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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    Default Cleaning Cast iron surfaces : Mill Table & Lathe Ways

    It seems to me that my mill table and lathe ways are always grungy gray compared to the almost silvery shiny surfaces I see on forum photos.

    Scrubbing with a kerosene soaked rag is all I have ever done to clean these surfaces, it helps a bit but its not great.

    Today I used some 1200 grit emery paper backed by a file, with some kerosene - that made a huge difference on an obscure part of the mill table that is almost never used. Compare the top two "beams" of metal in attached photos, in the improved photo they reflect far more light compared to the lower beams.

    I don't think I will damage the mill table if I do the whole lot with 1200 paper but happy to be told off if that's a silly idea. Mill is 30+ years old and has had previous owners.

    Am aware that some people rub their cast iron surfaces with fine stone.

    What do you do to clean and maintain mill table and lathe ways ?

    Bill
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  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by steamingbill View Post
    It seems to me that my mill table and lathe ways are always grungy gray compared to the almost silvery shiny surfaces I see on forum photos.
    Scrubbing with a kerosene soaked rag is all I have ever done to clean these surfaces, it helps a bit but its not great.
    Today I used some 1200 grit emery paper backed by a file, with some kerosene - that made a huge difference on an obscure part of the mill table that is almost never used. Compare the top two "beams" of metal in attached photos, in the improved photo they reflect far more light compared to the lower beams.
    I don't think I will damage the mill table if I do the whole lot with 1200 paper but happy to be told off if that's a silly idea. Mill is 30+ years old and has had previous owners.
    That's what I use, It's not like my gear is precision anyway.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    melbourne
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    Default

    It looks to me like the table top surface is planed rather than ground which really means it will never look much better.
    I use a fine stone on my table surface to remove small dings not to made it look nice.

    Robert

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
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    Default

    If you can do to whole table consistently I don't see a problem as 1200 will remove minute metal, add a bit of kero for lubrication and to flush away the crap. I've done this in the past.
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
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    Default

    Steel wool or scotch Brite are other options.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    Gippsland Victoria
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    Default planer marks and job done

    Quote Originally Posted by shedeng View Post
    It looks to me like the table top surface is planed rather than ground which really means it will never look much better.
    I use a fine stone on my table surface to remove small dings not to made it look nice.

    Robert
    ...... and these would be the planer marks ? .....see attached ......they are obvious right on the ends of the table and less obvious but still there along the length of the table. Mill is RF30 made in Taiwan approx 30ish years ago

    Thanks for all replies, tried a fine stone but not quite as good a finish as the 1200 sandpaper ...... need to try a finer stone.

    ......an awful lot smmmmmooother and cleaner now.

    Bill
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  7. #7
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    Default

    I was reading somewhere someone was using the fine siide of a normal grind stone one might use for chisels.

  8. #8
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    They look like grinder marks, one of the new Mills I looked at had these same marks.
    Check it over with a dial indicator, if it checks out leave it as it.
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    Bungama SA
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    Quote Originally Posted by pippin88 View Post
    Steel wool or scotch Brite are other options.
    not steel wool please it'll rust up real quick, minute fibers will break off and hide in the porous cast iron surface. Scotchbrite is a much better option or use stainless steelwool.

    I made this mistake when I 1st got all my WW'ing machines couldn't work out why it was happening until one day I decides to clean a Veritas straight edge only to see it rust up beyond repair(cheaper to buy another than getting it remachined)
    ....................................................................

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    melbourne
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    Well Bill looks like I have to eat my words as that looks better than the original planed surface.
    But....if you have soooo much time to spend on that you don't have enough projects.

    Robert

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
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    Adelaide
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    If you are only worried about the way the surface looks in photographs then the only way that involves removing absolutely no metal is photoshop.

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