Does anyone have handy suggestions for a cleaner and then a protective wax  to put on a cast iron tables award bans saw table ? 

For cleaning I'll use some Goof Off or mineral spirits. For the cast iron top I use Johnson's paste wax.

What Harry said

Ditto.

Use.  That's the best protectant.  Use them regularly.

 

If you have a wet  site, like I do, you will have to bite the bullet and spend  money on dehumidifiers.

You just can't get enough wax or kerosene on  the  exposed steel and on saws and lathes and planers and jointers there's exposed steel  in  all sorts of places.  Even in  hand held  power tools there is exposed steel and think of the hand tools.

 

Harry's right about the wax.  it's about the only thing that is both cheap and effective.  Oils and sprays will collect abrasive dust. Plus they cost a ton of money. 

 

To remove moisture from steel ( or pretty much anything else)  use Deoderized Kerosene.   That is what the water  displacement stuff  is in WD40

 

Mark, my go to cleaning is # 0000 steel wool and WD-40, followed up with Johnson's Paste Wax. Been doing this for years with great success.

I don't have any humidity problems here in CO  It is usually low enough that rust and moisture don't happen

However, I do have problems after I build things and ship them to a high humidity area. Some of the gifts I make warp/split when they 

get to those areas. Even with a good finish applied.

29 minutes ago, Ron Altier said:

However, I do have problems after I build things and ship them to a high humidity area. Some of the gifts I make warp/split when they 

get to those areas. Even with a good finish applied.

 

 

A while back, I made that cabinet style humidor. The humidity/wood movement was a real concern as most of the "box" was made of solid walnut. In my basement shop, the humidity is usually kept pretty low by using a dehumidifier. My fear was that when the humidor was in "operation" the higher humidity levels would cause the wood to expand/warp. I turned off the dehumidifier and allowed the wood to acclimate to the higher level- hoping that would maybe lessen the problem.

 

Apparently, it did not work as well as I had hoped because recently I received a request from the owner to adjust the door lock. He said it was binding and did not fully engage. Best laid plans....

to buff and polish I use my random orbit sander a scotch-brite pad cut round. if there's some light rust a give the top a spritz of WD40

Thank you everyone for all the help. People kept telling to find paraffin wax but when looking it up I either couldn't find it or it cost an arm and a leg. 

Edited January 9, 201610 yr by Mark Wilson

46 minutes ago, Mark Wilson said:

Thank you everyone for all the help. People kept telling to find paraffin wax but when looking it up I either couldn't find it or it cost an arm and a leg. 

You are very welcome Mark!

9 hours ago, Mark Wilson said:

People kept telling to find paraffin wax but when looking it up I either couldn't find it or it cost an arm and a leg.

Mark,

You should be able to find paraffin wax at a local hardware store. In the "old" days ladies used it during the canning process to seal over the tops of the food. I bought about  a pound of it from an Ace Hardware store. Maybe they had it 'cause we live in the "country". Here's a link to maybe a more readily available source- http://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Candle-Soap-Making/Candle-Making/1-Pound-Paraffin-Wax/p/29799

Thanks for the link lew

Quote

12 hours ago, Mark Wilson said:

Thank you everyone for all the help. People kept telling to find paraffin wax but when looking it up I either couldn't find it or it cost an arm and a leg. 

your local grocer should also have it in 1lb boxes. look near the canning supplies.

 

 

Love it...

 

 

5 hours ago, Kevin Beitz said:

Love it...

 

 

 

For those looking for where to get it, here is a link:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G5562-Sil-Free-Sliding-Compound/dp/B0000E6TJ8/ref=asc_df_B0000E6TJ8/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520382602698&psc=1