Restoring a Cast Iron Saw Table Top

after just one year and already I'm having to restore my nice new big combo saw and router table top, good job I've done this on many other cast iron tops I know what works and how to get it back to how it was when i fitted it, if you have one watch in and i will show you just how easy it is to do

[@MarkNichols-iv8bv]

Wow thats the best process ive seen on finishing cast iron table

[@fulltimetrader48]

Thanks for this video. I’m refinishing my table top now and the router side extension.

[@gazt42]

As usual you post a new vid just as I need it, back in my garage today and table saw, bandsaw and planer thicknesser all rusted surfaces. Cheers David !!!

[@dmgladden]

Glad to be helpful Graham sounds like you got your work cut out for you, best cover them with some oil rags when your not using them

[@gazt42]

@@dmgladdenWill do, first winter with these tools, lesson learnt :-)

[@briansworkshop01]

Fantastic looks great never used t cut thanks for sharing 👍👍

[@dmgladden]

I first tried it about 10 years back as i had a can in i thought "give any thing a try once" and it worked very nice so i stick with it now

[@briansworkshop01]

@@dmgladden I will give it a go thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍

[@ratkinson-uk]

Cracking video David

[@joes3100]

Hi David, nice job! Was there a specific type of wax you used? Also, not sure I can get T-Cut in the US, is it just a polishing compound? Thanks and be well.

[@dmgladden]

Hi Joe T-cut is a very fine cutting compound made for car body work you will have something similar in the US As for the oil its Axminster's Machine wax Here's a link www.axminstertools.com/axminster-machine-wax-105806

[@garyzellner9938]

Do you turn the quarter sheet sander "on" or just use it to hold the sand paper while you clean the table surface?

[@dmgladden]

Yes it is on all the time I'm using it

[@davidbrewer5329]

Been waiting for your next video great job on the table kind regards David

[@dmgladden]

Thanks David, yes im a bit busy at the moment as im doing my PFCO Drone flying certificate and its taking up all my spear time

[@Brian-fu9um]

Hi David - nice vid ! Do you find that residual wax on the table top gets into your wood - affecting paintability ? \Brian :-)

[@dmgladden]

Hi Brian this was also a concern of mine when trying to keep the tables from getting rust on them but so far I have not had any problems that I have noticed but I don't leave much on the surface, not even eight to feel with your fingers

[@timl3918]

I get it, it's woodworking, not as precise as metal working...but sand paper? Why destroy your table? Just dry scrape with a razor blade to remove the surface rust, the apply WD40 and graduate thru green, maroon, and grey scotch brite pads on a burnisher/polisher or RO sander.. I've been restoring and maintaining cast iron machine tables for 25 years. Never once did I use sandpaper, wet or dry, even the most rusted or pitted surfaces. There's no swirls, no cast iron material removed, just a clean rust free polished surface. Clean up with mineral spirits, wax, and your done.

[@dmgladden]

Hi Tim I guess we have a difference of opinion on this one Iafter reading what you said I find no reason to change the way I've been doing tables but when you've been doing it as long as I have you might come round to my way who knows but in any case it sounds like you idea is working for you all I guess stick with it. Anyway thanks for watching and offering your opinion.

[@mattg6262]

Nice work! David do you ever have any concerns about changing the grade of the table in heavily rusted spots when sanding with the ROS? I know it's a high grit but still just curious

[@dmgladden]

Hi and thanks for watching, no I did talk to experts on the subject and was assured I would have to do the same spot for many many years with a 240 grit before I could detect a change, so I will not worry to much about it as I only do it once or twice a year

[@mattg6262]

@@dmgladden good to know. Yeah I wasn't sure about 24 pop b grout having a noticeable effect but just was curious. Nice finish on the table!

[@philipswan1016]

great video David, a year on, hows the table saw working out for you any regrets?

[@dmgladden]

Hi Philip, no i must say it was a good choice the only down side to the whole table set-up is the blade mouth as its to wide and as the sliding table forms one side of it i am fining it hard to make a zero clearance insert as i always do but an idea will come one day

[@philipswan1016]

David Gladden well is good you like the saw, I did see someone on KZbin make one once maybe have a look at the extreme woodworker he has a load of videos on his martin panel saw he might have something in there that's helpful. Worth a watch if you have a panel saw

[@dmgladden]

@@philipswan1016 i have always made one for my other tables but this is very long and thin and one sided so not posible from wood

[@williamn01]

@@dmgladden kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGSuZIWBo5ysn9U Check this insert out David 👍

[@erniepenny221]

Hello David, good one, but didn't see you wax it off, regards.

[@dmgladden]

Thanks Ernie but yes if you watch closure its there

[@sttraveler2593]

Thats funny how you kept working around that power cord instead of just removing it. Made it a lot harder than you needed.

[@dmgladden]

Its hard wired into the switch

[@Max-kn9yi]

Tee cup, keep up chee up, cheek up. T cup?

[@dwightschrute4560]

I'm pretty good with understanding accents but damn.

[@dmgladden]

Bradford Yorkshire, but been all over the country and now in Scotland

[@williamn01]

@@dmgladden Yorkshire born & bred strong in the arm and weak in the head...... As the saying goes dave 😂 Where abouts in Scotland are you just came across your channel I'm in Glasgow, binging through your videos the now mate all the best 👍

[@dmgladden]

@@williamn01 hi will I'm in Annan or should I say just outside of Annan

[@williamn01]

@@dmgladden cool hope your enjoying it up in Scotland 👍

[@dmgladden]

@@williamn01 very much so, but only if it stays in the UK

[@happy2meetu34]

Another 'good un'

[@dmgladden]

Thanks Ken

[@cheflorenzo4491]

What?

[@forrestaddy9644]

Your saw table should be flat, shouldn't it? Your abrasive polishing sessions repeated over the years will result in uneven material removal and loss of flatness. I would think the goal would be to preserve the flatness and disregard annoying blemishes. A table saw is a working tool, not a piece of fine furniture. Clean, de-rust, and wax (or whatever) by all means but not at the expense of eventual loss of accuracy. Persist in heavy abrasive polishing and eventually you'll encounter problems in the accuracy of your work (particularly if applied to a jointer.) If cosmetic perfection is your goal, remove the table and extensions and have a machine shop grind them flat to remove the blemishes and to improve the existing flatness. And, hearafter, use a poly sheet under the dropcloth you spread over your saw table for finishing.

[@dmgladden]

Fair point but i don't think i will live lone enuoght to make any defects that will effect my work, i guess if i was in my 20s and i was to stick with the same table all my life giving me a possible 50 ish clean ups then maybe but i didnt and i wouldn't people never stay with the same set-up for more than ten years so i can't see such a deterioration ever happening in the normal life span of a set-up like this, but as i in a damp workshop with a the prevention i can do rust comes and needs to be sorted, or that will for sure effect the quality of my work. Anyway thats for the interest