Cast Iron maintenance

The methods I use work for me, and my shop is heated, but not climate controlled or weather tight to humidity and dampness. I start off by cleaning the surface of any saw dust, and then applying mineral spirits with a clean cloth to remove any oils and previous coats of wax. I then wipe dry, and wait about ten minutes before proceeding to the next step. I then apply a coat of WD40 and sand the surface with a 400 grit sandpaper. This also depends on how badly scratched the top is. Then I will use a heaver grit and work up to 400. I never use anything below 240 with the chance of doing more damage then there already might be. I find that sanding from front to back is better than a swirling motion. Remember being careful not to go crazy with the sandpaper with the chance of scratching the surface (use allot of WD40 as lubrication). All you want to do is remove the surface scratches or mild rust. Not all will be removed depending on the depth of your scratches. If there are cloudy black spots on the surface this is early stages of rust, and will need attention by cleaning. Next I use a clean cloth to wipe clean, and then WD40 it again and let sit for about ten minutes and wipe dry. lastly I use a good past wax (with no oils or silicon), and buff it out with a buffing wheel. Make sure all surfaces are waxed including sides, miter slot, and even in the slot for the blade arbor. I try to do this about once every three months or so. Like I said, this works for me, and there are many other methods. Use what's right for your situation.

Cleaning the surface will prevent rust and chips in the cast iron finish. This will only aid in smooth and accurate cuts providing least resistance between the top and the stock being cut. Keep a small brush in your shop to use when cleaning. This way you can sweep off the sawdust of the table surface to prevent gunk-up. Even sawdust can cause rust if left on cast iron for long periods of time. I use a long 12 inch by about one inch wide which is good for getting in the miter slot. A good dust collection system goes a long way, and save time on clean up.

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