Cleaning scale off the Shopsmith Tablesaw tops

higgins24 · Post by **higgins24** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:20 pm

Anyone have a good way to clean the tablesaw? I seem to have scale that has formed on the top of the tablesaw over time. I don't see rust but bad scale. Not sure of what to use to really clean this off the table top. I use Johnson's Wax to coat most of the ShopSmith but it has been a long time between moves and not able to use the ShopSmith for 3 years. Help!

Jim

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:12 pm

Higgins
Try using a mixture of vinegar and warm water. The scale is probably some spalting (aluminum oxide) from the aluminum. If necessary you can use a green 3M pad to remove the rough stuff. After it is clean wax the tables with some Johnson's original formula paste floor wax.
Bill V

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 8:39 am

Vinegar is an acid. How does it react with the aluminum? I use vinegar to clean a lot of things but I have never done aluminum.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:13 am

Dusty;
That was my wife's cure. We used it on my daughter's machine when I bought it used. Don't know why it worked but it seemed OK. The underside of those tables had the white aluminum dust on them and a mild solution of the vinegar removed the oxide. After that step I sprayed clear lacquer on the bottom of the tables to seal them and the oxide has not returned.
Bill V

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:07 am

[quote="wa2crk"]Dusty]

Great. I'll find something to use it on for a second check. If it works, I have some table tops that I want to clean. It is not aluminum corrosion but the vinegar solution might work anyhow.

What I think I have are spots caused my bird droppings that were not cleaned up soon enough. At certain times of the year, the quail attempt to nest on the shelves in my shop. When that happens, I need to inspect for droppings right away.

If I come from inside the house when they are their, my sudden appearance scares the poop right out of them (onto my table tops).

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 2:46 pm

When I was rebuilding my Mark V's I cleaned, masked and painted the undersides of all of the tables. They seem to be holding up fine so far. I considered lightly blasting them first but they cleaned up fine with a wire brush then I wiped them with solvent. The painted bottom surfaces make them very easy to clean.

.

higgins24 · Post by **higgins24** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:36 pm

Thanks for the advice. I will try the weak vinegar and water solution and see how it works. I did get some stuff from Rockler that was used by Boeing called Rust Free-removes rust and stain. It also had Boeshield T-9 rust and corrosion protection in the kit. Let you know how this works.