On 6/1/2017 11:39 AM, Steve wrote:
Seeking your counsel, folks. I never had a need for a real rust-preventative on my tools, as my shop was in a reasonably- decent climate-controlled basement. Bought a new house a couple of years ago and upgraded the shop, but it's in an uninsulated, unheated garage. Also upgraded the table saw from a Craftsman contractor saw to the Grizzly hybrid model, and I love it-- except the surface. I knew this would be a thing, but paste wax had always worked for me in the past. Paste isn't cutting it now. My band saw table is also affected; no dice on the wax there either which had always worked for me.

Before you fire off with the usual, please... (1) yes, I will eventually be insulating, heating, etc. but I still need a short term surface fix.

2) Other materials for my table surface ARE being considered, but for now, let's focus on the question at hand, please.

3) Yes I have looked and I am aware of the bazillions of previous comments on this, but believe it or not there's not a comprehensive thread since about 2012 or so, according to my search. There's more like a smattering of comments embedded in a bunch of other threads. VOC Laws have changed drastically in many states since then, affecting hundreds of thousands of products in the chemicals and coatings industries. I'm in consumer-protection-happy Massachusetts, which has some new regs over the past decade. But I'm also located on the NH line and believe it or not, recent changes hit New Hampshire products even harder. (As only an example, I can still get real TSP in Mass, and I have a better chance of getting decent Alkyds in Mass.)

So my questions are this:

--Are you guys, generally, still using and/or recommending Boeshield and/or TopCote for this purpose today? What's your experience with these products in cold/heavy-moisture environments?

-- Have you noticed any decline in the products' effectiveness over the past decade or so? (Keep in mind, this reply may vary, depending on the regs in your location.)

-- are there any new products that anyone's been introduced to that are as effective or better than these two today?

Thanks for your assistance, all
Steve

I am going to repeat the same old thing. I have had my table saw in an
unheated garage in central Indiana, and now for the last 6 years in the
lower Piedmont region of North Carolina. I have been able to take care
of the rust problem by periodically applying a coat of good car wax.

I also do one thing more. I have a piece of plywood the cut to the size
of the table on the saw. Any time I am not using the saw, the plywood
is on the table. This plywood lays flat against the surface and keeps
the moist air from coming in contact with the metal. No moisture on the
metal, and the metal does not rust.

I have had the saw for about 30 years, and while I can not see my face
in the surface there is no rust on the table.

The piece of plywood also prevents someone coming in, seeing a flat
surface. and plopping some thing on the saw that will corroded or stain
the surfaces.



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2017: The year we lean to play the great game of Euchre