best coating for cast iron tooling surfaces?

[JohnR66]

Is there a particular type of oil that is better for coating the cast iron surfaces of my tools, like my big table saw?

Thanks

 

[unterhausen]

I put a coating of Johnson Paste wax on my tablesaw, and it doesn't have any rust yet.

 

[precisionworks]

Is there a particular type of oil that is better for coating the cast iron surfaces of my tools, like my big table saw?

There are better solutions than oiling a woodcutting saw table, as the oil would have to be totally removed (with acetone or lacquer thinner) and then reapplied after the wood was cut.

a coating of Johnson Paste wax

That's pretty popular & has the benefit of making the wood slide more easily over the cast iron table.

FWIW, I spray all metal woodworking tools (table saw, band saw, jointer, thickness planer) with a dry film PTFE product (aka mold release). I use the Krylon Industrial version called Sprayon Dry Film, available from MSC & most other places that carry Krylon products.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=2198500&PMT4NO=90425541

It isn't a rust preventive per se, but it seems to work similar to wax as the "dry" spray comes out of the nozzle wet, hits the surface, fills the pores in the metal, and dries almost instantly. While a waxed surface is slick, the PTFE coated surface is even slicker. $14 a can might seem expensive, but one can lasts a long time as it's reapplied only as needed (whenever the wood doesn't glide across the table). Also great for spraying onto both sides of any power saw blade, especially thin kerf, and onto the faces of the rip fence.

 

[kaptain_zero]

I use a can of Topcote spray for my woodworking tools. Spray on, let dry and then buff for a slick surface. This isn't much of a protector either, it's more for day to day use. There are other products out there... I tend to use paste wax during the summer (my shop isn't heated so when the temps hit -40, I don't much care to hang out in the shop!), and in the winter I simply coat the surfaces with a durable oil based product and place plastic sheeting on top, much like the machines were coated and protected when purchased new. It's only during the spring thaw when the machines are colder than the outside air that causes the surfaces to sweat and rust in my case.

When using paste wax, remember that many contain some silicons and can be a problem if you go directly to finishing after machining. Topcote does not contain silicons so it's safer. I always hand plane or sand after machining so using a paste furniture wax is not a problem for me.



Regards

Christian