protecing your tablesaw top

Preventing Table Top Rust

There are two basic steps we follow for maintaining a cast iron table top on a table saw and other stationary tools: remove rust and dirt, and seal it with a protective topcoat.

We're always on the lookout for rust so we can stop it before it becomes a problem.

Grit-embedded scouring blocks, like this Sandflex, work great for removing rust and grime from a cast iron table top.

After removing any rust, seal the top by spraying on a protective topcoat.

Spray-on topcoat products are available at hardware stores and woodworking stores.

In addition to rust protection, they also act as a sort of lubricant so workpieces slide smoothly across the table.