break free. Due to time constraints, if this doesn't work I will just replace the saw altogether.

The crappy economy here is providing a generous amount of 10" saws for sale in Craig's list.

I hate living in a teenie house and keeping my things outdoors and under tarps.
The new saw will live in the garage, permanently. The best rust remover is not getting rust in the first place.

[Ron K]

Bruce. There are many rust preventative treatments availble as you probably already are awhare of. I will turn you on to one that works very well and provides a lasting protection in difficult environments.

It's called LPS2. We use it to preserve our multi millions of dollars of tooling where I work my day job.It will inhibit rust and it smells good too!You can get it from any Grainger Supply.It works very well!

Meets or Exceeds

* Comair
* Lockheed EPSN G39.04
* Pratt & Whitney Canada CPMC 79255 Rev C.
* UPS M-5100-2780-B
* Mil-C-16173D Grade 3
* Mil-C-81309D Type III
* NSF Registered Category Code H2 Registration No.:
# 129026 Aerosol, # 059848 Bulk
* Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) approved
Good stuff at a reasonable cost.

[bgavin]

Thanks, I'm not aware of any rust inhibitors or solvent agents.
My wife came up with the vinegar thing from her home remedies books.
It actually works pretty well, and isn't toxic.

I was able to unfreeze both adjustments on my saw once again, so it's back in business.
Now that it is living the garage, it will be less prone to rusting.
I put the Meguiar's wax on it, thinking better than nothing. It made the grooves nice and slick.

Does your product leave any stains on the wood?

[Tom Smit]

Thanks, I'm not aware of any rust inhibitors or solvent agents.
My wife came up with the vinegar thing from her home remedies books.
It actually works pretty well, and isn't toxic.
I was able to unfreeze both adjustments on my saw once again, so it's back in business.
Now that it is living the garage, it will be less prone to rusting.

[LelandCrooks]

TC-11, hard to find, great protectant. Penetro, hard to find, miracle penetrator, good protectant. LPS-2, easier to find, good protectant. WD-40, good for starting fluid, nothing else. PB Blaster, good rust removal, good penetration, decent protector, easy to find.

If you're worried about staining, get some pure silicone to spray. I use the TC-11, but I have to use an orange cleaner each time to get it off the table. The silicone would wipe right off.

[bzb]

There are freaks, I mean guys, who always have covers on their table saw tops.

No, not removable ones. They cut custom panels out of melamine coated plywood to fit over the table saw, and use it as the work surface. A wee bit anal, but I can definitely see the benefit of that melamine top.

[Ron K]

Thanks, I'm not aware of any rust inhibitors or solvent agents.
My wife came up with the vinegar thing from her home remedies books.
It actually works pretty well, and isn't toxic.

I was able to unfreeze both adjustments on my saw once again, so it's back in business.
Now that it is living the garage, it will be less prone to rusting.
I put the Meguiar's wax on it, thinking better than nothing. It made the grooves nice and slick.

Does your product leave any stains on the wood?

I would guess not if it was used as a rust preventative. I would say yes if you spray directly on wood. I spray a small amount on some paper towels and wipe on the surface of my saw and I spray the blade and wipe with paper towels as well. Living in the North East with the very often high humidity conditions here everything rusts if left for any length of time unprotected. With the exception of precious metals,brass,aluminum and stainless! I have not seen any stains on any of my projects nor have I had any issues with paint not sticking etc.

Of course user must be careful not to leave the saw dripping with oil but I would assume most people are aware of such things.!!!! It's similar to WD40 except it actually works. One of our Canadian Machine Manufacturers, Husky Injection Molding Systems uses this with all their tooling. Generally they would ship a spray bottle in with the spares / maintenance kit.That's how I learned about it. Been using it ever since. Hey I figured if it will keep multi million dollar tooling looking shinny and new it will keep my tools nice as well. So I began coating them along with everything else I had that's metal,Micrometers,Calipers,Snap Gages etc.No more rust pits!