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Cleaning tables Aluminum


preprius

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I think you would be better off to cover the aluminum, maybe with one of the magnetic covers such as the one sold by Seyco.  To keep the cast iron on my DW788 from getting on my projects, I covered it with a piece of tempered Masonite.  The Masonite was coated with a couple of coats of polyurethane, then waxed.  This also is a lot slicker than the original table, which makes moving the piece easier.

Tom

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1 minute ago, jollyred said:

I think you would be better off to cover the aluminum, maybe with one of the magnetic covers such as the one sold by Seyco.  To keep the cast iron on my DW788 from getting on my projects, I covered it with a piece of tempered Masonite.  The Masonite was coated with a couple of coats of polyurethane, then waxed.  This also is a lot slicker than the original table, which makes moving the piece easier.

Tom

Why did the aluminum can an the magnet never date? Neither was attracted to the other. Masonite is a good choice. A Google search will give good suggestions. After cleaning try spraying the table with Teflon. It should stop future staining and gi e you a good, slick table. 

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2 hours ago, preprius said:

I am getting some aluminum oxide from my table. on my hands and wood pieces. Even days after I cleaned and waxed it.

I have put johnson paste wax on it. During that process it gave off lots of black oxide. 

What is the full cleaning process I should use for aluminum table?

I own a hawk.

 

Me.

Mark Eason

When I had mine I just kept it clean & waxed.

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I've read where others have complained about this with the Hawk saws tops, I never experienced it with my older Hawks but my new Hawk recently started doing this slightly.. I just used a Lacquer thinner and wiped it down good and then used the Johnson's paste wax. 

Sounds like yours is in need of a really good deep cleaning, you might need to take a fine grit scotch bright pad and attach it to a random orbital sander after wiping it with Lacquer thinner.. then wipe again after the scotch bright.. wax it good.. maybe even use the sander with a soft cloth and sort of buff the wax off.. maybe do that a couple times with the wax. IF it persist after that then I'm not sure.. top coat it with a clearcoat? LOL  

 

 

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1 hour ago, kmmcrafts said:

Sounds like yours is in need of a really good deep cleaning, you might need to take a fine grit scotch bright pad and attach it to a random orbital sander after wiping it with Lacquer thinner.. then wipe again after the scotch bright.. wax it good.. maybe even use the sander with a soft cloth and sort of buff the wax off.. maybe do that a couple times with the wax. IF it persist after that then I'm not sure.. top coat it with a clearcoat? LOL  

I second this with a few additional suggestions. WD-40 with a Scotch-Brite pad is excellent for cleaning aluminum and cast iron metal surfaces.
I have Shopsmith equipment and RBI Hawk, so I have aluminum tables all over my shop. The solvent in Johnson's Paste wax is Stoddard, a more refined version of mineral spirits. Clean your table with mineral spirits and wax and buff it according to the directions on the can.
I would not use lacquer thinner because it can dissolve finishes and some plastics where mineral spirits is safe to use on most surfaces and it is cheaper.
Johnson's Paste wax isn't made anymore.

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1 hour ago, BadBob said:

I second this with a few additional suggestions. WD-40 with a Scotch-Brite pad is excellent for cleaning aluminum and cast iron metal surfaces.
I have Shopsmith equipment and RBI Hawk, so I have aluminum tables all over my shop. The solvent in Johnson's Paste wax is Stoddard, a more refined version of mineral spirits. Clean your table with mineral spirits and wax and buff it according to the directions on the can.
I would not use lacquer thinner because it can dissolve finishes and some plastics where mineral spirits is safe to use on most surfaces and it is cheaper.
Johnson's Paste wax isn't made anymore.

Is there an alternative to the Johnson's Paste wax? I've only got a couple years worth left in my can I've had since 2005.. So I'm going to need something in the future, LOL

 

EDIT To Add: I found this google searching it. This list some alternatives. Since it was recently discontinued there might be some on a shelf in a store somewhere, I'm going to keep an eye out for some. Probably another can or two will last me the rest of my scrolling days, LOL

Is Johnson's Paste Wax discontinued?
 
 
Please note: Johnson Paste Wax will be discontinued on December 31, 2021. Freeman Wax Release, Trewax Clear Paste Wax, and Partall Paste #2 are the recommended alternatives.
Edited by kmmcrafts
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21 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Is there an alternative to the Johnson's Paste wax? I've only got a couple years worth left in my can I've had since 2005.. So I'm going to need something in the future, LOL

There are others, but I like this so much that I bought every can I could find locally.

You can make paste wax. It is wax dissolved in a solvent. Much like the beeswax and mineral oil that is so popular except that the oil is replaced with solvent.


 

 

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My son used to work for a race car engine builder which use aluminum car engines and I'm building a older car that has a aluminum engine block. My engine block is bad looking with the oxidation that happens with aluminum. My son was looking my car over and I mentioned I'd like to find a way to clean that oxidation up and make the aluminum look new. He said the engine builder that he used to work for always used this stuff and it cleaned up really well to like fresh metal look. I'll likely be getting some of this stuff at some point but not until I get the engine reassembled which is a little ways out yet. Just thought I'd mention it here since we was talking about the table tops. I'm wondering if this might clean the tables up and keep them from marking up the back side of the wood. Bit pricey since most of us have mineral spirits or some other similar products that have already been mentioned. If I have any of this stuff left after cleaning up my car I might give it a try on my saw table.. 

For curiosity sake has anyone ever used this stuff or some other type cleaner to clean up aluminum? Maybe I'll learn of something better or cheaper etc. from someone here.

https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Aluminum-Cleaner-Brightener-Concentrate/dp/B06XFZTTHJ  

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Update,   I found some articles about white vinegar and lemon juice to clean aluminum.  Cleaned my table up with that rinsed off the residue.  Then applied Carnuba wax and after a few hours put on Johnson paste wax.   I cut some BB ply and no oxidation on wood or my hands.   After about 6 hours of cutting (3 day weekend),  I applied another layer of wax.  

Thanks this is a great village. :)

 

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