Rust prevention on surfaces... in today's environments

Make sure you get all the rust off first, using whatever you want. When I bought my (used) tools 40+ years ago I used navel jelly, as the rust was considerable on the tops. Then I used lacquer thinner to remove any remaining residue of the rust remover, and got the tops super clean. Then spray on the Topcoat, let it dry, and put on a second coat.

After that only one coat is needed to freshen it up. How long it lasts would depend on how much use the tops get, but when I used my tools daily, I would re-coat about every 6 months or so. Never got any rust after that and re-coating would take about 5 minutes for all 7 of my cast iron tops, so it is essentially a labor free task.

I also use it on the screws of bench vices, pipe clamps, bar clamps C-clamps etc as it keeps them clean, rust free, slick and free spinning.

I previously read about a product called "Penetrol" which is a paint additive you can find at the Big Orange Box for about $10 or less a quart. Comes in a can like Mineral Spirits.

I had some minor rusting on a saw top that got away from me when it was stored in an unheated portion of the garage and after I cleaned it up with the usual means, I applied a liberal coat of Penetrol, let it dry, and buffed it off. Smooth, slick surface and no further worries.

The other products work well too but this seems more cost effective. I've put it on ALL my cast iron, the majority of which resides in a heated and air-conditioned shop.

"Unquestionably Confused"

Penetrol works good on a snowplow blade too! ;>)

Puckdropper: Completely agreed. This is exactly why I didn't drop a tarp onto the table to begin with-- it didn't make sense that it would prevent m oisture-- when condensation forms on metal, it does so (generally) whether or not there's a light covering over it. But the plywood... something s olid, and of greater weight right over and against the table surface, this makes sense. My slots may suffer a bit, but the surface should do well... um,. I think!

Where do you drop pucks, by the way? I gotta get back on the ice. Old Man, B-, C+ Beer League, more than likely.

Thanks, Not-- this is interesting too. Magnets, as opposed to simple 'tarp' also make sense. I'll check it out.

--Yup, I'm already wary of the slots.

Great timing, Leon, thanks. I just got my Top Cote via Amazon (no air freight allowed, probably for aerosols.) Thank you.

Penetrol? As in, the Alkyd paint conditioner Penetrol?? This is interesting to me-- kindly let me know. (hint: Avoid the sister product "Floetrol" at all costs, unless you're spraying!!)

TopCote a try-- the non-transferring and slicker nature does appeal to me out of both options.

or people, but as a number of you mentioned, 'why mess with a good thing?'

while. If I can find a coupon, I'll donate the savings to the baby caranub a efforts. The seal's on his own, though!

Thanks Jack-- I have a pretty good rust killer that I tested first on an ol d Black Iron pipe railing at my house that had to be a minimum of 50 years old, and likely older. It's a water base, believe it or not, but it worked like a charm. I intend to dilute it a little for the precise and machined surface of the saw, but yes, this is good advice that someone shouldn't lo ok past.

Steve wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

I'm in Central Illinois. I no longer drop pucks but spend a lot of time chasing them.

Hockey's just too much fun to not play. Sounds like you're at a level where things just start to get fun. The passes are a lot better, guys recognize they're offsides within milliseconds, and everyone remembers when they used to suck so the games aren't too serious.

Puckdropper

Yep, Steve, Penetrol. Find it a Lowe's, Big Orange, etc. I figured if nothing else I could probably use it someday for a painting project. Still sitting in the shop for it's "unintended" purpose.

On Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 10:29:13 PM UTC-4, Unquestionably Confused wr ote:

Wow. Had no idea. All those times I used it to get that mirror-smooth fin ish out of old interior oils...get the brush strokes to settle down a littl e faster. I'm going to have to look into this some more. If not for t his, there will always be something else! Thanks for the hint.

Start here:

And then Google: "penetrol as rust preventative on tools" or something similar and settle in for a good read.