Polishing cast iron saw top - marks go away? Wasting time?

[Patrick Irish]

I bought a used Sawstop and used Italian laguna. Both have lots of cast iron. My Sawstop I use as a glue table and it got bad. I scraped off the glue and used a burgundy scotch pad. Smooth like glass but the spots bother me. I tried down to 220g paper sanding disc that did nothing with a random orbital. I was sanding with wd40 and pb blaster.

Tomorrow actual silicon wet dry sanding discs come. Will these spots come out? I know if I just paste wax it will be smooth and functional. Part of me would like a uniform (minus big scratches) finish.

https://i.ibb.co/YWnnypx/1-FC531-DE-9775-4-E87-8-AF3-8-A51-B54-A9-C1-C.jpg (https://ibb.co/H2wwxnj)
https://i.ibb.co/Fzbsh27/12-CD602-F-E759-47-FC-9501-204-C51-CD01-B3.jpg (https://ibb.co/4pZsFzN)
https://i.ibb.co/kBKnWx8/CD22-B1-A7-4861-49-B2-BEA6-5-AF2-FA9-AB104.jpg (https://ibb.co/ZXdskV8)

[Doug Garson]

Why are you putting so much effort into removing these marks? You say they are smooth like glass so they won't be affecting the performance of the saw. Learn to ignore them and get back to making stuff. :) My 2 cents worth.

[Bradley Gray]

Get some boards and cut them up. That will fix it.

[John Kananis]

The top of my unisaw looks like a battle was fought there. It's smooth and silky though is all that matters. Those stains are not worth the effort to remove imho.

[roger wiegand]

Enough effort and you will ensure that your top isn't flat anymore. I'd stop while you are ahead.

[Lee Schierer]

I agree with the others, it isn't important to the function. Sanding the top can lead problems with flatness.

[Prashun Patel]

I've removed stains without affecting flatness by using fine sandpaper (600+) or steel wool and mineral spirits or wd40.

However, beware that these will introduce their own swirls (they do not affect the flatness), so you trade one imperfection for another.

You can eliminate those swirls with higher and higher grits of sandpaper but that has been above my level of commitment.

[Bob Jones 5443]

All I care about is how my Unisaw’s table looks from across the room when reflecting light from a window behind it. Glossy, slippery, and smooth. I don’t fret about the age spots on it, or on my hands, for that matter.

[Richard Verwoest]

I believe the top would need to be reground to remove the stains. Find a machine shop.

[Patrick McCarthy]

Patrick, Patrick, patrick (as the nuns used to say to me, all-the-while shaking their heads) - used it as a glue table?

Best from another Irish Patrick

[Pat Germain]

Patrick, Patrick, patrick (as the nuns used to say to me, all-the-while shaking their heads) - used it as a glue table?

Best from another Irish Patrick

Well, it is a very solid and very flat surface. And not everyone has room for a large assembly table. Maybe use a protective cover in the future?

[Michael Burnside]

> My Sawstop I use as a glue table and it got bad

You know most glue has water in it right? Cast iron and water are not good friends, even when the glue dries. In fact, they don't even like to be in the same space, so keep'em separated :D

Jokes aside, flat equals functional, so if you can't feel any raised edges from glue, etc., I'd never risk affecting the surface by doing something like sanding by hand. To lap it properly would require quite a bit of machinery, so you'd need to find a machine shop capable of doing that.

[Bruce Page]

I do a lot of small glue ups and finishing on my Uni. I have a cheap plastic coated tablecloth that goes down first.

[Richard Coers]

If you didn't mind using a Saw Stop without a covering as a glue table, I'm surprised you care about the spots now.

[Aaron Inami]

I have actually been very successful using a green scotchbrite pad on a random orbit sander with WD40 as lubricant for the cast iron surface.

[Warren Lake]

burgandy scotchbrite pushed onto a wire wheel and wax after. That is how Jack did it and it works well. Sure there are tons of marks on my stuff dont even notice it just that its smooth.

[Tom Trees]

Well, it is a very solid and very flat surface. And not everyone has room for a large assembly table. Maybe use a protective cover in the future?
Solution would be to get an overhead crown guard, which would likely hide the upset,
A swinging or telescopic overhead system would allow for... a big sheet of some composite like UMHW, or Formica like stuff, not something over half inch thick for handiness sake.

All the best
Tom

[mike stenson]

I have 1/4 tempered hard board on all my exposed cast iron surfaces. Keeps the rust off in general, and for these sorts of things.

[Phillip Mitchell]

If you didn't mind using a Saw Stop without a covering as a glue table, I'm surprised you care about the spots now.

This is the logic trap I keep getting caught in with this thread…glad I’m not the only one.

[Cary Falk]

If is smooth and flat, I wouldn't mess with it. I used to care but I wNt to get work done. I get occasional rust spots. I scrape othe rust spots and polish with grey scotchbrite pads on an orbital. I have in the past used Barkeepers friend to turn black rust spots lighter. It actually turned them lighter then the rest of the table. You could try making a slurry for the entire top then when you wipe off polish with a scotchbrite and seal with wax. Flat smooth and slick is the only thing matters. Stay away from the sandpaper.

[mike calabrese]

The picture here is my Sears saw purchased in 1972.
I have used over the years barkeepers friend
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/bar-keepers-friend-11514-21-oz-all-purpose-cleaning-powder/26211514.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleShopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiYyfk66aggMVXVdHAR1owAtLEAQYBSAB EgJL7PD_BwE

With it I have pretty successful in removing stains. Over the years it has worked on water stains, sweat stains glue stains and some stains I don't even know .
Given the basic price of a few dollars it is an easy opportunity to try . Be sure to wax well after a good cleaning to remove any residue from the barkeepers.
calabrese55

https://www.google.com/search?q=barkeepers+friend+cast+iron&client=opera&hs=AYg&sca_esv=577535786&ei=jtc9ZZ3RLM-g5NoP-6i98AI&oq=barkeepers+friend+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiEmJhcmtlZXBlcnMgZnJpZW5k ICoCCAEyBxAAGIoFGEMyCBAAGIoFGJECMggQABiKBRiRAjIFEA AYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBxAAGIAEGAoyBRAA GIAEMgUQABiABEiLcFDhBVjhBXABeAGQAQCYAWWgAWWqAQMwLj G4AQHIAQD4AQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLAD4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGCA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp



509618

[Mel Fulks]

We like Barkeepers Friend too. Paul Harvey told me about it. It’s made of some kind of soft rock ….but gets no play on radio .
Doesn’t scratch stuff like some of the other products. I think that if Comet was used of Mount Rushmore a few times Washington’s nose
would be gone.

[Warren Lake]

I think some people find soft Rock kind of abrasive.