Muratic acid (which is diluted hydrochloric acid) will damage iron and
steel. In this case it also removed any protective coating that was on the
table and allowed rust to form and keep forming. Phosphoric acid can be use
to remove the rust if you don't want to use an abrasive method. Neutralize
with baking soda or a detergent. Rinse with water then coat with paste wax.

Roger


wrote in message
oups.com...

John Martin wrote:
wrote:

You didn't specify if the saw table was aluminum or ferrous metal
but ferrous metal should not be eaten away by hydrocloric acid
so I assume aluminum.

...

How sure are you about that, Fred?


Pretty sure. Muriatic (hydrocloric) acid can be used to clean
scale and mineral buildup in iron pipes. It should not eat
holes in iron overnight.

OP says the table top was cast iron. Perhaps the spots were
discolored, but not pitted?

--

FF