Weld Table Rust?

[gstrom99]

I recently bought a HF welding table. The top came well coated with waxy oil. I cleaned that off with solvent, but maybe I shouldn't have? I re-coated it with a rag soaked with motor oil.

What do you all use to keep the table from rusting?

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I wonder about woolwax used for vehicle undercoat?

 

[5030]

The 6 x 8 3/8ths thick table I have just gets wiped off with an light oil soaked rag infrequently. I'd never use anything that imparts a coating of substance on the table because you need a good ground between the parts and your ground cable to weld properly.

 

[WranglerX]

Think I wiped mine down few years ago with rag and light oil (30W) .... Don't give it much though as it does not get much rust... But gets use for all sorts of things in shop....

 

[Roadworthy]

You might consider a light coat of WD-40. It is not a lubricant, its purpose is water displacement. In addition to spray cans you can purchase it by the gallon.

 

[bcp]

You might consider a light coat of WD-40. It is not a lubricant, its purpose is water displacement. In addition to spray cans you can purchase it by the gallon.

Corrosion Inhibitors for Metal | WD-40 Corrosion Inhibitor | WD-40

The WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor protect metal parts from rust and corrosion for up to one year or two years indoors. Employ preventative maintenance with corrosion inhibitors for steel, metal, tools, engines and other parts.

www.wd40.com

Bruce

 

[Tinhack]

CRC SP350 for anything containing iron. I've never got a can that seemed to spray worth a darn, so you have to spray then spread it around with a rag. You can also just give it a heavy coat.

 

[5030]

Our shop is heated and cooled so corrosion isn't an issue as the RH is also controlled. It rarely gets over 50% RH anyway. Remember, anything coating a weld table prevents good electrical contact / conductability. If I do get a corrosion spot on the table that is detrimental, a quick use of my Harbor Freight surface conditioning tool removes it in seconds. I use that tool a lot anyway for removing surface scale and oxidation on parts to be welded. Having said that I use specific wheels for ferrous metals and specific wheels for aluminum and stainless materials to prevent cross confirmation which is critical when TIG welding aluminum. The tool is also excellent for removing MIG weld spatter as well as stick welding spatter.

 

[YanmarFever]

I used to spray mine for years with spatter spray for welding, then I would wipe it with a rag, it worked like a charm

 

[Smokeydog]

Thin coat of Corrosion-X wiped with paper towel. Cleans, protects from weld splatter and lasts.

 

[ruffdog]

I used to spray mine for years with spatter spray for welding, then I would wipe it with a rag, it worked like a charm

We would do that or get some tip-dip on a rag and smear it around like waxing a car.

 

[dlctcg]

I wonder about woolwax used for vehicle undercoat?

I don't recommend using products like WoolWax or Fluid Film for this use (I am a big supporter of both products for the correct use)... However these products are "non-conductive" & should only be used on electrical connections after the electrical connections are made. This is posted by both companies on the sites... I personally would never use this on my welding table...

 

[5030]

I rarely MIG weld, mostly TIG, so no spatter and if I do MIG weld something I have a spare plate I do it on I( clamp on a sawhorse. Most times MIG welding will be on a part attached to some other assembly anyway. TIG has no spatter at all.

 

[ultrarunner]

Nothing... back when it was used all the time no issue plus a quick wire brushing or disc sander for dingleberries...

I made wood covers for the table and machine tools tables that have done well protecting the surfaces...

 

[gstrom99]

I rarely MIG weld, mostly TIG, so no spatter and if I do MIG weld something I have a spare plate I do it on I( clamp on a sawhorse. Most times MIG welding will be on a part attached to some other assembly anyway. TIG has no spatter at all.

I've only tried TIG welding once or twice. I'd love to have one but I wouldn't use it enough to justify a hole new tool setup...

 

[bigtiller]

When I finish my welding project I sand the table with a flap-disc and spray it with the cheapest silicone spray from walmart and smear it around a bit.

 

[5030]

I've only tried TIG welding once or twice. I'd love to have one but I wouldn't use it enough to justify a hole new tool setup...

Go buy yourself a multi process IGBT machine. Not that costly and one machine does it all except O/A. IGBT semi conductors have made multi process machines inexpensive and very viable as well.

 

[5030]

When I finish my welding project I sand the table with a flap-disc and spray it with the cheapest silicone spray from walmart and smear it around a bit.

I cannot and will not do that simply because the silicone spray residue will contaminate what I'm welding and that especially holds true with TIG. Dry steel table and controlled RH works just fine in my shop.

 

[bigtiller]

I cannot and will not do that simply because the silicone spray residue will contaminate what I'm welding and that especially holds true with TIG. Dry steel table and controlled RH works just fine in my shop.

People that paint their finished projects don't like silicone either.

 

[gstrom99]

Go buy yourself a multi process IGBT machine.

I might do that, but I'm unfamiliar with those. Do you have a brand/preference/link?