Shopsmith Forums

I am new to Shopsmith. I am cleaning up a 520 that sat in a garage for 6 years. The way and bench tubes are not rusted, but they feel rough in places. People seem to use WD40, Scotch Brite, or steel wool first -- then mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to clean the tubes before using Johnson's paste wax. What sequence have you all found works best for pre-wax cleanup? Thanks

JeffM

jmilligan wrote:I am new to Shopsmith. I am cleaning up a 520 that sat in a garage for 6 years. The way and bench tubes are not rusted, but they feel rough in places. People seem to use WD40, Scotch Brite, or steel wool first -- then mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to clean the tubes before using Johnson's paste wax. What sequence have you all found works best for pre-wax cleanup? Thanks

JeffM

If they're NOT RUSTED but feel a little rough, maybe they just have some type of foreign material on them. Try a mineral spirit wipe down first just to see before you break out the abrasives. I'll let the other gurus chime in on the abrasives to use.

Welcome to the forum. Where ya from? Your profile doesn't say.

Mike, I'm with you on the abrasives on the MKV. I always thought there was some type of finish on them not like the tubes on the old ER's I have. I was quick to turn them with light abrasives but not sure. Think this is a question for Bill since he has redone so many. I would stick with the mineral spirits or some type of citrus cleaner first.

Thanks for your help with cleaning. I will also ask Bill about this.

With 4 posts you already know about Bill?? You must have been lurking for a while.

Hey don't forget to update your profile for location. You only get 6 posts and if not updated, the forum computer won't let you in anymore. After you do that, go to this thread, follow your prefered route, and add yourself to our really cool map.

Also, I want to retract my mineral spirits recommendation. I'll concur with wlhayesmfs....try citrus cleaner first. Not that there is a "problem" with mineral spirits but I have to change my thinking and go with the more environmentally friendly approaches first....then if it doesn't work, BLAST IT with the "anti-green" stuff. Many times, the environmentally considerate stuff works JUST AS WELL. For example, the paint remover CitrusStrip is a GREAT alternative to the nasty paint removers out there. Takes a tad longer but generally just as effective on most paints.

mickyd wrote:Hey don't forget to update your profile for location. You only get 6 posts and if not updated, the forum computer won't let you in anymore. After you do that, go to this thread, follow your prefered route, and add yourself to our really cool map.

DO KNOT do as he says. He'll hunt ya down and make your SS so shiny. You'll knot want to use it.

beeg wrote:DO KNOT do as he says. He'll hunt ya down and make your SS so shiny. You'll knot want to use it.

He has never told us what 'environmentally friendly' polishing compounds he uses!:rolleyes:

wlhayesmfs wrote:Mike, I'm with you on the abrasives on the MKV. I always thought there was some type of finish on them not like the tubes on the old ER's I have. I was quick to turn them with light abrasives but not sure. Think this is a question for Bill since he has redone so many. I would stick with the mineral spirits or some type of citrus cleaner first.

Yes, I agree with the above posts. No abrasive solutions unless the above solutions do not clean the tubes. Since I have done mild rusty to very heavy rusty tubes on my tube cleaning Shopsmith, I do not believe there is any special or extra finish on the tubes. If the tubes are not rusty, then medium to fine grade steel wool and WD40 should clean them if none of the non-abrasive solutions work. If there are any dings and/or dents on the tubes, I use a fine metal file to remove any raised part of them. I only use abrasives/sanding pads on rusty tubes while spinning them on my Shopsmith.

There were some painted way tubes that I remove any loose paint and repaint again.

JPG40504 wrote:He has never told us what 'environmentally friendly' polishing compounds he uses!:rolleyes:

Environmentally friendly =

1. Gray matter
2. muscles
3. time....

....although, muscles generate heat, heat contributes to global warming, global warming contributes to an issue that a particular governmental party wishes to exacerbate....while the other wished to exonerate!!!!

Global Warming? I saw a low of 48 degrees in August.