Cast iron table top protection?

[dvddvd]

I'm going to New Zealand for 5 months over winter and I will be leaving my machines in my unheated workshop.
What can i clag on the cast iron table tops on my router table, saw table etc to protect them from rusting? Don't mind something thick that I will have to remove when I get back. But wanted something more than the normal day to day stuff people use
thanks

Something I can buy local, screwfix etc would help

 

[Ollie78]

Just normal black bison paste wax or similar. Or if you want to really go belt and braces grease.
The other option would be a paper impregnated with a rust preventative often machines are delivered with this on the beds but you must be able to buy it somewhere.

 

[Sideways]

Slideway oil for lathes and mills is thick and sticky. It works pretty well but after applying it, i'd press a sheet of bubble wrap or something down on the table top to stop temperature fluctuations causing condensation on the top.

On my own table saw over winter, it gets metalguard first, liberon anti rust wax second, then I put a sheet of something (ply, mdf, whatever) on top of the metal because the real damage is caused when warm damp atmosphere hits cast iron that has chilled down from a few nights of sub zero temperatures. Gotta keep that warm damp from reaching the cold metal.

Industry is used to this problem so the other option is to use an industrial product like Ambersil 31628

 

[Orraloon]

As said paste wax. Buff it off when you get back. You could also throw a cloth drop sheet over the top.
Regards
John

 

[Blister]

I use this

 

[niemeyjt]

In addition to the above suggestions, go to your local charity shop and get some used curtains to throw over tools to keep the dust off.

If you feel really keen, sew rare earth magnets into corners so they "stick" to the metal.

For five months, a dehumidifier may be too expensive and hard to empty, sadly.

 

[Fergie 307]

Agree re cost, but most decent de humidifiers have the facility to drain via a tube, rather than collecting in a tank.

 

[Jester129]

Do a search for A-rated energy for said dehumidifiers, some are quite cheap to run. Do as Fergie 307 says and run drain hose to outside if possible.

 

[MarkAW]

I would have thought some liberion machine wax and a thick curtain would do the job. I don't wax mine that often.


I wouldn't fancy leaving something electric on for 5 months unattended even if it was a rated and self draining

 

[Phil Pascoe]

For five months, a dehumidifier may be too expensive and hard to empty, sadly.

Just put a drain tube on it.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I found Briwax good for this. It had to be good for something, I suppose.

 

[JimTaylor]

I use Boeshied T-9 spay on my metal surfaces.

 

[Ilya]

On that matter of protection. I would like to use my table saw and planer tables for something more than just collecting saw dust, but to use as assembly tables and general support while working (not necessarily with these machines). Basically using them as some working tables. Obviously I am not going to hammer nails on them or something of that sort. But my idea was to create some solid ply/mdf tops to throw on them while I am not directly using them.

My concern is the rust: if I put a ply/mdf sheet on a cast iron top, it will trap moisture, reduce natural ventilation. My remediation would be to install some thin battens under those mdf sheets to lift it a bit and create a gap. But that still leaves the question of those moisture traps under battens.

What do you think if this is viable or not? or shall I just keep the cast iron tops clean and exposed and use them only if and when I need that table. Effectively putting that mdf on and off every time I would need to use it for some glue up?

Thank you.

 

[Blister]

As said 1 year ago , I use this

https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-machine-wax-105806

 

[Phill05]

Briwax: First run a hot air gun over the cast bed to warm it up spread a coat of Briwax and leave it like that, used to coat all my machine beds when I was working.

I put some on some fork and spade blades in November last year and they are left in a greenhouse where they get wet and dry, use them and clean off and recoat never had any problems.

 

[guineafowl21]

Liberon lubricating wax (machine wax) and drape cotton sheets over. Try to tent the sheet so it doesn’t touch the table.

I did this to a Wadkin RB planer, in a very damp stone shed about 3 years ago and it’s still fine.

 

[meccarroll]

I used a plastic table cloth over my planer last year and it gave the best protection of anything I have tried in the past. I also used an old picknic cloth on my panel saw and that too worked quite well. Bothe had oil smeared on the tables first.