How to Refinish A Cast Iron Table Saw

In this video I show you how I was able to refinish a cast iron table saw top. Some techniques and tools worked better than others. Let me know if you have questions.
#tablesaw #castiron #rustremoval
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Proceeds from Patreon will go towards future project materials, tools for the workshop, and improving my filming and editing equipment.
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Products and tools I used in this video:
Tacklife mouse sander: amzn.to/2XZdqP1
Steel wool: amzn.to/2DGGLq5
WD-40: amzn.to/2WkRkGE
Scotch brite pads: amzn.to/2Lcu7VO
Paint thinner: amzn.to/2GKrvcb
Johnson's paste wax: amzn.to/2vwnOBK
Sandpaper: amzn.to/2VwxM4Q
There was some kind of video export error at the 11:04 mark. The "before" picture didn't show up....so just envision a very rusty table top.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Thanks for stopping by my channel. If you like what you saw, there's more! Hit that subscribe button! Here is another project I am particular proud of, my first batch of hardwood cutting boards: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eISTaYOpn5KCjqs

[@Explore-Gobal]

For peeps that are getting a coronary about sanding a top like this, you can always use a long flat board or iron, wrap sandpaper around that and use long even strokes over the length of the table to reduce the possibility of dips.

[@johnhicks4992]

The best thing I found after years of restoring old machines; it's a heavy (grey) synthetic steel wool pad, run under a random orbital sander. Then use the same cut pad to rub it out with krud cutter cleaner.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

+John Hicks great info! Thanks for watching.

[@mickey533]

Nice job!

[@thejarv7432]

I used PB Blaster instead of paint thinner. Drenched the table and it soak for an hour before going at it with scotch Brite. The blaster really cooked off a lot of rust. Then for the finer work I switched to WD-40. Worked out great. We have the same saw

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Nice! Glad it worked out for you!

[@TwistedWorkshop77]

Very cool. Looks great.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Thanks!

[@HighCaliberCraftsman]

This is exactly what I need to do since my shop decided to flood last year. Nice work!

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Ouch, that's a bummer. Glad this video came in handy!

[@AngeliqueKaga]

I used a vibrating sander with the scotch bright sander, and then a fine grit sandpaper with the same sander.

[@WhiteLabWorkshop]

My Craftsman table saw is a very similar vintage. Yours might be a few years older, but hard to gauge. It’s amazing how long these machines can live for!

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

@White Lab Workshop Awesome! They are great saws! Mine is still running like a champ!

[@David-hm9ic]

Exactly. There are so few moving parts and they tend to be very durable. The really important parts like arbor and motor armature bearings are readily replaced. With a little maintenance they will last for generations. I just bought one of similar vintage to replace my much newer Craftsman saw with an aluminum top and direct drive.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

@@David-hm9ic My thoughts exactly, thanks for watching!

[@frankbullitt4556]

nice job

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@aux1z11]

I started out using a DA with 100 grit the to 220 then 600 then rubbed it out then did a auto wax and turned out like new but probly won't last long being out in a pole barn

[@TheGrantAlexander]

Nice job! In another video I said my craftsman table saw was older, but now I have seen it more closely I think yours might be older. How often do you put on paste wax? I feel like I need to put it on all the time, so I was wondering if others were the same.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

+Grant Alexander I don’t put it on all that often. I’d say every six months or so.

[@spencerjw]

@@CCSandSonsWorkshop I think it really depends on your environment and the humidity. We moved from Colorado to the San Antonio, TX area. Since moving I've noticed I have to keep my tools much better protected because of the major increase in humidity. My SawStop table saw is my pride and joy, I will probably be paste waxing it about once a month to keep rust from forming out of thin air. Already had 2 pock-marks appear a few weeks after getting it in Jan. and that really pissed me off because it was pristine up until that point.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Ouch, what a bummer. Yea that makes sense that the local weather would dictate the care required. I live in a pretty dry area.

[@craigcampbell7292]

How's it doing? Did you consider getting it a Blanchard grind? I'm refurb'n a 113, 43 years old. Other than the arbor bearing it's useable. But I plan to sell it come winter. My buddy Ralph is going to do the bearings for me. He's 72, been a mechanic for 60 years.

[@BSMet94]

What's the model number on that saw? I have a 113.27521. Have you done anything else to it like replace the arbor bearings?

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

I’m not sure of the exact model. It’s worn off. I haven’t done anything else with the internal parts.

[@amdenis]

Try Boeshield Rust & stain remover (“Rust-free”) with a Scotchbrite, followed by wiping, followed by Boeshield T-9 and then your favorite Paste-wax. It works fa better than WD-40 or anything else people have trued.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@poultonprojects]

I should have done my jointer like this i caught some grief for sanding it away

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Well each project is very different. Thanks for watching!

[@garymucher9590]

The sand paper is the best option for such an old table saw. You really are not going to cut much off a cast iron top with sandpaper unless you sanded for weeks on it. Sand the top until you like the looks and then use the paste wax and that is about as good as you can get with such an old cast iron table saw. But it still have many many projects in it for decades to come.

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Gary Mucher great info! Thanks!

[@spencerjw]

I don't think it would take too much to get a noticeable indentation in cast iron using 80 grit. I use 4000 and 6000 grit to remove minor blemishes in my cast iron top as well as on my planer bed and jointer table. Makes them smooth as silk, then paste or car wax and you're good to go for another few months.

[@IanKWatts]

here's an idea if you'll bear with me. I use a 5000 grit Japanese Water Stone for sharpening chisels. I wonder if I can use the same process of the 3 stones I have 800 - 1200 - 5000 to do the work of the sand paper. I'd still finish it off with a coating of Silber Gleit.

[@Walkercolt1]

My garage roof leaked and rusted my old Crapsman Table Saw top. I started with a BELT sander with 80 grit zirconium and an evil-smelling slurry of cheap 30W motor oil and diesel fuel for lube (high-sulfur cutting oil is like hen's molars today ain't it?) finished with 120 on the belt sander then moved to a 5" orbital thru 400 grit "gold" papers and a GALLON can of liquid WD-40 (got LOTS left but spray cans would have eat me up!) later and some hard to find Johnson's Paste Wax for hardwood floors (needed it for my bedrooms anyway!) and nearly wearin'-out a Hurber Fraught $40 buffer (I've had surgeries on BOTH shoulders and strokes) and my table saw works again under my new roof. Now to keep the thieves outta my shop from stealin' ma' tools!!!

[@tayro7265]

If your going to use abrasives on any milled surface, saw tabletop, engine block or whatever at home, don't. If it is not possible to take it to a milling shop as milling a saws tabletop, leafs and the slot arm of your miter would cost more than a new saw... Cut a piece of 3/4" MFD larger than the surface area to be sanded by several inches. Apply self adhesive sand paper to one side. No overlaps, no gaps. Apply a light oil to the surface and cover with the MFD. Place weights evenly across the top. On larger areas you'll need a friend to help. With one person on one end and the other at the other end... Do not push down. Do not lift up. Push on the edge in an orbital motion while you and your friend walk around the work piece pushing on the same edge at all times. Circles within circles. No wavy gravy top. No missing centers.

[@jsmalls4848]

Most importantly, don’t let anyone see you and your friend doing this.

[@jsmalls4848]

Great job on that top! I always get a kick reading comments about sanding on cast iron table saw top. Some people are so anal. Have a great day.

[@Explore-Gobal]

Ohhh nooooo, you used sandpaper, and now the top is forever ruined!!! It's not a true flat surface anymore and all that perfectly flat wood (off by no more than .0001mm) you'll be running through that saw will come out warped and completely unusable! I can even see the bumps in the table now, it looks like crocodile skin....Um....nice job, some of those are hard to do ;-)

[@CCSandSonsWorkshop]

@YesUCan Thanks....I think...

[@Explore-Gobal]

@@CCSandSonsWorkshop No, no, no, it was a veiled compliment. I do it the same way. Just had to put that sarcastic remark for all the silly individuals the think a tablesaw top has to have the same precision as a milling machine, lol.

[@cpetty4305]

It’s not ruined. Just sand it then hone it with a honing stone after with mineral spirits